Cat Hair |
| Q: My four year old Siamese cat was recently sick and was running a high fever for several days. He was placed on antibiotics and eventually recovered. Ever since his sickness, the hairs around his eyes are coming in lighter in color and his eyes seem a lighter shade of blue. Could these changes be related to his previous illness? A: This is a very good question and yes, the change in coloration of his black mask is likely due to his prolonged elevation in temperature. Hair follicles regenerate very rapidly and at a higher body temperature dark hair will grow in lighter. This scenario is commonly seen when a dark colored cat has an abscess that is shaved during treatment. Since the temperature of the skin is increased from infection, the hair will typically grow back lighter. Eventually, as old fur is replaced by new, the coloration will return to normal. I suspect that the discolored hair on your cat's mask will, in time, return to its normal coloration. As far as the color change of his eyes, I have seen cases like this with animals that have light colored eyes. It is possible that the elevation in temperature may have temporarily lightened the color of the iris, although, this color change is usually very short lived. If either of these problems do not resolve I would recommend seeing your veterinarian for a reevaluation. Good luck and good pet parenting. |
