Cats fur going lighter

[Smowball]

Have cat with long jet black hair. Noticed recently she seemed to have a tinge of almost pale gingery fur but thought it was the light. Just looked out the garden at her and she had definitely "faded" in certain places. Is it just age? she is 8. Well it isnt the sun is it lol.

[patsyann]

Yes black cats often go gingery as the get older.Our Sooty went really ginger.

[Smowball]

Oh I didnt know that. So Sooty wasnt quite so Sooty!

[wildwood]

I always thought it was sunburn. It changes the reflective properties of the hair, just as ginger outside cats go lighter in the summer.

[Smowball]

hmmm, well will see when it gets to autumn.

[rowanwitch]

if the cat is getting on a bit ageling although they all sunbleach to some extent you may see underlying tabby stripes developing