Introduction
Siamese cats are one of the most beautiful cat breeds to ever exist, and they only get prettier as they age. They come in beige, brown, black, white, and different shades, which contributes to their elegance.
So, do Siamese cats get darker with age? Yes, this particular breed gets darker with age because as they grow older, their body temperature drops, affecting their body enzymes. However, that is not the only reason why Siamese cats’ coloring grows darker. Their diet, their age, and their affinity to the sun are factors that can contribute to their coloring.
Reasons Why Your Siamese Cat Gets Darker
1. Body Temperature
Some areas of a Siamese cat’s body vary in temperature. For example, their tail, legs, feet, and face are usually less than 36 degrees Celsius; thus, color changes occur in those areas of the cat’s body.
In addition, when you live in an area with season changes, expect that your Siamese cat will have changes in its fur color. Wintertime means that their fur will get dark, and once the season lets up and gets warmer, your cat’s fur will lighten too.
They will not, of course, turn into absurd shades such as purple and green (except for when they are sick), but if you notice that your cat’s black coloring turns back to white, it’s best to consult a veterinarian. It means that their temperature is rising faster than usual, which might mean that they have a fever.
2. Diet Management
Siamese cats can also get darker if they are not eating healthy. If your cat’s fur turns rust-brown instead of black, it means that it has an enzyme deficiency in tyrosine, which is the enzyme that produces melanin which is a pigment that makes the fur darker.
If you have a fat cat, its fur would probably turn dark too. This is because the veins inside their fatty tissues are fewer than those inside the muscles, causing their temperature to lower, which cools their body and causes their fur to turn dark.
So feeding your Siamese cat properly would not prevent their coat from eventually turning dark. Still, you can lengthen the process by providing them with a balanced diet of protein and vegetables.
3. Age Factor
All Siamese cats are born white. Once they are exposed to the air outside of their mother’s womb, their fur gradually darkens.
As they grow older, their fur turns dark around the face, tail, and legs, which are areas of their body that are generally cooler.
4. Sun Exposure
Cats love lounging in the sun, and too much exposure to the sun can bleach their fur and cause it to turn reddish-brown.
If you want to maintain your Siamese cat’s dark coloring, it’s best to put curtains around the house, which can lessen sunlight entering your home and bleach your cat’s fur.
However, too little sun can affect their health since sunlight is a good source of Vitamin D which can protect teeth and bones and prevent a few diseases.
Ample sunlight can contribute to your Siamese cat’s bone health, but too much sunlight will cause their fur to lighten. Therefore, moderation is vital when it comes to sun exposure for your cat.
How To Prevent Your Siamese Cat from Getting Darker
Fur color changes in your Siamese cat are primarily a marker of age. Unfortunately, it is already in their genes, which means you really cannot prevent it, but there are several things you can do to slow the process down.
1. Keep your cat warm if you do not want it to turn dark too fast.
Putting on clothes to prevent them from getting exposed to the cold can prevent their fur from getting dark, and having a warm area for them at home will also prevent their coat from darkening.
For example, place their bed near a radiator or a fireplace to keep them heated.
2. Feed Siamese cats a balanced Nutiritous diet
Vegetables and protein will help their body produce the enzymes needed to maintain its coloring. Combine a great diet with exercise, and your cat will not only be healthy and happy, and they will also be able to maintain its light coloring.
3. Sun might bleach your cat’s fur, limit their exposure
Ideal times for allowing your cat to bask in sunlight are between 7 and 10 in the morning, for them to have their dose of Vitamin D, and after 4 in the afternoon, when the sun isn’t as bright and harmful.
You can also control your cat’s exposure to sunlight inside the home by using curtains. But, again, you do not have to completely block out the sun; you just have to limit it.
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Afterthoughts
So, do Siamese cats get darker with age? Yes, they do. Fur color is an excellent indicator of a cat’s age since the older they are, the darker they get. Throughout their life, their fur will go through several phases of lightening and darkening, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it, aside from the abovementioned.
However, you also have to look out for their fur color every now and then. Unnatural shades can mean that their health is not doing so well.
Keep in mind that your Siamese cat’s fur will not stop changing its color until its death. Their fur starts darkening one week after birth and will continue to darken, especially if they are subjected to the cold often.
Siamese cats’ fur coloring is a great indicator of their age and their diet and body temperature, which makes it easier for you to identify if they are experiencing health issues.
Siamese cats are genuinely an extraordinary breed, and their beautiful coloring makes them even more unique. They are the only breed with fur that darkens as they age, and you get to enjoy a variety of fur shades throughout their lives.
Keeping them healthy will keep their fur color vibrant, and you prolong their life as well.