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AMINO ACIDS AND COAT COLOUR IN CATS

First broadcast on www.provet.co.uk  


This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only.

You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Coat colour is determined by the amount of melanin pigment in the hair. Various factors can affect the production of melanin, including some nutrients in the food

Several nutrients can have an affect on hair growth. In a study by  Yu S. et al (Journal of Small Animal Practice (2001) 42: 176-180) it was shown that if food containing low amounts of the amino acids tyrosine or phenylalanine was fed to black cats their coat colour would become lighter and take on a reddish-brown appearance. In another study the authors demonstrated that this change could be reversed by feeding a diet containing sufficient tyrosine.

In conclusion, if a black cat undergoes  hair colour changes to reddish-brown the composition of the diet should be checked to make sure there isn't an amino acid deficiency present. 

 

Updated October 2013