when cats who have stripes lose their fur, they have striped skin, why?

heavy machinery
Im not here asked:


I had a cat years ago, he fell into a 5 gallon bucket of oil (I lived on a farm with heavy machinery)and his back leg was covered in the oil. I, of course, gave him a bath and tried to get most of the gunk off. A few days later he lost his fur and when he did, he had stripes just like his fur. He was orange and white striped. His fur grew back but I have always wanted an answer!

Micheal

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6 Responses to “when cats who have stripes lose their fur, they have striped skin, why?”

  1. wiesit says:

    i think it has a lot to do with the pigmentation of there skins, and this influences the hair colour.

  2. authoritaaah84 says:

    It is all in the DNA… when men shave their heads you can still see the colour their hair was as the roots are still there… the same as if they get shaved (facial).

    Not a pleasant situation but i’ve known a few people need chemotherapy and when their hair fell out there was still colour there of which their hair was.

    Just a logicaly thought out guess mind you!

  3. Durian says:

    Tigers have this too, according to PBS.

    I’m guessing that the stripes in fur and skin both evolved to make cats better hunters in tall grass, i.e. less visible. Striped skin was a refinement of this, because without it, a bare patch of skin would make you less invisible to prey. In the long run, cats without striped skin are at a disadvantage over the ones that have it, and those with the trait for non-striped skin die out.

  4. mawskittypaws says:

    I breed Himalayans and they are born white,but within 3 days the seal points,(like sassy or jinx)start growing color on their ears and tail and feet.Skin and hair.
    They just turn colors by the time they are 1 they look like the cats on Meet the parants and homeward bound.
    There are more colors,but they are lighter and slower at changeing.
    But I have allways wondered how they do eather one.
    I hope you geta real answer.

  5. renhoez says:

    I know my cat’s not wierd but she’s black and white with pink skin. See what you made me do? My cat thinks I’m a nutbar for checking her skin. OH WELL.

  6. odandme says:

    It’s where the pigment is concentrated in their skin, the more pigment in an area the darker the fur that grows from it.

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