Fever Coat in Kittens

Fever coat, also known as stress coat, is a temporary condition that results in unexpected fur colors in kittens.

The Causes of Fever Coat in Kittens
Fever coat, although uncommon, causes the fur’s pigmentation to not develop normally in the womb, which leads to unusual coloring at birth.

Possible causes of fever coat include:

• An illness or infection that causes a high fever during pregnancy.
• Stressful situations that occur during pregnancy such as a move, a change of people or other pets in the household and abandonment.
• The side effects of certain medications given during pregnancy.

The Symptoms of Fever Coat in Kittens

The fur of kittens born with a fever coat usually appears with a lighter color at the tips, fading darker toward the skin.

The most common types of fever coats include:

• All-Over Color. Kittens with a solid color have a silver-gray, red or cream coloration affecting their entire coat. This is the most common type of fever coat.
• Kittens have patches of their normal fur color and patches of their lighter-colored fever coat.
• Kittens have long stripes of lighter-colored fur along their back. This is the rarest type of fever coat.

The Prognosis of Fever Coat in Kittens

Fever coat has not been associated with genetic abnormalities and is not an indication of a health problem in kittens. Because coat color is genetically determined, their fur will gradually change to its normal color by the time they are adults.

However, the queen should be checked for any health conditions (such as FeLV) that may have caused fever coats in her kittens.