Black Cat Starts Mysteriously Losing Its Color, Other Vexed Void Owners Question When Their Cute Cats Go From Midnight to Moonlight

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Nov 12, 2024 1:00 PM EST

We may or may not be a helicopter cat pawrent - meaning that we may or may not go to Google for every pawssible thing that might be wrong with our cats. Their meow sounds a little different than normal? Google. They all of a sudden start sleeping in a random spot we've never seen them sleep in before? Google. They didn't eat the food that they normally love? Google. Most of the things we google end up being purrfectly fine (we are not prone to overreaction, not one bit). But if our black cat started losing its beautiful black color, now that would be a thing to google!

There are a few pawssible explanations for this: the first is a meowgnificent genetic trait called "vitiligo" - which causes cats to lose pigment in their fur, giving them unique and rare fur patterns. Another option is called a "fever coat", which is a temporary change in a cat's fur pigment due to illness or stress. The last, and final option that we know of, is that this black beauty is just getting old. Either way, you'd be surprised how many vexed void owners chimed in with their black cats that went from midnight to moonlight. Scroll down to see all these fading felines below!

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  • 01
    Already talk to vet so not medical advice! Anyone ever see a cat go white like this? Vet said it's bc she's old but the pattern is interesting to me
    via u/candlepop

    We had a black cat when we were growing up, and even when she reached almost 20 years old, she didn't have any gray hair. Maybe it's because she was so young in spirit! 

  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10426752256
    via u/candlepop

    Black or white, we think this void is purrfectly beautiful no matter what color they are! Although, are they really a void if they're not completely black anymore? Purrhaps we need a new term for these fading feline cuties!

  • 03
    Cheezburger Image 10426753024
    via u/candlepop
  • 04
    Cheezburger Image 10426752768
    via u/candlepop
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10426753792
    via u/candlepop
  • 06
    candlepop OP • 1d ago • Anyone else aging voids go white like this? She's 9. It's just that usually when pets go white it starts on their face, ears, paws. For her it started on the back of her thighs and sides. Some of the white on her sides almost look like they're forming stripes. Edit: I got her when she was 6. When I got her spayed at that age she started turning white.
    via u/candlepop
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10426756608
    via u/KaylaK**lsPlants
  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10426757888
    via u/KaylaK**lsPlants
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10426757632
    via u/KaylaK**lsPlants
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10426757120
    via u/KaylaK**lsPlants
  • 11
    ChrispyLoco • 22h ago. ig My boys bottom half is slowly turning white!
    via u/ChrispyLoco
  • 12
    sl3931 1d ago • I foster kittens and when they are sick they sometimes get a " fever coat" which is white. It grows out to their regular color. I see it more in black or grey kittens. Maybe adult cats get it too.
    via u/
  • 13
    Wonderful-Boat-6373 1d ago vitaligo?
    via u/Wonderful-Boat-6373
  • 14
    YourGrandmasBestie 21h ago • Not sure about older voids but a similar thing is happening to my smol one I asked the vet about fever coat, but they said they think I just have a weird looking cat
    via u/YourGrandmasBestie
  • 15
    arzooty 1d ago • My void is turning 3 soon and he's been getting white hairs on my tummy and back. Maybe 40- 50 at the moment, but more every month. Not sure why it happens but I think it makes him look smart!
    via u/arzooty
  • 16
    Ghost_of_a_Black_Cat 1d ago • OK, this is going to sound weird, but her little white butt hairs are adorable! :)
    via u/Ghost_of_a_Black_Cat
  • 17
    charmarv 23h ago • yes!! another reddit post actually. I can't remember what the phenomenon was called but I remember being absolutely fascinated by it. this pattern in particular reminds me of salmiak cats
    via u/charmarv
  • 18
    Possible-Berry-3435 11h ago • • I'm not a vet, but I haven't seen any serious answers so I just want to add what may actually be happening here. This is possibly vitiligo. A loss of pigment in the skin and the hairs in it. That's why there's some parts that aren't affected but others are. In humans it usually starts in the extremities and moves inward, I'm not sure about cats.
    via u/Possible-Berry-3435
  • 19
    . gandalfknewbest 1d ago. Yes, brother to a void, was a lot darker when he was born.
    via u/gandalfknewbest
  • 20
    loki_stg • 1y ago. Mine has a distinct line where he's turning white/grey
    via u/loki_stg
  • 21
    July '21 April 22' Dec '23
    via u/saraemor
  • 22
    She's beautiful and I'm so happy to see your post! My girl, Lissie, also started out as a black cat and her fur has changed over the years. She has fluffy, cottony fur that can get matted easily when long, so I have to have her hair cut once or twice a year. Each time her hair has grown back in differently - sometimes more black and sometimes more white. Most recently, it was cut this August and now it's growing back in whiter than ever, except for her head, extremities, and a reverse skunk stri
    via u/saraemor

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aww midnight black cats adorable color mysterious cute cute cats cat owners void cats Cats animals void moonlight
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