Elli the cat had a sleek tuxedo coat throughout her early years as a kitten, but her appearance started to shift just one year after her birth.
Nicole, known as @elli.vitiligo on social media, is a kind-hearted individual from Germany who rescued two four-month-old kittens named Elli and her sister from a local farm. The kittens were in a poor condition, suffering from mites and ear infections, prompting Nicole to take them home to provide the medical attention they needed.
Despite not planning on getting a new cat, Nicole’s compassionate nature led her to rescue the two sisters. Through dedicated care and affection, both kittens were able to recover and regain their health. Interestingly, they both had striking black and white markings on their coats that resembled tuxedos.
When Elli was just a little kitten, Nicole noticed right away how affectionate and cuddly she was. Nicole even mentioned how Elli had a playful nature and sometimes seemed more like a dog than a cat.
As time went on, about nine months later, Nicole started to see a change in Elli’s appearance. She noticed a small white patch starting to emerge on Elli’s otherwise black coat.
“It wasn’t there when she was born. I mistook it for lint and tried to brush it off, only to realize it was actually her own fur,” Nicole shared with Newssolor.com. As time passed, more and more white patches appeared on her tuxedo coat, spreading across her body.
Nicole brought Elli to the veterinarian, curious to uncover the reason behind her changing markings. Much to her surprise, the vet diagnosed Elli with an uncommon condition known as vitiligo, which causes patches of her skin or fur to lose pigment.
Vitiligo, a skin condition that impacts around 1% of the global population in humans, is even more rare in animals like cats, dogs, and horses. However, for Elli, this condition doesn’t cause any concern. It simply adds to her charm and unique appearance.
A year later, Nicole noticed that Elli’s coat had accumulated several more white snowflake-like patches, adding to her unique appearance. However, Elli remained unfazed by the changes and continued to live her carefree life happily.
Elli is full of sass and has a vibrant personality. She loves nothing more than finding a cozy spot on a high perch, like a window or door, to keep a close eye on her humans.
“Her majestic presence reminds me of a miniature snowy owl.”
Elli, who will be three in March, has a natural curiosity and enjoys following Nicole around the house to see what she’s up to. Despite her age, Elli remains healthy, content, and just as affectionate as always.
In her first year, Elli was a charming tuxedo kitten, but she has undergone quite the transformation since then. “She’s absolutely precious, and her coat is constantly evolving,” Nicole shared with Love Meow.
Keep up with Elli and her exciting journey on Instagram.
