Someone said that white cats have a condition similar to albinism in humans; others claim that most white cats are deaf due to genetic diseases, while some say only blue-eyed white cats are deaf. There are also claims that mixed-breed white cats are not deaf, and only purebred blue-eyed white cats are. Opinions about white cats are varied and numerous.
According to information about white cats found online:
- Only about 5% of cats are completely white, and congenital deafness in non-white cats is extremely rare.
- 15-40% of pure white cats have one or both eyes blue.
- 60-80% of blue-eyed cats are deaf.
- 30-40% of odd-eyed (one blue eye) cats are deaf, often on the side of the blue eye.
- 60-80% of pure white cats have yellow or green eyes, with 10-20% being deaf.
Besides blue, green, and yellow eyes, white cats can also have red eyes; these are the ones truly considered albino. Other blue-, green-, or yellow-eyed white cats are just ordinary cats. Only cats with a dominant W gene (representing all-white), which masks other genes, have completely white fur.
The notion that blue-eyed white cats are deaf has a basis, related to cellular issues. Simply put: most blue-eyed white cats lack melanocytes (pigment cells) due to genetic issues, and these cells are crucial for hearing. Without them, the cat becomes congenitally deaf.
However, blue eyes don’t always mean deafness. A cat’s white fur or blue eyes can result from other genes. Sometimes, blue-eyed white cats have melanocyte genes, but they are masked by the stronger W gene. In summary:
- Blue-eyed white cats are not necessarily deaf (but have a 60-80% chance).
- Blue-eyed white cats are not albino; they just have different genes from typical cats.
- Deafness is not exclusive to purebred blue-eyed white cats; all blue-eyed white cats can be affected.
Deaf cats have a low survival rate on the streets due to their lack of alertness, making them vulnerable to surprise attacks or accidents while sleeping.
Fortunately, white cats are highly beloved and often find stable, sheltered homes. I initially searched for information about cat eye colors but stumbled upon this article, which I found quite useful. I’m sharing it here temporarily, crediting it to an anonymous source since the original author is unknown.
Regarding whether there’s a physiological link between eye color and hearing loss, I’m still unclear. This article provides no data or references, so its credibility is limited. Treat it as general knowledge.
For example, the claim that “blue-eyed white cats lack melanocytes → cannot form key hearing cells” is problematic. Try researching it yourself. A more credible explanation for deafness in white cats involves their genetic makeup, which leads to missing inner ear structures, causing hearing loss. For instance, a report in New Medical (2nd paragraph, 17th line) notes no direct, significant link between melanocytes and deafness.
Also, whether it’s Miru, raised by Lien, or Little White and Tiny White, who come to my house in winter, all are odd-eyed white cats with perfectly fine hearing (they respond to the sound of a can being tapped).
發佈留言