I discovered the connection between white cats and deafness by a complete accident. While walking to my friend’s house, I found a white kitten on the sidewalk and asked my friend if he could take him in temporarily since I had pets at home.
He agreed, and the cat ended up staying with him permanently. Eventually, my friend realized the cat was deaf, leading us to wonder: are all white cats deaf? After exploring white cats and inherited deafness, here’s what we found.
Are All White Cats Deaf?
The short answer is no, but the long one is more nuanced. Some white cats, including those with blue eyes, can hear. Let’s explore further! For starters, did you know that not every white cat is the same type of white?
A truly white cat is one without color markings, not even a single hair. White cats often have pink nose leather and pink toe beans. As for their eye color, white felines can have blue, golden, copper, green, or pinkish eyes.
Sometimes, white cats also have one eye in one color and the other in a different color. This is known as heterochromia and is also present in dogs. It’s one of the things dogs and cats have in common.
Moreover, cats aren’t colorblind as many think. While they can’t see the same colors as we do, they can still perceive various colors and hues.
Additionally, white isn’t a cat breed; it’s just a coat color, and white cats, while they’re definitely one of the weirdest cats that stand out in a crowd, aren’t the same as albino cats.
Albinism is the absence of color, and albino felines seem white because their body doesn’t produce pigment. A rare mutation in the TYR gene causes this. Mind you; this isn’t the same gene that causes whiteness in cats and impacts their hearing.
Albino cats can have blue eyes. However, they, like most non-white cats, including hairless cats, rarely have deafness. If a non-white or albino cat happens to be deaf, it’s most likely because of a disease or injury that happened after the animal was born.
Typically, white cats carry a dominant-white gene, which overrides a feline’s “real” color. In other words, it covers the other colors with whiteness. Experts call this epistasis.
Why Are White Cats Usually Deaf?
The white coat and blue eyes in cats aren’t caused by the same gene, which is why some white-coated felines with blue eyes can hear.
Cat pregnancy is fascinating for many reasons! For instance, most kittens obtain their color when they’re still in the womb. Throughout the development stage, pigment cells, known as melanocytes, move to the cat’s skin and produce melanin for the remainder of the cat’s life. That’s how cats stay ginger, tabby, or whatever color their DNA instructs for the rest of their life.
However, when a cat has a dominant-white gene, the melanocytes don’t move to the skin, which is why the cat stays white. The same stem cells produce eye color in cats. That’s why sometimes one eye or both don’t get color. We know these “colorless” eyes as blue because of the Tyndall effect.
As you can notice, these stem cells in cats play a key role in their fur and eye color, but what’s even more interesting and sad is that they also hinder the development of a very special cell layer in the ear while the cat’s still inside their mother. This cell layer doesn’t develop properly, resulting in permanent hearing loss.
There’s more! The number of blue eyes also plays a part in a white cat’s hearing. Stats show that if a cat has both blue eyes, they’re more likely to be deaf.
What Percentage of White Cats Are Deaf?
“Only” 20% of white felines without blue eyes experience inherited deafness. This is because the eyes and ears of a developing baby kitten remain close to one another in the womb. If the eyes develop from stem cells that produce working melanocytes, the ears will also develop from these stem cells.
The percentage of deafness in white cats with one blue eye is about 40%, while white cats with heterochromia usually experience deafness in the side with the blue eye.
Sadly, most owners of these cats never realize that their pet is deaf in one ear, as they usually act like a fully hearing feline.
Finally, about 70% of white cats with two blue eyes experience total deafness.
What Breed of Cat is Prone to Deafness?
Cat breeds with the white (W) coat color gene that may be prone to inherited deafness include:
- Scottish Fold (white variety)
- European White
- Foreign White
- Norwegian Forest Cat
- Ragdoll
- Siberian
- Turkish Angora (white variety)
- American Wirehair (white variety)
- Cornish Rex (white variety)
- American Shorthair (white variety)
- Devon Rex (white variety)
- British Shorthair (white variety)
- Manx (white variety)
- Exotic Shorthair (white variety)
- Persian (white variety)
- Oriental Shorthair (white variety)
- Oriental Longhair (white variety)
- Maine Coon (white variety)
As you can notice, even some of the most exotic cat breeds experience inherited deafness. The white variety of the affectionate ragdoll, Scottish Fold, Maine Coon, and even Persian can be born deaf.
How to Care for a Deaf Cat
Deaf cats aren’t needy. Caring for one is pretty much the same as caring for a regular cat. However, there’s a list of things to keep in mind to keep your feline safe and stress-free, such as the following:
- Keep your cat indoors: Deaf cats can’t hear dangers like cars or predators, so keeping them indoors keeps them safe. However, remember that indoor cats need exercise, as they don’t get to move as much as outdoor or semi-outdoor cats. You can avoid boredom in indoor cats by playing with them regularly.
- Avoid startling your cat: Always approach your cat where they can see you coming to avoid startling them. Stomping gently on the floor can create vibrations that alert them to your presence.
- Create a predictable environment: Most cats, especially deaf ones, love routine because it helps them feel secure and understand what to expect. For instance, you can feed and groom your cat at the same time every day.
- Microchip your cat: Sometimes, indoor cats escape their homes, and there’s a higher chance of finding a missing cat if they’re microchipped.
- Make everyone aware of your cat’s condition: Be sure to inform everyone in your circle about your cat’s deafness to prevent them from leaving your front door open or startling your cat. Do the same when choosing a pet sitter.
- Use interactive and scented toys: Playing with toys like laser pointers, feather wands, puzzle feeders, and DIY cat toys can help your cat maintain a healthy weight. Indoor cats have a higher chance of gaining significant weight, so if you notice signs of cat obesity, schedule a vet checkup and play with your pet more often. Include scented toys or catnip for additional stimulation and enrichment.
Note: Regardless of your cat’s eye color, they can’t see certain colors, including red. However, they can still see movement, which is why they enjoy chasing red dots. As a responsible owner, you should use a pet-friendly laser pointer properly to prevent eye damage, as laser pointers can hurt your cat’s eyes.
Final Facts About White Cats
Although we’ve been able to pinpoint some of the genes responsible for whiteness and deafness in cats, others remain unknown. Hopefully, future research will provide even more explanations. Until then, let’s not forget that white cats with permanent hearing loss deserve love as much as any other feline, if not more, because of their condition.
Some European cat organizations have actually banned white felines from exhibition or breeding because they’re trying to reduce or exterminate the deafness trait.
Some agree with this decision, while others disagree. I personally can’t make up my mind because I have a deaf white cat in my life, and I know that these unique creatures deserve the world. However, I can see both sides of the argument.
