Cats, like most other mammals, are born with blue eyes. Over time, their irises begin to take on other shades, and the final shade depends on genetic determinants. A very small amount of dye or no dye at all causes the eyes to appear blue. In fact, they have no color, and blue, as we see, appears as a result of the scattering of light when it is reflected from the iris. Cat breeds with blue eyes are not uncommon - we find this type of beauty, however, mainly among the Siamese varieties.
Cat breeds with blue eyes are unique. Their characteristic traits correspond to a genetic predisposition. As a rule, blue irises are found in animals obtained from the Far East, which also have completely white fur. The blue color of a cat's eyes is due to a gene that blocks the production of another dye. Light-colored cats can have a wide variety of irises, however, blue coloring appears only in animals in which melanin deficiency or even partial albinism occurs in the skin. The allele of the C gene is responsible for blue eyes in Siamese cats. Representatives of this breed have a darker coat color, only in the area of the head and paws, as well as on the tail.
Purebred cats with blue eyes
If you want to own a cat with blue eyes, below are the breeds that differ in the color of their iris. As a rule, they have a bright color or a type of color scheme - their light fur color predominates, and the dark areas are localized on the head, as well as in the area of the paws and tail. The most popular are white cats with bright eyes. Almost every breed that appears in color is characterized by blue irises. They include: Persian cats, Siberian cats, Norwegian Forest cats, Orientals, short- and long-haired cats, and Sphynx and British shorthair cats. There are almost no black cats with blue eyes. The light iris of kittens with a dark color appears only in the initial period of their life. Below are the cat breeds with blue eyes.
Siamese cat
source
This is one of the most popular cat breeds. Its first source description is from Thailand and dates back to the 14th century. Siamese cats lived mainly in the courts of kings and aristocratic families. In 1884 they went to Great Britain, and from there to Europe. Since then, their appearance has changed significantly. Siamese cats are the first choice for a person who has not previously had pussies.
They are highly resistant to disease. Their coat is short, without undercoat. Sometimes they are found in a very light color, like white cats with blue eyes. Individuals belonging to this species are cheerful, intelligent and very fond of children. They quickly and strongly become attached to their owners. The Siamese cat can be very jealous if other animals appear in the house. They make better friends with dogs than with representatives of their own species. Moreover, they do not like to be alone, and you should give them a lot of time and attention.
Ragdoll cat
This breed is relatively young because he is only 50 years old. Its name, from the English rag doll, alludes to the unusual physical properties of these animals. A characteristic feature of the ragdoll is its beautiful, almost child-like eyes and bright color with dark markings. These cats have a very friendly character and can negotiate with any family member. They tolerate the presence of other animals well and live in friendship with dogs.
They are excellent companions for children because their patience truly knows no bounds. This breed is not active, so it does not jump on furniture or curtains. As a rule, they like to be lying on their back, on the floor or sofa. They easily become attached to people. They are friendly and trusting, even towards strangers, so it is necessary to keep an eye on them. This breed is great for busy people. Animals are smart, they do not require constant care, and their favorite way to spend their free time is to relax and unwind.
Burmese cat
This is a natural breed from the Middle East. The Burmese cat is considered holy. Legend has it that she is derived from the white cat of the temple who was on duty with the high priest.
Systematic breeding of this species began in 1925 in France, but during the period of world wars the animals stopped breeding. Only in 1955 did the breeding process resume, and in the next few decades Burmese cats gained recognition throughout Europe.
A typical representative of this breed is an incredibly beautiful and elegant life partner. Lives very amicably in the family. He loves the company of other animals and people. The animal is calm, but also curious. It is a pleasure to follow step by step with the person. The most common coat colors are cream, red, lilac and black.
British cat with blue eyes
British cats are the oldest species to emerge from Great Britain. Their professional breeding began approximately 100 years ago. Legend has it that these animals were in England with the Romans and then remained hidden for many years. For this breed, blue eyes are one of many options. Their irises may also be orange or green. The color blue is found in British cats in the color of lilac, cream, silver or gray. The appearance of gray cats with blue eyes is very beautiful and friendly. The animals are sociable, calm and have a moderate character, ideal for living in apartments.
Ojos
Azules (Blue Eyes)
This is a unique breed because it is the only one with distinct blue eyes (its name means “blue eyes” in Spanish). These animals were discovered among wild cats in New Mexico. They do not have any characteristic features; they can only be recognized by their blue eyes. These animals are unique; it is believed that in 1992 there were only 10 known worldwide. Ojos azules often have eyes of different colors, for example one is blue and the other is green.
Interesting for you:
Balinese cat
These eyes are opposite...
The second name of the breed is the Balinese cat. Until the 50s of the last century, “Balinese” were considered a long-haired species of Siamese cat. But there was a breeder of the breed who did not agree with this opinion. Helen Smith - that was the woman's name - declared Balinese cats as an independent breed.
Luxurious, long-haired, with huge deep blue eyes - Balinese cats will not leave anyone indifferent. Beauty, coupled with a sweet character, makes the breed a favorite of “cat lovers”. Well, the Balinese have a charming character: cats are talkative, very smart, trainable and affectionate.
Caring for gray cats
Gray cats
, both blacks and tabbies are enviably healthy. They have strong immunity and are very cold-resistant. But there is one thing: color. Show cats have to limit themselves in many ways in order to shine with the ideal ash shade of their coat. Direct sunlight, excessive humidity, the presence of a large amount of iodine in food - all this leads to the appearance of yellowish spots on the coat, and as a result, underestimates the assessment of beauty according to breed standards.
A gray cat is not suitable for every owner. For example, children may find it boring and uninteresting. She is calm and balanced. You can't make her run for hours after a toy or jump from chair to chair. She has a special temperament and noble manners. The mysticism running through the history of its origin prophesies female happiness. Maybe a gray cat
can really give a strong family and love to those who really need it? As history has shown, on the “ashes” of her wool you still manage to build your own warm and cozy hearth, or at least place warmth in your heart.
Mekong Bobtail
A very interesting breed
Beauty comes from Asia. Initially, Mekong Bobtails were considered “rejected” Siamese cats. This is due to the unusual, short tail of Asian cats.
Despite its enormous popularity in its homeland, the breed was recognized by the WCF only in 1994. Russian breeders played a huge role in the recognition of Mekong Bobtails. They managed to prove that these cats are distinguished from Siamese not only by their short tail. Animals have completely different body types.
Representatives of the breed, for the most part, have rich blue eyes, a mischievous character and affection for the owner.
Oriental cat
They look like aliens
Improved breed from Siam (Thailand). Magnificent cats, for a long time, were “closed” from the world, living in the temples of Thailand. Only in the 19th century did the world learn about the “overseas” beauty.
Today, the Oriental cat is one of the most popular in the world. The unusual color and blue eyes give the animal a special cuteness. There is an opinion among people that “Orientals” are evil and aggressive monsters. This is complete absurdity, because representatives of this breed are distinguished by extraordinary devotion to their owner, do not tolerate loneliness well and are easy to train.
As for the supposedly viciousness of the breed, any cat is capable of fighting back for itself if it is pissed off. Orientals don’t like familiarity, that’s all.
Cat breeds with blue eyes
Among the breeds of blue-eyed cats, there are the most famous ones, which are popular with both professional breeders and lovers of furry friends.
Siamese cat
The Siamese cat is one of the oldest and most famous representatives of the cat family. It originated from Thailand and quickly gained popularity around the world. Externally, Siamese are very similar to Thai and Oriental cats, but one of the most striking distinguishing features is their bright blue eyes. Siamese also have a long and slender body with pronounced muscles, large triangular ears and a flexible, thin tail. The breed has dark spots on its limbs and face, and its coat color ranges from cream to chocolate.
The Siamese cat is an animal whose appearance creates a general impression of slenderness, lightness and swiftness.
Siamese are proud and self-confident cats that demand attention. They have a fickle and explosive nature and can be either capricious and nervous or loyal and friendly. Despite the fact that Siamese cats become attached to their owners, they have no authority, and therefore their trust is very easy to lose. The Siamese does not like affection, but will happily share active games and walks in the fresh air. There will never be a dull moment with a Siamese cat.
Sacred Burma
The state of Myanmar (formerly Burma) is the birthplace of the Burmese cat. In ancient times, the breed was considered sacred and lived in temples. At the beginning of the 20th century, a millionaire from America imported the Burmese cat to Europe, after which it became widespread. Getting to know Burma is not difficult. This is a semi-longhaired color-point cat with white “gloves” on her paws. The Burmese has a medium-sized body with short legs and a bushy tail, round cheeks, and bright blue eyes.
Where Burmese cats walk, there is no place for negative emotions - only goodness and positivity
Burmese cats have wonderful personalities. They are affectionate, inquisitive and loyal. The breed is very attached to its owner and gets along well not only with all family members, but also with other pets in the house. Burma loves to be the center of attention and share a wide variety of activities. Calmness and balance do not allow her to cause damage to her home environment or enter into conflicts with other animals. Burmese cats gladly accept affection and are always warm and friendly towards new faces.
Khao-mani
Since the times of ancient Siam, kao-mani was considered an indicator of the wealth of the family in which it lived. And now this snow-white beauty is highly appreciated by both ordinary cat lovers and professional breeders. The Kao Mani is an example of a breed that can have both blue and multi-colored eyes. The latter phenomenon is called heterochromia, it appears when the eyes are located on areas of the coat that differ in color. In addition to beautiful eye color, Kao Mani has short snow-white fur, a wide forehead, large ears and a strong tail.
The grey-blue shiny eyes of these cats fascinate with their beauty; it is not for nothing that the name of the breed is translated as “diamond eye”
People believe that kao mani with different colored eyes can bring good luck.
The Kao Mani is an easy-going and friendly breed that requires a lot of attention. She quickly gets used to her owner and cannot stand being alone. Kao-mani is very vulnerable and can be offended for a long time, and therefore you should not have such a pet at home if you do not have the opportunity to pay attention to it every day. A cat of this breed easily gets along with people and other pets in the house. Very playful and intelligent, amenable to training with simple commands and has a developed hunting instinct. Possessing this quality, the kao-mani will immediately rush to the defense of its owner and once again prove its loyalty to him.
Ojos Azules
Ojos Azules is a unique cat breed with blue almond-shaped eyes and a wide variety of coat colors. The differences in the exterior of this breed from others are not very pronounced, and therefore there are many variations in the appearance of the Ojos Azules. Nevertheless, there are general standards: an elegant and strong body, giving the appearance flexibility and fit, high ears, a tail proportional to the body.
The main advantage of Ojus Azules is its bright blue almond-shaped eyes.
Ochus Azlues is suitable for people who prefer to spend their free time in a quiet home environment, because this breed is extremely peaceful and calm. Despite the attachment to the owner, the pet will not depend on his attention and will calmly endure some time of loneliness. Ojus azules feels comfortable in silence, away from large companies. So don’t be surprised if your cat goes missing if noisy guests come to your house. Despite the love of calm, a representative of this breed will happily share active games and outdoor activities. Ochus azules easily finds a common language with other pets and lives under the same roof for many years without any conflicts.
Important! Under no circumstances should representatives of this breed be crossed with each other, since the altered blue eye color gene affects the health and vitality of the kittens.
Himalayan cat
The Himalayan cat is the result of crossing the Siamese and Persian cats. From the Siamese she inherited blue eyes and an unusual color with dark spots on her face, paws and tail, and from her Persian ancestors she got a fluffy and soft fur coat. The Himalayan cat gives the impression of a strong and strong animal due to its powerful body, muscular legs and pronounced chin contour. The luxurious coat of this breed requires constant care and careful daily brushing.
The Himalayan cat has the fur of a Persian cat, the flexible body of a Siamese, blue eyes and an independent disposition.
This breed is very affectionate and playful. She loves the attention of her owner, happily settles on his lap and loves when her soft fur is combed and stroked. Despite its attachment to its family, the Himalayan cat can easily endure loneliness when they are not at home. Representatives of the breed skillfully maintain a balance between love for humans and their independence. They are unobtrusive and never achieve anything with persistent meowing. Sometimes cats have short bursts of energy, during which they actively participate in games and ventures, but mostly they prefer to spend time in lazy contemplation of their surroundings. The Himalayan cat gets along well with all family members and other pets in the house. This breed makes an excellent companion for older adults.
Oriental cat
The white oriental cat is related to the Siamese, but unlike them, it has a solid white coat, which can be either long-haired or short-haired. The graceful Oriental is both graceful and muscular, her long body with an elongated neck is crowned by a triangular head with large ears. Almond-shaped eyes can both be blue or multi-colored. The white oriental cat is one of the most popular breeds that fascinates cat lovers with its aristocratic appearance.
A long graceful body, a wedge-shaped head, large ears - a white oriental cat can be seen from afar
This graceful beauty considers herself the center of the universe and loves attention to herself, and therefore begins to suffer and be offended if she does not receive it for a long time or is alone. She is very talkative: she will definitely express her dissatisfaction or joy by meowing. The breed loves to communicate with people and other pets, play and share various activities, and is always ready to stand up for itself and fight back against the offender. The white oriental cat is very energetic and active, she loves to explore all the secret corners of the house and climb even to heights that seemed unattainable. Therefore, if you want to have a representative of this breed at home, it is better to take care of indoor plants, which will definitely be disturbed by the new inhabitant at a convenient moment.
Turkish Angora
The Turkish Angora is one of the oldest cat breeds. It appeared in Turkey and in ancient times was a very expensive and valuable gift, and therefore its owners were monarchs, sultans and other high-ranking officials. And now the Turkish Angora delights with its beautiful snow-white coat and pleases with its pleasant disposition. Representatives of this breed have a muscular body, a bushy tail and high-set, tufted ears. Almond-shaped eyes can be multi-colored.
Outwardly, this breed of cat looks stern and unapproachable, but in fact the Turkish Angora is very affectionate and friendly.
This breed is very brave, determined and persistent. She always achieves her goals, be it a toy put away on the top shelf of a closet, or a tasty treat. He loves to play and generally does not sit still, sometimes even forcing him to chase after himself. The Turkish Angora is friendly, it gets along well with pets and households, it becomes very attached to its owner, most often singling out one of the large family. This cat is soft, affectionate and friendly. She does not like loneliness and always needs company and active pastime. Despite its cheerful and gentle disposition, the Turkish Angora can stand up for itself and will never allow itself to be offended.
Blue British cat
The British cat is one of the most popular breeds not only in the UK, but throughout the world. It is characterized by a strong body with strong limbs, a round muzzle and a short tail. The British cat's coat is short, shiny and thick. Among lovers of the breed, special attention is paid to the blue coat color, which even received its own name - British Blue. But these cats can have fur of a wide variety of shades, of which there are currently more than a dozen. There are also several variations in eye color: from bright orange to blue, depending on the color.
Color-point cats have blue eyes, and rare chinchilla cats have lavender, blue or emerald green eyes
This breed has a sense of self-esteem, it is calm, intelligent, intelligent and restrained in emotions. Very clean and does not require complex care. British cats are very affectionate, they quickly become attached to their owners, without singling out one person, as other breeds often do. Thanks to his independence, the British spend time quietly alone, but always look forward to the return of his family to chat or just sit next to him. This trait allows busy and hard-working people to own a representative of this breed. But despite the ability to easily tolerate loneliness, the pet needs affection and care, and therefore it is important to pay enough attention to your pet in his free time.
Scottish fold cat
The appearance of this interesting breed is caused by a natural genetic mutation. It all started with an ordinary Scottish cat, Susie, who had slightly curved ears. Her kittens were subsequently crossed with the British Shorthair breed, resulting in these unusual creatures, which are now called Scottish Fold cats. The body of the breed is strong with short but soft limbs, the tail is proportional to the body. The thick, plush coat comes in a variety of colors and can be either long or medium. Eye color ranges from hazel to blue.
The Scottish Fold cat is a sweet creature with a wonderful character, capable of quickly adapting to a new environment and people.
Scottish Fold cats are very loyal, kind and sweet animals that choose one person from all family members and follow on his heels. But despite their devotion, they cannot be called intrusive and demanding: most often it is enough for them to simply be near their owner, and not to take all his attention. Fold-eared Scots treat large and noisy companies calmly and quickly adapt to a new environment. The breed does not suffer from hyperactivity, so there is no need to worry that in your absence at home some valuable object will break or a flower pot will tip over due to the efforts of your furry friend. These cats love to meditate on their backs, stretching out their paws, which once again proves the calmness and tranquility of this breed. You should not leave your Scottish pet alone at home for a long time: he may get bored. For example, another good-natured pet can correct this situation.
Javanese
Another result of the work of breeders is the Javanese, which was obtained by crossing short-haired colored breeds with the Balinese cat. The homeland of this unusual breed is North America. Geneticists wanted to diversify the Balinese breed with other colors. The result is an animal for which several types of colors are allowed: from cream to blue. The Javanese cat has a long body, a fluffy tail that stands out against the background of the fur all over the body, and an elongated muzzle with large ears. Almond-shaped eyes have a rich blue color.
Thanks to the elongated muzzle and large ears, we can confidently say that Orientals are the rightful ancestors of the Javanese
The breed is playful, curious and restless. As they grow older, their activity decreases slightly, but the Javanese still remains a lover of outdoor games and exploring the contents of even the tallest drawers and shelves. This animal needs space for action, and therefore it is not suitable for those people who like to maintain perfect order in the house . Javanese will happily throw objects around, carry things throughout the apartment and bring various trinkets to the owner. Javanese does not like loneliness, he gets very bored in the absence of people, and upon their return he follows on their heels everywhere and does not give way. The Javanese cat shows its lively and strong character in any conflicts or situations where it needs something: it will stand up for itself without delay and will definitely achieve what it wants.
Petersburg Sphinx
Russian beauty
The ancestors of the breed are the Don Sphynx and the Oriental cat. The kittens from this mating, born in Murino (Leningrad region), became the first in the new breed.
Unusual appearance is the calling card of the St. Petersburg sphinxes. Some cats of this breed, depending on their color, can also boast blue eyes.
The St. Petersburg Sphinx is a sophisticated, unusual and positive creature. Cats are more like dogs in character than their own kind. Owners of Peterbalds, as representatives of the breed are also called, assure that their pets are extremely smart and very people-oriented.
By the way, Peterbalds can be either completely hairless or woolly. There are several types of coat of the breed.
And one more fact about the St. Petersburg sphinxes. Hairless kittens are born with open eyes; those with fur open their eyes on the 5th day after birth.
How to care?
Caring for gray-white cats is not much different from caring for animals whose fur has other shades. However, there are still some characteristic features.
So, in the process of keeping an animal, as well as caring for it, one should take into account all the features of the breed that are characteristic of this animal
Particular attention should be paid to the behavioral patterns of cats.
In addition, as a general rule, when eating, you should avoid including animal products rich in iodine in your diet. The thing is that a high content of this component in the animal’s body can affect its appearance in such a way that the gray-white wool will have a brownish tint. If you want to preserve the original purity of the color, then this rule should in no case be neglected.
The diet must be saturated with all microelements and substances that are necessary for the full growth and development of the animal. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer dry food or natural food.
Due to the light color of the coat, grooming measures for it deserve special attention. Gray-white cats need bathing and hygiene procedures more often than other cats. This is especially true for those animals that spend a lot of time outside (for example, if you live in a private house and let your cat out into the yard). Combing procedures are also necessary, the regularity of which depends on the length of the fur of a particular animal.
Of course, to keep a cat at home, it must be provided with all the necessary equipment: a tray that acts as a toilet, its own bed, bowls of food and water, and a scratching post. Try to create the most comfortable and convenient conditions for the cat, because in your apartment he should feel at home, and not as a guest.
Despite the fact that all of the above aspects of cat care and maintenance are very important, the basic and basic principle of keeping a pet is still constant monitoring of its health. In order to maintain the animal's health at the proper level, from the very first day of keeping him, make sure that he has received all vaccinations and other necessary medical procedures. Do not forget about regular systematic visits to the veterinarian to treat the animal for fleas, worms and other harmful organisms.
Thus, you and I were able to see that in nature there are a huge number of species and breeds of gray-white cats. Some are more valuable and cost more than others. Despite this, there is no doubt that regardless of breed or lack thereof, the gray and white color attracts many
It is important to remember that the physiological and psychological characteristics of a particular animal will depend more on its breed, and not on its color. Therefore, before buying a pet, carefully study the characteristic features of cats of the exact type you plan to have at home.
About the Siberian breed of gray cats, see the video below.
Blue eyed cat
Piercing gaze
This is how the name of the breed is translated from Spanish. Most “cat lovers” know this cat under the name “Ojos Azules”. The breed was bred in America in the 80s of the last century. Widespread in its homeland, practically nothing is known about Ojos Azules outside its borders.
Representatives of the breed are small (from 2.5 to 5 kg), very calm, with an unusual color and eye color. American breeders claim that the temperament of blue-eyed cats is so calm that the animals can be kept even in the smallest apartments. Ojos Azules are considered one of the most gentle breeds in the world; there is an opinion that these cats will never respond to aggression with aggression, preferring to hide somewhere rather than use their claws and teeth.
Bicolors with genetically linked blue eyes
There are only two such breeds: Ojos Azules (Spanish) and Altai Blue-Eyes (native to the Russian Federation), these cats can have short and semi-long hair.
Ojos Azules
Both cat breeds are very rare and are not recognized by official international felinological systems; breeding work with these breeds is carried out at the experimental stage.
In both breeds, blue eyes are associated with the white spotting gene, that is, the color outside of white can be any color, but the eyes are only blue. Enthusiasts are breeding to reduce the amount of white hair in order to obtain a blue-eyed cat with a few white hairs.
Thai cat
An old-type “Siamese” or a separate breed?
The breed is closed, it is almost impossible to purchase a kitten. “Thais” are distinguished from modern Siamese cats by a richer coat color and a completely different type of face and body build. It is believed that the modern Thai breed is the old-type Siamese cat, as it was in the 17th-19th centuries.
The predominant color of “Thais” is color point. The mask on the face, ears, paws and tail are darker than the main color of the coat.
Animals' eyes are usually deep blue. Cats with blue eyes can be found, but are considered a waste. Such “Thais” are not allowed to breed.
As for its character, almost nothing is known about it due to the rarity of the animal. A few breeders claim that representatives of the breed are affectionate, talkative, like modern “Siamese”, have a sense of self-esteem and a well-developed intellect.
British and Persian
The muscular and squat Briton has the largest palette of eye shades: from blue to dark copper, and in a white cat with different eyes, one eye can be blue and the other gold.
However, blue eyes in representatives of this species are quite rare. The animal is balanced, devoted to its owner and can become a true friend, although it behaves somewhat coldly and does not like encroachments on its freedom. Its plush soft skin and puffy cheeks make it look like a teddy bear.
Persians can also be snow-white and blue-eyed, although standard Persians have the right to 3 eye color options: blue, orange and different, when one eye is blue and the other is orange.
Considering the length of Persian hair and the white color of the coat, you need to understand how long it will take to care for such an animal, and what a labor-intensive process it is. But Persians do not cause any other trouble: they are phlegmatic, even lazy, and lie calmly in one place for hours.
Snow-shoe
One shoe for all the shoes
Snow-white slipper, bred as a result of mating a Siamese cat and an American Shorthair. A distinctive feature of the snowshu is an inverted “tick” on its face, “slippers” on its front legs and huge blue eyes.
Representatives of the breed have a very specific disposition. Most cats are affectionate and sociable, but there are “alternatively gifted” individuals. Woe to anyone who owns such a cat. These individuals are aggressive, have a loud voice, and scream with or without reason. For the most part, snowshoes are silent people, attached to people. Some of our “alternatively gifted” brothers, on the contrary, love solitude and prefer to solve problems with a loud cry coupled with hitting the irritant with a clawed paw.
Turkish Angora
Gorgeous appearance
National treasure of Turkey. No, this is not a joke. The breed was recognized as such in 1930. Despite its unusual appearance, being the pride of the country, the Turkish Angora has long been considered an aboriginal cat; the WCF did not recognize the breed. Only in the 70s of the last century was justice achieved and the Turkish Angora was finally recognized. Today, the breed is recognized by all felinological organizations.
In the 20th century, only white cats were officially recognized. Nowadays, other colors are also acceptable. Moreover, completely white, blue-eyed cats have not been exported from Turkey for a long time, but animals with a different color are welcome, as many as you like.
Despite their luxurious appearance, Angoras are characteristic companions. Representatives of the breed are famous for their willfulness and independence. Communication with the owner is necessary, but is not the meaning of life for this breed. And the lack of the ability to climb and jump to heights leads to the fact that the cat begins to waste away. Angoras are very active animals; they love to jump, run and sit at heights. The best entertainment is hunting for a toy mouse. By the way, representatives of the breed will not refuse a live mouse.
Genetics of white color
Despite the same color, cats can be white for various reasons:
- white albino - congenital absence of the coloring pigment melanin (red or blue eyes);
- dominant white - the dominant W gene blocks the work of other genes responsible for color;
- solid white spots - the white spots are so close that they visually merge into one uniform white spot.
The dominant W gene can disrupt the formation of not only pigment cells, but also other nearby ones - the iris of the eye and the organ of Corti. As a result, blondes appear with blue or different eyes (one must be blue). Blue-eyed animals are often born hard of hearing or completely deaf. Cats with different eyes may be deaf in one ear—the blue eye side.
The stereotype that all white, blue-eyed cats pay for their angelic appearance with absolute deafness has long been refuted by felinologists. About 50% suffer from hearing loss, and only 5% cannot hear anything at all.
However, deaf cats are far from helpless. The lack of hearing aggravates other organs, due to which pets are perfectly oriented in space and recognize the voices of their owners using air vibrations, which are caught by the vibrissae on the whiskers. Often, owners of white blue-eyes do not even realize that they are completely deaf.
Not all white cats are deaf, and deafness does not depend on eye color. We had a white cat, Angora, purebred, blue-eyed. The cat's owners thought that he was also deaf and gave it to him as a gift. It turned out that he wasn’t deaf, but he didn’t care. He heard perfectly - he figured out by the sound where the sparrows had hatched and feasted on them. I heard my grandfather’s car from the turn (2 km, Niva) and went out and waited for the freshly caught fish. It’s difficult to check a kitten - you can throw a bunch of keys nearby or rustle loudly with a film, but there’s no guarantee that it will react.
Nadejna
https://forum.materinstvo.ru/lofiversion/index.php/t2140733.html
Albinos are almost never deaf from birth. The eye color of albinos is less saturated than that of cats with a dominant white color.
Absolutely all kittens are born with blue eyes. A permanent shade of the iris is formed only after 4–14 weeks.
