White Cats With Blue Eyes Deaf

It is a congenital deafness caused by a degeneration of the inner ear.

White cats with blue eyes deaf. Why are blue eyed white cats usually deaf. Since the cat eye color can play a huge role in the hearing abilities of a cat finding out the cause. Some of the cats were deaf in only one ear. According to the aspca complete guide to cats 17 to 20 percent of white cats with nonblue eyes are deaf.

Congenital sensorineural deafness occurs commonly in domestic cats with a white coat. If 40 percent of these cats are deaf it means the majority 60 percent can hear. In a cat with the white spot gene the deafness usually occurs in the ear affected by the spot. Overall deaf cats with white coat colour and one or both blue eyes make up around about 1 1 5 of the total cat population.

The white color is very striking in full light giving. Of white cats with one blue eye about 40 percent are deaf in at least one ear. 40 percent of odd eyed white cats with one blue. And of course some cats of any colour may be deaf for a completely unrelated reason.

Hereditary deafness is a major concern in white cats and even more so if one or both irises are blue in color. Why are white cats with blue eyes usually deaf. 65 to 85 deafness occurs if a white cat s eyes are both blue. For this reason a cat with odd eyes can be deaf from the ear that is on the side of the blue eye.

Deafness is far more common in white cats than in those with other coat colors. Cornell university cites a study that found that 17 to 22 percent of white cats with non blue eyes were born deaf. 40 percent of white cats with one blue eye were deaf. The percentage rises to 40 percent if the cat has one blue eye while upwards of 65 to 85 percent of all white cats with both eyes blue are.

The deaf ear is usually on the same side as the blue eye. Eye color in white cats also relates to the potential for deafness. However in white cats with two blue eyes roughly 60 80 are likely to be deaf. However the prevalence of white cats does vary in different geographies.

Still look at it this way. White cats have always aroused curiosity in humans. Albino cats are not linked to deafness. The common belief is that black and white cats are unique in that they have completely different colored eyes.

About 20 percent of non blue eyed white cats also are deaf. And 65 to 85 percent of white cats with two blue eyes were deaf. Unless both ears are affected cats may never show any signs of hearing loss. An estimated 40 percent of white cats with blue eyes are deaf which is high.

In those cats with eyes of another colour only 10 20 are likely to be deaf. Researchers found that only 17 to 22 percent of white cats with non blue eyes are born deaf. 40 chance of hearing loss if a cat has only one blue eye. If a white cat has 2 blue eyes it is 3 5 times more likely to be deaf than a cat with 2 non blue eyes and a cat with 1 blue eye is about twice.

In those with only one blue eye 30 40 will be deaf so the majority will have normal hearing.