Why Are Most Blue-Eyed White Cats Deaf? Is a White Cat with Blue Eyes Always Deaf? The Truth About Deafness in White Cats
Why Are Most Blue-Eyed White Cats Deaf? Is a White Cat with Blue Eyes Always Deaf? The Truth About Deafness in White Cats
Few cats look as ethereal as pure white cats, and if they have a pair of sapphire blue eyes, they are simply feline fairies. However, many people are unaware that these ethereal blue-eyed white cats have a serious genetic defect - most of them suffer from congenital deafness.
Why Are White Cats Deaf?
In fact, almost all cats with congenital deafness are white cats. This is caused by a degeneration of the auditory organs in the inner ear. Some are deaf in one ear, while others are deaf in both ears. This trait is determined by a dominant autosomal gene known as the W (White) gene. This gene controls multiple traits.
Cats with this gene will exhibit all-white fur, and may also have blue eyes and congenital deafness. White fur is completely controlled by the W (White) gene, but eye color and deafness are also controlled by other genes, so they may not always be fully expressed.
What Is the Probability of Deafness in White Cats?
In the wild, deaf cats have a harder time surviving, not only because they are more easily detected by predators due to their inability to hear, but also because their blue eyes are sensitive to light and their vision is poor in low light conditions. (Please refer to: Why Can Cats See in the Dark? (Reasons Why Cats Can See Clearly at Night))
However, in the pet world, selective breeding has led to an increase in the number of deaf individuals due to human preferences and interventions. It is not very meaningful to directly count the probability of deafness. Studies have shown that white cats with blue eyes in both eyes have a deafness probability of about 60%-80%; white cats with blue eyes in one eye have a deafness probability of about 30%-40%, while white cats with other eye colors have a deafness probability of about 10%-20%.
Studies have also found that the overall deafness rate in white cats is about 22%.
How to Determine If a Cat Is Deaf?
It is much more difficult to determine if a cat is deaf than to determine if a dog is deaf. If there are two cats in the household, one deaf and one with normal hearing, it is basically impossible to detect. This is because deaf cats learn daily habits from normal cats, and they may appear to be no different.
It is relatively easy to detect deafness in a single cat household. Call the cat from behind or make strange noises, if it doesn't react, it may be deaf.
Do Deaf Cats Have Other Health Problems?
No, other than deafness, everything else is normal.
Can Deafness Be Treated?
No, congenital deafness cannot be treated, nor is there any need to treat it. If it's a deaf cat, don't let it go outside. Deaf cats can live a healthy life in an indoor environment.
Can a Deaf Cat Still Communicate with Me?
Of course. Many cat owners may not be able to tell for a long time that their cat is deaf, because deaf cats rely more on vision and vibration.
Try to communicate with your cat using body language, and with a little training, your deaf cat can also live a healthy and happy life.
Summary
Deafness in blue-eyed white cats is a common phenomenon, but it doesn't mean that all blue-eyed white cats are deaf. Understanding the causes and methods of identifying deafness in white cats can help us better care for these special cats. While deafness cannot be treated, we can still establish good communication with them, allowing them to live a happy life.
Few cats look as ethereal as pure white cats, and if they have a pair of sapphire blue eyes, they are simply feline fairies. However, many people are unaware that these ethereal blue-eyed white cats have a serious genetic defect - most of them suffer from congenital deafness.
Why Are White Cats Deaf?
In fact, almost all cats with congenital deafness are white cats. This is caused by a degeneration of the auditory organs in the inner ear. Some are deaf in one ear, while others are deaf in both ears. This trait is determined by a dominant autosomal gene known as the W (White) gene. This gene controls multiple traits.
Cats with this gene will exhibit all-white fur, and may also have blue eyes and congenital deafness. White fur is completely controlled by the W (White) gene, but eye color and deafness are also controlled by other genes, so they may not always be fully expressed.
What Is the Probability of Deafness in White Cats?
In the wild, deaf cats have a harder time surviving, not only because they are more easily detected by predators due to their inability to hear, but also because their blue eyes are sensitive to light and their vision is poor in low light conditions. (Please refer to: Why Can Cats See in the Dark? (Reasons Why Cats Can See Clearly at Night))
However, in the pet world, selective breeding has led to an increase in the number of deaf individuals due to human preferences and interventions. It is not very meaningful to directly count the probability of deafness. Studies have shown that white cats with blue eyes in both eyes have a deafness probability of about 60%-80%; white cats with blue eyes in one eye have a deafness probability of about 30%-40%, while white cats with other eye colors have a deafness probability of about 10%-20%.
Studies have also found that the overall deafness rate in white cats is about 22%.
How to Determine If a Cat Is Deaf?
It is much more difficult to determine if a cat is deaf than to determine if a dog is deaf. If there are two cats in the household, one deaf and one with normal hearing, it is basically impossible to detect. This is because deaf cats learn daily habits from normal cats, and they may appear to be no different.
It is relatively easy to detect deafness in a single cat household. Call the cat from behind or make strange noises, if it doesn't react, it may be deaf.
Do Deaf Cats Have Other Health Problems?
No, other than deafness, everything else is normal.
Can Deafness Be Treated?
No, congenital deafness cannot be treated, nor is there any need to treat it. If it's a deaf cat, don't let it go outside. Deaf cats can live a healthy life in an indoor environment.
Can a Deaf Cat Still Communicate with Me?
Of course. Many cat owners may not be able to tell for a long time that their cat is deaf, because deaf cats rely more on vision and vibration.
Try to communicate with your cat using body language, and with a little training, your deaf cat can also live a healthy and happy life.
Summary
Deafness in blue-eyed white cats is a common phenomenon, but it doesn't mean that all blue-eyed white cats are deaf. Understanding the causes and methods of identifying deafness in white cats can help us better care for these special cats. While deafness cannot be treated, we can still establish good communication with them, allowing them to live a happy life.
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