why are white cats more likely to go deaf or blind?
2006-08-20 15:26:57 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
White cats are more likely to be deaf only if they have blue eyes. Or one blue eye. It is a defect carries on the blue eye gene. They can still be great pets and be great cats even if deaf on one or both sides.
White cats do not have an issue with blindness, it is deafness.
2006-08-20 15:31:48 · answer #1 · answered by ARE YOUR NEWFS GELLIN'? 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The gene for deafness is in close proximity to the gene for white hair color in cats and the gene for blue eyes. Often, if one gene is passed on, the other genes close to it are passed on also. So, if a cat gets the gene for white hair coat, it is more likely to get the gene for deafness, too. Evidently, it requires more than just the gene for deafness to be present for a cat to have hereditary deafness. So, we understand that most white kittens are not deaf, but most deaf kittens are white.
2006-08-20 22:40:23 · answer #2 · answered by Protagonist 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a white cat that appears to be deaf. Her eyes are light hazel, her father which is also white has blue eyes, and can hear. My female cat is exposed to her father, tomcat white, and afraid they will mate. In-breeding is rampant here in the Philippines for animals. Many dogs and cats are small and feral, small probably from inbreeding I suppose.
2014-04-01 00:29:03 · answer #3 · answered by Richard M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
white cats with blue eyes are often deaf. I had not heard of blindness too.
2006-08-20 22:31:52 · answer #4 · answered by parental unit 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ummmm...I've never heard that before...But i do know a white cat and she's the most beautiful cat i have ever seen. She's 15 and she's reaaaally white. And she has one green eye and one blue...Neat huh?
2006-08-20 22:40:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it may be linked to what happens in other species like in humans which is called albinism, at least in blindness.
2006-08-20 22:33:18 · answer #6 · answered by Susy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably genetically conected to the color, and with the white ones with blue eyes most commonly, like as a trait that comes with the color because of the way it follows genetic patterns,
hey, i like ur screen name, it is my cats name too!
2006-08-20 22:32:00 · answer #7 · answered by metal_pyro_chick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont now about deaf but light eye coler is more suseptible to harm from the sun
2006-08-20 22:33:36 · answer #8 · answered by letta g 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sorry dun know ,but chinese say dun care white cat or black cat know how to catch mice is good cat
2006-08-20 22:35:18 · answer #9 · answered by vincent 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It has to do with the genetic coding and that color is linked to eyesight
2006-08-20 22:31:03 · answer #10 · answered by Jennifer 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋