All White Cats Deaf

In cats inherited congenital present from birth deafness is seen almost exclusively in white coated individuals.

All white cats deaf. Not all white Cats are Deaf. According to the book A Standard Guide to Cat Breeds the following breeds carry the W gene. Over the years some myths about white-coated cats have been unfairly assigned to albino cats by an association coat color that is itself false.

Deafness is far more common in white cats than in those with other coat colors. White color of the coat occurs in cats in the following three ways. 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 deaf.

30-40 of cats with one blue eye are deaf. No this is not always the case. 5 of the total cat population are white.

Black and white cats do however have a different physique than most felines. In most cases of congenital deafness the deafness is pigment related and most of these cats have an all-white or mostly white haircoat. The gene responsible for the deafness in white cats is dominant and symbolised by the letter W for white obviously.

For deafness in white cats is not carried by a specific gene. These cats are not albino which is a complete lack of all pigment as they do have color in the irises of their eyes and they may have color in their skin or in part of their haircoat. In most cases of congenital deafness the cats affected will have an all-white or mostly white coat In this case deafness is most often inherited.

60-80 of blue-eyed white cats are deaf. However a lot of white cats with blue eyes are. According to the ASPCA Complete Guide to Cats 17 to 20 percent of white cats with nonblue eyes are deaf.