Conference misery::feline_v1

    There is a tendency toward deafness or hearing loss in totally white
    cats, particularly those with blue eyes.  It's got something to do 
    with genetics. 
    
    But, it's not true that all white cats are born deaf.  Right, Aja, 
    Verne, and Shirl????
                           
    Mary

    Welllll - I've heard similar things.  I have an all white blue eyed
    male that is NOT deaf.  I have heard that odd eyed (one blue eye
    one gold eye) cats are "always deaf", which I have found not to
    be true.  I have heard that "all" blued eyed white cats are
    "always" deaf, which I have found not to be true.  I guess
    it depends on the cat and what's behind it (meaning the
    parents, grandparents, etc.).  Maybe our feline breeders
    are more up on the genetics of deafness - I know I'm not!
    
    E.T.

According to articles I've read, it is a dominant trait for all white, blue
eyed cats - however, this does not mean that all white, blue eyed cats are
deaf....it is something to watch for in kittens....and is fairly common.

    When I saw this note I decided to call one of my two favorite breeders
    (my sister) and get the answer.  I knew that deafness in white cats
    was caused by the white spotting factor but not enough to tell you
    about it without some help.
    
    
    This is from "Cat Genetics" by A.C. Jude: (read to me by Jo Ann)
    
    "It is known that deafness may occur in white cats particularly
    in the case of blue-eyed whites.  In this connection P.W. Whiting
    suggests that the incidence of white spotting with the dominant
    white factor produces the blue eye.  In other words, that a white
    spot about the eye of a white cat causes the blue eye, while a
    pigmented spot about the eye of a white cat causes the eye to be
    yellow.  Further, that it may also be that a white spot in the ear
    of the white cat makes it deaf.  He points out that this would explain
    why it is difficult to get blue-eyed white cats with normal hearing,
    as it would be difficult to localize the white spot upon the eye
    and to keep it way from the ear.  This may also explain why odd-eyed
    cats are frequently faulty in hearing only on the side having a
    blue eye."
    
    Per Jo Ann...         
                  
    There are two ways that a cat can be white, "dominant white" and "white
    spotting".  Dominant white just masks whatever color the cat would
    have been and that is why A.C. Jude refered to a pigmented spot
    about the eye of a white cat because the white masks the pigment.
    
    The white spotting generally just falls randomly on the body (it can cause
    the whole cat to by white though).
    
    A Birman breeder (friend of Jo Ann's) had a Birman kitten in one of
    her litters who had one white ear.  This was caused by the white
    spotting factor and the kitten was deaf in that ear. 
                            
    
    From "Genetics for Cat Breeders" by Roy Robinson:            
    
    "In a recent survey of 185 white cats, 25% had yellow eyes and normal
    hearing, 31% had blue eyes and normal hearing, 7% had yellow eyes
    but deaf, while 37% had blue eyes but deaf.  (Bergsma & Brown, 1971)"
    
     
    Hope this helps.  Also, Dave McAllister is another good person to ask
    cat genetics questions.
                                                     
    Jan
    

    Aja goes selectively deaf at her convenience...
    
    Edd

    Thank you very much!  That was very interesting - I always wondered
    why - it seemed that 50-50% of folks think that it's odd-eyed whites
    not blue-eyed whites are deaf - I never knew what was right.

    Well Minnow is pure what and hears perfect. But she is a snob and
    ignores everything when she feels like it, I had a friend who 
    also insisted she was deaf, because she was all white and totally
    ignored my friend. Wouldn't you ignore someone who insisted you
    were deaf, and always called you Bethoven!

    Chauncey is also pure white and he has perfect hearing.  His eyes
    are greenish yellow.
    
    I know he hears me because he often talks back.  Little brat!
    

    Thanks everyone - guess it wasn't an "old wives' tale"
    

    And, I have a copper eyed white persian female who is deaf!!  I
    guess she must be in the 7%.....I was told she is a homozygous white,
    which means no matter what color cat she is bred with, she will
    only produce white kittens.
    
    purrs
    cin
    

    After relaying this in sign language to my pure white cat, she
    indicated that it is a lie.
    
    
    KBS
    

    
    I have a TOTALLY white 4 year old female that hears just fine 
    (especially when I use the can-opener!).  She has one blue eye
    and one green.
    
    I was concerned when I got her because of this "wives tale", but
    I couldn't resist once I saw her.  The other deciding factor was
    that I have a totally Black male named EBONY and searched for an 
    all white female so I could call her IVORY!
    
    In any case, I think this trait is true to some extent, but certainly
    not in all case (as has been proven by those that have white cats!).
                                                          
    Aint this file great!
    
    BC
    

    I HAVE A TWO YEAR OLD PURE WHITE MALE LONG HAIR WITH BLUE EYES.
    THIS A HEREDITARY HANDICAP THAT PLAQUES THESE CATS.  CHIPPER IS
    HIS NAME, AND ALTHOUGH HE HIS DEAF ENJOYS RIDING IN CARS, AND OTHER
    THINGS THAT NORMAL CATS DO NOT. HE ALSO LIKES THE VACCUUM.
    
    LISTENING IN ALBANY
    

    Tristan, too, is a blue-eyed, deaf white cat.  It's great fun to
    watch him ride around on the vacuum cleaner, try to make out with
    the dust buster, and otherwise do things that Tenzing thinks are
    nuts.  It's amazing how deeply a deaf cat will sleep.  He never
    takes "cat naps", he's always out like a light.  And he prefers
    to cover his eyes when he sleeps so he won't be disturbed by
    anything.
    
    I heard from the woman who gave him to me that the mother cat had
    a blue-eyed, deaf kitten in each of her litters, and that all of
    them died.  From this they assumed that Tristan would also die,
    and didn't bother getting him any vet attention!  :-(  Thank 
    goodness I found out about him, because he's a sweetheart, and
    they finally had his mother spayed.
    
    Karen, Tristan and Tenzing.