| Title: | Meower Power is Valuing Differences |
| Notice: | FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY |
| Moderator: | MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO |
| Created: | Sun Feb 09 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Tue Jan 11 1994 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 5089 |
| Total number of notes: | 60366 |
I'm new to Notes, but would like to hear from someone who knows
anything about white, blue-eyed cats being deaf? My daughter recently
gave me this cute, white blue-eyed kitten. It's adorable...but
I do think it's deaf or very hard of hearing. The vacuum cleaner
doesn't bother it, or loud sounds. My daughter gave it to me because
my other kitty (7 months old) was destroying my house while I'm
at work. (By destroying...I mean knocking over plants, lamps and
getting into the dirt of floor plant and flinging it all over the
dining room!! She does not use the plants for a litter box, though)
She thought maybe a playmate would came her down. I think it did!
At first, she hated the kitten, but within two days, they are romping
all over the house, having a ball. My plants are starting to look
fresh again! The kitten will definintly be an indoor cat, especially
since I think she is deaf. I have an appt. with the vet next week.
I would love to hear from anyone.
Jld
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3052.1 | Genetix | SUBURB::ODONNELLJ | Thu Nov 16 1989 16:26 | 3 | |
It's something to do with their genes.
I remember reading about a recessive gene present in white cats
that can cause deafness - I think particularly with blue-eyed cats.
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| 3052.2 | ROYALT::MORRISSEY | Draculette | Thu Nov 16 1989 16:27 | 14 | |
I don't know all that much about it except that I believe
the majority of white kitties are deaf or at least partially
deaf.
The two in my building beat the odds though...neither of them
is deaf. (one has disappeared though)
I would think that if this kitten isn't frightened by loud
sounds (esp. the vacuum...mine hate it) it would be deaf.
JJ
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| 3052.3 | and then there's always... | ASABET::CUNNIFF | Thu Nov 16 1989 16:30 | 3 | |
see notes 2377.* for a discussion...
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| 3052.4 | CIRCUS::KOLLING | Karen/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca. | Thu Nov 16 1989 17:34 | 5 | |
Deaf indoor cats do very well. One thing to watch out for a little
is that she (he?) might be frightened if you "sneak" up on her. That
is to say, she doesn't have the warning from sound that a non-deaf
cat does that someone is approaching.
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| 3052.5 | No problems with green eyes/pink ears.. | ASABET::C_AQUILIA | Thu Nov 16 1989 18:10 | 6 | |
my kitties are all white with green eyes and they aren't hard at
hearing at all... believe you me. i think its mostly blue eyed
kitties.
verne, shirl and carlajeanne
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| 3052.6 | Re-read the book | SUBURB::ODONNELLJ | Thu Nov 16 1989 18:14 | 2 | |
It IS the genes. I just checked. It's the same with Manx cats having
a recessive gene (not the same one) which makes them tailless.
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| 3052.7 | I have one! | STAR::BARTH | Thu Nov 16 1989 18:18 | 17 | |
My Tristan is a blue-eyed, white, deaf cat, and he's a riot. He's
my favorite of my three cats, and isn't handicapped by it at all.
He's indoor only. In addition to my feeling about it, and the
obvious danger to a deaf cat outdoors, my vet said they are more
prone to skin cancer because of the lack of pigment, particularly
on their ears.
I think I've talked about Tristan in the note mentioned previously,
but if you have any questions about living with a deaf cat don't
hesitate to ask here or send me mail. Tristan, by the way, has
shared our home for over 6 years and he's a doll. He gets along
fine with our 2 very large dogs and 2 other cats. He did get
stepped on a couple of times by one of my dogs, because he likes
to fall asleep underneath things and she didn't see him, but he
wasn't hurt -- just very surprised.
Karen, Tristan, Tenzing and Max.
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