# white cats deaf **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 12, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-cats-deaf/174693 "2003-05-12T13:47:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Summertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Summertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Summertime)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-cats-deaf/174693/1 "2003-05-12T13:47:06Z")
Forgive me if this has been asked before, but are white cats with blue eyes deaf? If this is so, why? if not, sorry then, carry on ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-cats-deaf/174693/2 "2003-05-12T13:54:07Z")
[http://www.messybeast.com/whitecat.htm](http://www.messybeast.com/whitecat.htm) > [@](#): > > There is an established link between the white coat color, blue eyes and deafness. The deafness is linked to the gene for blue-eye(s) and not to odd-eyed cats. Not all blue-eyed whites will be deaf since there are several different genes causing the same physical attributes (whiteness, blue-eyedness) so it all depends on the cat’s genotype (its genetic make-up) not its phenotype (its physical appearance). > > \ > > 95% of the general cat population is non-white cats (i.e. not pure white) and congenital deafness is extremely rare in non-white cats. > > 5% of the general cat population is white cats (i.e. pure white). 15-40% of these pure white cats have one or two blue-eyes. > > Of those white cats with one or two blue eyes, 60-80% are deaf; 20-40% have normal hearing; 30-40% had one blue eye and were deaf while 60-70% had one blue eye and normal hearing. > > Of the 5% of white cats in the overall population, 60-80% had eyes of other colors (e.g. orange, green). Of those 10- 20% were deaf and 80-90% had normal hearing. > > Deaf white cats with one or two blue eyes account for 0.25 - 1.5 of total cat population > > Total number of cats with white coat and blue eyes account for 0.75 - 2.0% of total cat population > > It is evident from those studies that blue eyed whites exhibit a higher incidence of deafness than do orange/green eyed whites or non-white cats! Butnot all blue eyed whites are deaf and here’s why:- > > There is a known link between white coat color, blue eyes and deafness - but since the coat and eye color can be caused by different genes it means that only some blue eyed whites are deaf. There is a gene/gene complex which causes white coat and blue eyes; it is linked to deafness, but not all cats get white coat and blue eyes from this particular gene. These cats have a reflective layer called the tapetum in the eye (green eye with flash photography), differentiating them from the Siamese blue eye. ---
**Author:** ![Summertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Summertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Summertime)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-cats-deaf/174693/3 "2003-05-12T14:10:44Z")
Thank you for the detailed and informative response. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-cats-deaf/174693/4 "2003-05-12T14:28:49Z")
Anytime, **Summertime**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Summertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Summertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Summertime)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-cats-deaf/174693/5 "2003-05-12T14:40:31Z")
I ask because on my morning drive, I sometimes see this all-white cat wandering the side streets. It doesn’t seme to have a collar, but looks “owned”. I wondered because of cars driving by, being deaf might make it more susceptible to being hit. ---
**Author:** ![Rib\_Eye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@Rib\_Eye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rib_Eye)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-cats-deaf/174693/6 "2003-05-12T18:41:54Z")
FYI - My blue-eyed white DSH hears just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Deadly\_Nightlight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Deadly\_Nightlight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deadly_Nightlight)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-cats-deaf/174693/7 "2003-05-12T19:20:46Z")
malcom x, my white blue eyed devil kitty was not only deaf, but he had no balance and was often seen falling off of counters, couches, chairs, and stairs. I miss him ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-cats-deaf/174693/8 "2003-05-12T19:47:41Z")
Cats with white ears are also prone to skin cancer. You are supposed to apply the factor 15 before you cat goes out in the sun. ---
**Author:** ![phraser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a88e4f/32.png) [@phraser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phraser)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-cats-deaf/174693/9 "2003-05-14T04:47:13Z")
**Deadly Nightlight** : The congenital deformity which makes some blue-eyed white cats deaf can also cause middle and inner ear malformations, and these structures are important in balance. This is, however, extremely rare.