There are always those questions that, no matter who you seem to ask, no one can give you an answer for. Things that go beyond ‘why is the sky blue?’ (nothing to do with reflecting the sea either, just so you know) or ‘what is a fly with no wings called?’ (the best answer we heard was ‘a cripple’). Fortunately the questions we’ve compiled we can offer you answers for, so over the next few weeks expect to learn something new and fascinating about our animal brethren to boggle brains at parties and gatherings!
By now you must be wondering what today’s question is! It’s one that many people have asked, but it’s rare to find someone who can actually answer it: Why are white cats so often deaf?
We know this is quite a scientific question to get us started off, but we’ll put this as simply as we can. Deafness in white cats is often caused by a specific pigmentation gene. This at least explains why not all white cats are deaf as different genes can be responsible for the white colouring. Research also suggests that cats that have blue eyes as opposed to orange, green or yellow have a greater chance of being deaf because of what is known as the ‘Dominant White’ gene. This particular gene has an affect on the development of the ear canal and more often than not is seen in cats that are white in colour and blue-eyed. In cats with odd-eyes, one blue and one green, for instance, there is a high chance that the cat will be deaf on the blue-eyed side.
It’s something to take into consideration if you’re thinking about getting a cat or kitten. Be sure to check out any health concerns you have for the cat with the breeder before making any long term commitments. All the same, though it may seem like a huge challenge taking care of any deaf animal, a cat with hearing difficulties will get by in life just fine by honing their many other finely tuned senses. Be aware that deaf cats can be easily frightened, will often ignore you, and will have slightly more difficulty hunting, but none of these things are taxing to deal with. Just remember a deaf cat needs just a little bit more love and attention than one that can hear.
