White cat
Also called: Solid white cat, White, Blue-eyed white cat, Odd-eyed white cat.
Pure white is not a colour like the others: it is a gene that stops pigment reaching the skin and coat, hiding whatever other colour lies underneath. The same gene explains the blue eyes and why some white cats are born deaf.
What it looks like
White from head to tail, without a single spot, with a pink nose, paw pads and skin. Blue, gold or green eyes, or one of each colour. Some white kittens are born with a small patch of colour on the head that disappears as they grow: it gives away the colour they carry hidden.
The genetics, made simple
It is caused by dominant white, a version of the KIT gene: one copy is enough and it masks everything else, so a white cat may carry the genotype of a tabby, a black or a tortoiseshell underneath, and have kittens of those colours. This gene stops pigment cells (melanocytes) colonising the skin, the iris and also the inner ear, where they are needed for it to work. That is why blue-eyed white cats are at greater risk of deafness. It should not be confused with albinism, which is a different gene and very rare in cats, or with the white of a bicolour’s patches.
Myths and what science says
“All white cats are deaf”
False. Deafness is more common in blue-eyed whites: the figures usually quoted are 65 to 85% with two blue eyes, around 40% with one blue eye and 17 to 22% with eyes of another colour. They are old estimates and vary between studies, but they make it clear that many white cats hear perfectly well.
“They are colder or more aloof”
In surveys people attribute a more aloof character to them, but there is no evidence that colour changes personality. That said, a deaf cat may startle more if touched without having seen you.
Fun facts
- The Khao Manee, from Thailand, is accepted only in white and is famous for its odd eyes (“diamond eye”).
- A white cat with one blue eye and one of another colour often hears less, or not at all, on the side of the blue eye.
- Deafness in white cats appears in the first days of life and cannot be treated, but a deaf cat adapts very well.
Does it affect its health?
Two things are worth watching. Deafness: if your white kitten does not react to sounds, the vet can confirm it with a hearing test (BAER); a deaf cat should live indoors or with closely supervised outings. And the sun: the pink skin on the ear tips, nose and eyelids burns, and repeated sunburn can lead to squamous cell carcinoma. A scab that does not heal in those areas is a reason to see the vet.
In the cat diseases encyclopedia:
Breeds where it appears or is typical
This coat turns up in plenty of moggies. These are breeds where it is common, characteristic or accepted; under each one, the colours the breed comes in.
Khao Manee
Oriental · Thailand
Pure white only; blue, gold or odd eyes
Turkish Angora
Semi-longhair · Turkey
White is the classic, but almost all are accepted
Persian
Persian · Iran / United Kingdom
Almost all: white, black, blue, cream, chinchilla, golden, bicolour, tortoiseshell…
British Shorthair
Shorthair · United Kingdom
Blue (the classic), black, white, cream, lilac, chocolate, silver, golden, bicolours, colourpoint…
European Shorthair
Shorthair · Europe
Almost all: tabby, black, white, bicolour, tortoiseshell, red…; no colourpoint, chocolate or lilac in pedigree cats
Oriental Shorthair
Oriental · United Kingdom
Over 300 combinations: solids, tabby, smoke, silver, bicolours…
Cornish Rex
Rex & hairless · United Kingdom
All
Frequently asked questions
Are all blue-eyed white cats deaf?
Not all, but the estimates usually quoted put the risk high, at 65 to 85% with two blue eyes. With eyes of another colour the risk is much lower.
How can I tell if my white cat is deaf?
If it does not react to loud noises out of its sight, does not wake up at sounds or meows very loudly, it may be. The vet confirms it with the BAER test.
Does a white cat need sun protection?
If it spends a lot of time in the sun, it is worth protecting: limit sun exposure in the middle of the day and ask your vet about sunscreens that are safe for cats. Repeated burns on the ears and nose can cause skin cancer.
Can a white cat have coloured kittens?
Yes. White hides the colour underneath, and it can pass on to its kittens either the white or that hidden colour.
Educational content from Michipedia. The genetics of coat colour are simplified so they are easy to follow; colour tells you nothing about the personality of a particular cat.