Are White Cats More Likely To Be Deaf?

A snow-white kitty is a sight to behold, but that same beautiful animal may have a serious congenital defect.

Some white cats have hearing problems and may be completely deaf. A few simple tests will determine your pretty kitty's ability to hear.

There is something both romantic and comforting about a fluffy white feline.

That gorgeous coat, however, can carry a dark secret. The same gene that gives several breeds of white cats their stunning fur also puts them at risk for congenital deafness. In fact, some studies show that 22% of white cats will be born deaf in one or both ears.

About half of all white cats are deaf

and those numbers increase in cats with blue eyes, with deafness often found on the same side as the blue eye left blue eye, deaf in left ear; two blue eyes, completely deaf.

The reason, as you may have guessed, is heredity

The roll of the genetic dice that produces a white, blue-eyed and typically long-haired cat is more likely than not to produce a deaf one as well.

A white cat with one blue eye has a 39% chance of at least partial deafness

and a white cat with two blue eyes may have a 65% chance. Felines with a single blue eye are often deaf in one hear (usually the ear on the same side as their blue eye), while two blue eyes make an ivory cat likely to suffer total deafness in both ears.

With congenital deafness

cats have a problem with the blood supply in their ears. Kittens who inherit the "deaf gene" may begin to lose their hearing by 3 or 4 weeks of age.

Deaf kitties lack the small inner ear hairs that transmit sound to the ear drum, disrupting their ability to hear properly.

Not all cat breeds are created equal, and some furry felines are more prone to deafness than others

According to the book, A Standard Guide to Cat Breeds, the following breeds carry the (W) gene: white, Scottish fold, European white, Foreign white, Norwegian forest cats, ragdoll, Siberian, white Turkish angora, white American wirehair, white Cornish rex, white American shorthair, white Devon rex, white British shorthair, white Manx, white exotic shorthair, white Persian, white Oriental shorthair, and the white Maine coon. Purebred cats of these breeds may produce deaf kittens due to both mom and dad being potential carriers of the white gene.

There’s a similar genetic muddle at work in dogs

where merle, piebald and white markings are often linked to both deafness and blindness, again, typically on the same side as blue eyes and white ears. Merle-to-merle matings in breeds such as Collies, Australian Shepherds and Shelties are so controversial that some breeders condemn them, since these breedings can double-up on this dangerous gene, with the resulting puppies deformed to the point of having abnormally small eyes.

Living with a deaf kitty isn’t too dissimilar from owning a kitty with functioning ears.

The most important thing is to keep an eye on him at all times. The big outdoors is dangerous to hearing-impaired cats, so keep him inside or take him for walks on a leash. Fit your kitty with a small bell to keep track of him in the house. Approach a deaf kitty from the front, and move slowly to avoid startling him. Place your hand in front of the kitty's face before petting him, and move your hand slowly along his body so you don't scare him.

Cats can adapt fairly well to their impairment.

In fact, you may assume your cat has no problems because they've learned how to respond to whatever sounds they do hear. You may still want to have a vet test your white cat, though, since even if a kitty can mask hearing loss, it's still there. Being unable to hear a full range of sounds can put your pet at risk for injury, especially when roaming outdoors.

A number of tests are available to determine your kitty’s hearing levels.

The first, and most obvious, test involves making noise near the cat. Stand behind the cat and make a loud noise, such as a few loud words or a sharp whistle. A deaf kitty will not turn around or flick his ears back toward the sound. Your vet will conduct further testing, including a BAER test, to check your kitty's hearing. Small electrodes are placed under the kitty's skin to test minute amounts of electrical energy that determines his ability to hear. BAER testing is fairly complicated and your vet may refer you to a testing hospital for the most accurate results.

Overall, deaf cats with white coat colour and one or both blue eyes, make up around about 1-1.5% of the total cat population.

If a white cat has 2 blue eyes, it is 3-5 times more likely to be deaf than a cat with 2 non-blue eyes, and a cat with 1 blue eye is about twice as likely to be deaf as a cat with 2 non-blue eyes. In addition, longhaired white cats are 3 times more likely to be bilaterally deaf. 
In a feral situation deaf white cats experience strong negative natural selection pressure as:

They are deaf

They are photophobic (intolerant of bright light because of the blue eyes)

They have reduced vision in low light conditions

Cats who cannot hear can have a perfectly healthy, normal life.

However, there are a few steps that you will need to take to ensure their safety. Keep them out of situations where they need to rely on sounds to take cues. For this reason, it's best to keep a deaf cat indoors - they will not hear cars or roaming dogs, which could put them at great risk.