Beautiful fluffy and smooth-haired breeds of white cats with blue eyes

Blue eyes are rare among representatives of the cat family, which is due to the limited number of melanocyte cells that give the iris a heavenly hue. Even less common is a white cat with blue eyes, looking impressive. A person who wants to have a blue-eyed and white kitten without a single spot should know that not every breed and not every pair of animals can produce such a miracle. Today we will tell you what breeds include white and blue-eyed cats.

White cat with blue eyes: breed overview

Features of white cats with blue eyes

White cats are active and inquisitive, they like to climb onto cabinets and examine household members or hide under the bed.

White cats are gentle and affectionate. They do not tolerate rudeness and cruelty. Animals love to be the center of attention and are able to detect the slightest changes in the owner’s intonation. Cats won't force themselves when they realize it's inappropriate.

Snow-white beauties prefer to sleep in the arms or next to the owner. They are quite smart and well trained. Owners of white cats note that their pets quickly become accustomed to the litter box and maintain the cleanliness of their luxurious coat on their own.

Kobe the cat

Genetics of this color

Three genes are responsible for the purity of white color:

• With albinism;
• W white color;
• S piebald.

If a female with the dominant white W gene is crossed with a cat of a different color, the kittens will repeat the color of the mother. The combination of two W genes produces variegated offspring. The iris of the eyes of such animals is bright blue or blue, topaz or green.

The S piebald gene is present in animals with white spots on the background of the main one. Visually, a cat is perceived as pure white if the spots merge. Eye color can be blue, yellow, green.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of snow cats:

• peacefulness;
• friendliness;
• self-esteem;
• affectionate disposition;
• agreeableness;
• sensitivity.

Disadvantages: hearing loss and the need for careful grooming.

The influence of genetics on cat color

In order to have the highest probability of getting a kitten of the desired color, you need to select the appropriate parents. To do this, breeders study the genetic heredity of cats and, based on the knowledge gained, breed offspring of the desired color.

The melanin pigment is responsible for the coat color and eye color of the animal. The genes responsible for coat color are located on the X chromosome. In order to accurately calculate the color of future offspring, you need to know that:

• cats have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome;
• Cats have two X chromosomes, which are responsible for the three main color options of the female: red (RO);
• black(oo);
• tortoiseshell (Oo).

The color of cats directly depends on which gene is carried by the only X chromosome of the parent - O or o. Depending on this, males will be black or red. Tortoiseshell cats are very rare. In most cases they are infertile.

In addition, there are a number of chromosomes that are responsible for the saturation, contrast and color pattern.

Cat breeds

White coat color is characteristic of many cat breeds. However, there are varieties for which only a white coat is acceptable. These are forinwhite and kao-money.

Khao-mani

Khao Mani is a cat breed native to Thailand. Translated from Thai, the name of the breed means “white gem”. In English, cats are called "diamond eyes". The distinctive features of the animals are snow-white fur and multi-colored irises.

Kittens are born with a dark spot on their head, but it disappears with age. Sometimes there are cats with spotted fur. The color of the iris can be amber, green, blue. About 50% of animals with heterochromia have hearing loss in one or both ears.

By nature, Kao-Mani are active and cheerful, they love to “talk” with their owner.

Reference. Khao Mani is an ancient breed. She is mentioned in the manuscript “Book of Poems about Cats.” For several centuries, cats were kept only at the royal court.

British

White Britons have the same breed characteristics as their blue counterparts. The fur is just as plush and soft. The iris is blue or heterochromic (one eye is blue, the other is orange). The British are famous for their calm and somewhat phlegmatic character.

Scottish

The Scottish Fold cat can be not only gray, spotted, tabby, lilac or black, but also white. There is also a straight-eared variety with the same plush fur. The solid white color is accompanied by a blue iris or heterochromia.

Maine Coon

The Maine Coon is a long-haired, large-sized cat with a stern look and charming tufts on its ears. The breed standard allows for a variety of colors, including snow-white, although it is much less common. The iris of the eyes is amber, green, blue or multi-colored.

Javanese

The Javanese breed is descended from the Siamese and Abyssinian breeds. White color always goes with blue eyes. The coat is long, the hairs are thin and prone to tangling.

Norwegian forest

The Norwegian Forest cat is a long-haired cat of large size. Any color is acceptable, but white is rare. That is why he is valuable. Slanting almond-shaped eyes are predominantly green and amber in color.

Manx

Manxes are adorable tailless cats and often have white fur with small black and tan spots. The iris of the eyes is green, blue, amber.

Neva Masquerade

The Neva fluffy beauty has a mask on its face that resembles a masquerade mask. The color usually combines snow on the body, a dark mask on the face, smoky toes on the legs and a dark blotch on the tail. The iris is usually blue, heterochromia occurs.

Exotic

Exot is the same Persian, but with short hair. The breed is often called a Persian for the lazy, because caring for a fur coat is not as burdensome for the owner as compared to daily combing the shaggy hair of a Persian cat. The snow-white color is rare and highly valued.

Cornish Rex

Cornish Rexes are funny babies that resemble a shorn lamb with curled wool. Snow-white, blue-eyed cats are rare. The color is clean, without inclusions. Paw pads are pale pink. Eyes blue or amber.

The final appearance of the coat is formed closer to the year. The body of the animal is covered with wavy fur. It seems that the styling was done by a professional groomer, and not by nature itself.

Oriental

There are a great many color options for the Oriental cat. Absolute white without yellowness is especially valued. The iris is green, topaz or blue. You can drown in such eyes! Heterochromia is also acceptable.

Snow Bengal

Absolutely white Bengals do not exist in nature. Even the snow color is still accompanied by a rosette. Experts distinguish three types of snow color:

1. Lynx (photo below) is the whitest, the spots are almost invisible. The iris is bright blue. There is no heterochromia, nor is there hereditary deafness.
2. Mink - the main background is gray and white, tabby pattern. The eyes are gray-blue with a greenish tint.
3. Sepia - warm honey background and dark tabby. Eyes with yellow or aquamarine.

Himalayan cat

The Himalayan cat is a color-point Persian. The main coat color is white, and the face is decorated with a cream-colored mask.

Anatolian cat

The Anatolian cat is a native breed, presumably a short-haired variety of the Turkish Van. There are numerous color options, including pure white or white with red spots. Heterochromia is acceptable.

Persian cat

Snow-white Persians have a soft undercoat. Eye color: honey, amber, blue. There are individuals with heterochromia.

Turkish van

The Turkish Van is a long-haired cat with a snow-white coat and single colored patches on the head, paws and tail. The iris is blue, amber, green.

Russian white

The Russian White is a rare breed created by crossing the Russian Blue and the Siberian Snow cat. The coat is short and white. The iris is green. The breed is registered in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In the USA and EU, the Russian Bela is still listed as an experimental breed.

Turkish Angora

The Turkish Angora is a beautiful cat with semi-long, dry and thin, crumbly hair of different shades. However, the white color is considered original. The iris is blue or heterochromic.

Balinese

The Balinese cat is a long-haired variety of the Siamese. Long hair appeared as a result of a natural mutation. The color is color-point, the main background is light, often white, the points are dark. There are also pure white Balinese dogs.

Foreign white

Foreign White is a pure white cat breed. This color was achieved through scrupulous genetic selection and inbreeding of ordinary Siamese.

The peculiarity of the breed is that, having blue eyes, cats do not suffer from deafness. Geneticists suggest that this is due to the long isolation of Siamese cats from other species and the purity of the line. There is confirmed evidence that hearing loss was transmitted through the line of Angora cats.

Reference. Translated from English, foreign white means “white foreigner”. The breed was registered in 1966 in Britain.

British and Persian

The muscular and squat Briton has the largest palette of eye shades: from blue to dark copper, and in a white cat with different eyes, one eye can be blue and the other gold.

However, blue eyes in representatives of this species are quite rare. The animal is balanced, devoted to its owner and can become a true friend, although it behaves somewhat coldly and does not like encroachments on its freedom. Its plush soft skin and puffy cheeks make it look like a teddy bear.

Persians can also be snow-white and blue-eyed, although standard Persians have the right to 3 eye color options: blue, orange and different, when one eye is blue and the other is orange.

Considering the length of Persian hair and the white color of the coat, you need to understand how long it will take to care for such an animal, and what a labor-intensive process it is. But Persians do not cause any other trouble: they are phlegmatic, even lazy, and lie calmly in one place for hours.

Breeds of long-haired blue-eyed cats

List of longhaired cats:

• Maine Coon;
• Persian;
• British and Scottish Longhair;
• Turkish van;
• angora;
• Javanese;
• balinese;
• Norwegian forest;
• Neva Masquerade.

Shorthair

List of cats with short hair:

• British;
• Scottish;
• Manx;
• exotic;
• Cornish Rex;
• oriental;
• Bengal;
• Himalayan;
• Anatolian;
• Russian white;
• foreign white

Bald

The white Sphynx has no fur. His skin is light pink, almost white, and his eyes are blue. Animals need careful care. They feel comfortable only next to their beloved owner.

Russian white

The Russian white cat first appeared in Australia from crossing a Siberian white cat with a blue cat. The result was a breed of Russian White cat, with velvety dense short hair, a graceful body, excellent health and blue eyes. Russian Whites do not require much attention, unlike Khao Mani, they easily tolerate loneliness, are calm and peaceful.

When choosing a white kitten with blue eyes, rustle a piece of paper behind him to understand whether he hears or not, however, even if the cat’s hearing is not all right, this will not prevent him from enjoying all the joys of life, since nature has endowed him with sight, smell and touch, as well as the highest sensitivity to sound vibrations.

And he will be able to take full advantage of all this if he has a kind and loving owner.

Nuances of care

A snow-white fur coat needs careful care:

• it is necessary to monitor the cleanliness of the house;
• brush and bathe your cat regularly, especially after walking outside;
• do not let the animal go for a walk in rainy weather;
• wash your eyes and clean your ear canals;
• change the filler in a timely manner;
• monitor nutrition - provide super-premium food;
• carry out deworming once every 3 months;
• treat for fleas and ticks twice a year;

Characteristic diseases

Snow cats are generally healthy, but heterochromia is common among individuals with heterochromia and blue eyes.

For example, Scottish fold cats suffer from pathologies of the cardiovascular system, have problems with the kidneys and teeth.

Persians have breathing problems due to the special structure of the skull and the curvature of the nasal septum. Animals suffer severely from renal failure, viral rhinotracheitis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Exotics are prone to conjunctivitis.

Orientals have digestive problems, suffer from bronchial asthma, heart pathologies, and strabismus.

Balinese dogs are diagnosed with congenital heart defects.

Why is deafness common among white cats?

In 1997, scientists conducted a study in which they were able to find out some facts about deafness in cats:

1. Deafness can be complete or partial.
2. Hearing loss is diagnosed in 20% of cats with a white coat and an iris of any color other than blue.
3. 40% of all cats with heterochromia are deaf. Hearing loss is detected in the ear on the side of the blue eye.

In addition, scientists have explained the cause of hearing loss in cats. Responsibility was assigned to the insidious mutant gene Dominant White (W-). At the stage of embryo formation, melanoblasts are formed in the area of ​​the neural tube, which produce pigment and transport it to the retina. With normal embryo development, the pigment is delivered on time. These kittens are born with yellow or green eyes.

But as soon as the mutant gene gets involved, the speed of transport of melanoblasts decreases. The pigments do not have time to reach the skin and fill the follicles. The same thing happens with the retina - the pigment does not arrive. Sometimes a minimal number of melanoblasts reach their targets, so only some areas remain white. If the pigment fills the iris minimally, then kittens are born with heterochromia. One eye is blue, the other is yellow.

Scientists continue to study the effect of the gene on the body of cats, because snow-white individuals have a decrease in reproductive function and vitality.

Reference. Genetics have also identified factors that increase the likelihood of deafness - long hair and blue irises.

Albinism in cats

Albinos are also found among cats, just like other representatives of the animal world. From a scientific point of view, an albino cat is absolutely colorless, since the “ca” gene is present in its genetic makeup. It is he who is responsible for the lack of pigment in the color.

Pure albinos with red irises are rare. The most common are albinos with faded blue eyes. The “c” gene is responsible for the coloring of such special ones.

There are complete and partial albinism. In the case of complete disease, the body lacks the enzyme tyrosinase. This variety is observed in 1 case out of 10 thousand.

With partial albinism, the enzyme is present in small quantities, and the melanin produced is not able to color the entire body. In such individuals, most of the body remains white, and individual parts are painted in different colors.

Interesting. Often females, not males, are born full albinos.

Khao Mani breed: distinctive features

The snow-white cat from Thailand, called Khao Mani, or diamond eye, has a very ancient pedigree. It is easier to care for such a cat than a Persian, because it is a short-haired breed. This species got its name because of the special cut of the eyes - they are brightly outlined and shine like diamonds. Although according to the standard the color of the eyes should be gray-blue, individuals with green and yellow eyes, as well as different colors, are now increasingly appearing.

Very few people will be able to purchase a cat with different eyes of the Khao Mani breed, since its cost is one of the ten most expensive breeds in the world. In addition, the breed itself is very rare, although it is now found not only in Thailand, but also in other countries.

It is better not to get this cat for those people who are rarely at home, because she does not like loneliness and does not tolerate it well. In character, cats of this species are closest to Siamese.

Signs and superstitions

Snow-white cats, perhaps, do not have as many conjectures and prejudices as black cats have. All signs and superstitions about white cats are positive:

1. A stray cat with white fur brings good news and change.
2. Such a cat is able to protect the house from the evil eye and all evil spirits.
3. In some countries, a white cat is considered a mascot. People keep such animals in their homes because they believe that they bring good luck and prosperity.
4. Girls who want you to get married as soon as possible should place 7 snow-white kittens in good hands.
5. Women are advised to keep a cat with different colored eyes at home if she wants to remain attractive to men.
6. If a white cat gets in the way of the newlyweds, they will have a happy and long life together.
7. If a white cat crosses the road, you should make a wish.
8. Snow-white murki collect negative energy, relieve stress, and guarantee success in any endeavor.

Such animals balance the psyche, normalize the functioning of internal organs, enhance brain activity, and eliminate depression. At least that's what scientists say.

What determines the white-blue-eyed combination?

The culprit, if you can call the unusual beautiful combination of eye color and coat color, is the melanocyte pigment. A high percentage of this substance gives the eyes a green or brown color.

In this case, the percentage of melanocyte content is low, since its paired gene “worked hard” for the snow-white coat color. As a result, there is not enough pigment for eye color.

Albino cats should not be confused with representatives of snow-white breeds. Albino animals lack color genes. Albino cats are extremely rare: one animal per 10,000 cats.

Siamese cat: origin story

Siamese cats have an exotic appearance. They are beautiful and graceful, but hidden behind their external attractiveness is a willful and independent nature. In addition, these cats have a magical attractive force, which makes many people buy such pets and then get used to their behavioral characteristics.

Photo: pixabay.com: UGC

The origin of this breed is shrouded in legends. She is considered one of the most ancient (along with the Egyptian, Abyssinian and Siberian cats). It is known that already in the 14th century these cats were part of the Siamese (Thai) culture. They lived in monasteries, Buddhist temples, and in the homes of the nobility and aristocracy of Thailand.

One of the legends said that the Siamese cat appeared thanks to the global flood. Then the male monkey that Noah carried on the ark fell in love with the lioness. They gave birth to a Siamese cat, which was distinguished by cunning and courage.

In Europe, for a long time, nothing was known about this breed, since these cats were considered the property of the kingdom of Siam, they were endowed with mystical and magical properties: they escorted the souls of their owners to the afterlife. The theft or sale of representatives of this breed was strictly punished.

Photo: pixabay.com: UGC

However, at the end of the 19th century, the King of Siam, as a sign of gratitude, presented several of these majestic beauties to Owen Hood, the British consul. Thanks to the diplomat, Siamese cats ended up in England and spread to Europe. They quickly became the most expensive breed. Only very rich and influential people could buy such a cat, among them Queen Victoria and American President Rutherford Burchard Hayes.

The situation changed dramatically at the beginning of the twentieth century, when these exotic purrs began to be bred en masse. Buying a cat of this breed has become more affordable. The fashion for Siamese cats, despite their waywardness, has not lost its relevance in our time.

Those who decide to get such a pet will find the information below useful.

Buy foreign white

Foreign Whites can usually be purchased from breeders of Siamese and Oriental cats. There are specialized nurseries that breed exclusively Foreign White cats. For example, in Moscow there is a large nursery “Orientville”. There you can choose and buy only a white kitten. There are no Foreign White nurseries in Ukraine, but many Ukrainian breeders breed Orientals and Siamese. The availability of white kittens should be checked directly with the nurseries. You can buy a purebred foreigner on Avito or Yula. When transacting with a private person, be sure to read reviews about the seller, and also find out more information about the pet. It is imperative to obtain information about the kitten’s parents in order to be prepared for possible hereditary diseases.

How to choose a kitten

You can buy a purebred Siamese kitten from a certified, well-known nursery that raises not only Siamese, but also other subspecies of this cat breed.

When choosing a kitten, pay attention to:

1. Upon reaching three months of age, Siamese kittens are weaned from maternal feeding, vaccinated, litter box trained and prepared for transfer to a new home.
2. For the status of the future pet: pet class for home education, deviations from the standard are possible, or breeding classes, shows for breeding and participation in exhibitions with increased requirements for appearance, color, deviations from the requirements of the standard are unacceptable.
3. The eyes of Siamese are prone to tearing, wateriness, and cloudiness. Therefore, the chosen kitten’s gaze should be clear, and the eyes should be free of discharge.
4. The skin surface should not have scuffs or baldness, and the coat should be soft and silky to the touch.
5. The oral cavity requires special attention. The teeth have all erupted, are white, and the gums are pink without ulcers or stomatitis.
6. The kitten’s behavior is not sluggish and painful, but active, mobile, playful. He must eat on his own and be socialized with other animals in the litter.
7. They check the presence of a passport with marks on pedigree and dates of vaccination.
8. When a Siamese kitten is 3 months old, clear signs of color appear on its nose and paws.

Breed cost

Siamese newborn kittens enjoy great love and popularity among the Russian population. Cute babies can be purchased from numerous nurseries, which are located in all major cities.

How much a Siamese kitten costs largely depends on the status of the nursery, on whether the baby meets the standard and conformation.

Important! Pedigree Siamese kittens are born pure white with pink paw pads and nose tip. The color begins to darken and appear no earlier than 2 weeks of age and gradually becomes more distinct as the kitten grows.

If you buy a pet not from nurseries, but according to an advertisement on the Internet or at a bird market, then the kitten will cost about 2-3 thousand rubles less, but without a guarantee that it is a Siamese breed and without corresponding authentic documents on pedigree and without vaccination marks .

When purchasing a kitten from a certified nursery with a good reputation, the owner can take a closer look at the baby and choose a healthy purebred Siamese with timely vaccination and deworming. The cost of such a kitten will depend on the purpose for which the pet is purchased:

1. Siamese cats with minor deviations from the standard are bought for love of the breed already sterilized or neutered, pet class and cost from 3 to 8 thousand rubles.
2. Purebred Siamese with a known pedigree and in full compliance with the breeding standards for breeding can cost from 10 to 25 thousand rubles.
3. Special elite Siamese cats from famous ancestors by pedigree, who take part in prestigious international exhibitions, are very expensive, from 30 thousand rubles and more.

Important! Siamese cat kittens are not suitable for all families. A pet requires not only love, but a lot of care and patience. And Siamese also do not get along well with small children; the cat may not understand them and may offend them, scratch them or even bite them.

Nurseries

Catteries for breeding Oriental and Siamese cats located in major cities of the country.

Deafness is the price to pay for the beauty of the coat

Indeed, according to experts, 50% of white and blue-eyed representatives of the cat world are hard of hearing. Of these, 5% are completely deaf. The genes responsible for the blue-white relationship interfere with the proper development of the hearing organs.

When buying a white cat from a breeder, be sure to ask for an examination document. The kitten may be deaf in one or both ears. If the cat has different eyes, then the ear on the side of the blue eye will not hear. A deaf white mother cat should be with her babies on a hard surface so that she can follow them by vibration.

The lack of hearing is compensated by the high sensitivity of other senses. Thanks to the whiskers (vibrissae), the cat recognizes the owner’s voice, or rather the vibrations from it. There are parents who have no idea that their pet is deaf.

White cats should not sunbathe for long periods of time. They have sparse fur on their ears, so they tan quickly. This is how a predisposition to cancer appears.

Foreign white care

Foreigners' ears are large. They often accumulate earwax and dirt. Clean your ears weekly with cotton wool or cotton pads. Buy a special lotion at the pharmacy for cleaning animal ears.

There is no need to brush your pets often. The coat is short and practically does not shed. It is enough to brush your cat three times a month with a soft silicone brush.

Foreigners are rarely bathed. They don't like water procedures. Short fur does not require special care. But the snow-white color obliges the animal to be bathed more often than Orientals of other colors. Washing your pet in the sink or shower once every four months is sufficient.

Nails need to be trimmed once every two weeks. Wipe your eyes with damp cotton pads every week.