White Cats

White cats are truly beautiful creatures. Is there a cuter animal than a white kitten?

My family used to have a white cat when I was little. He had one blue eye and one green eye. His name was Capullo, which means flower bud and cocoon in Spanish.

And, indeed, when he as a little kitten he did look like a white flower bud. He was the pride and joy of my grandparents. Ever since, I’ve had a soft spot for white kittens, even though I love all types of cats.

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Have you ever wondered if there are any specific white cat breeds? I asked myself that question the other day and decided to do some research. I learned that there are no white breeds of cats per se, but many cat breeds do accept solid white in their breed standards.

Cat breeds that acknowledge solid white in their standards include:

• American Shorthair

• Maine Coon

• Norwegian Forest

• Oriental Longhair

• Persian

• Siberian

Indeed, one popular white feline is the Persian cat (which also comes in several other colors and patterns). Even though they look like puff balls with feet, they’re one of the most gorgeous breeds of cats.

Facts and Oddities

Due to genetics, white felines may experience deafness. Here are more interesting tidbits about white kitties:

--Cats with white fur are often born with "odd eyes". However, not all white felines have bi-color eyes (our family cat had odd eyes, meaning that he had each eye of a different color).

--White felines who have odd eyes usually have one blue eye and one green or yellow eye.

--A lot of white kitties have both eyes of the same color. Some have blue eyes and others have green or yellow eyes.

Blue Eyes and Deafness

Some white kittens are born deaf. Some people believe that white kittens with blue eyes don’t hear whereas white felines with yellow eyes do hear. Studies show that, in fact, white felines with blue eyes have a higher prevalence of deafness than solid white felines with green or yellow eyes.

However, several breeders have indicated that deafness does not occur in all blue-eyed white felines. Some of them say that they have bred white kitties with blue eyes who can hear perfectly. Others have reported that some white felines with green or yellow eyes are born deaf.

Interestingly, odd-eyed white felines might be deaf in just one ear. Usually, the deaf ear is on the same side as the blue eye. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. Some breeders have said that they know of white kittens with bi-colored eyes who can hear on both ears.

According to some studies, white felines of mixed breed have a higher incidence of deafness than their purebred counterparts.

More interesting morsels

• White cats come in both short hair and long hair versions.

• At least one of the parents of a solid white cat must be solid white. In other words, two non-white felines cannot produce a cat of white fur.

• White felines breed both a white color and a masked color (which is unseen to the eye). Many white kittens are born with a color spot on their head. As the cat grows older this patch of color disappears. It is believed that this spot reveals the masked color.

Notable white kitties

-- According to the Guiness World Records, Snowbie – a white kitty - is (as established in 1997) the world’s longest cat. This very long kitty measured 103 centimeters (40.8 inches) from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail. And, he measured 33 centimeters (12 inches) in height. Reportedly, Snowbie was not only long, but fat also. He weighed 44 kg at the time the record was set.

--Duchess and kitten Marie (Duchess' daughter), from The Aristocats, a classic Disney film.

--Coco, is a white Persian cat who appears in Disney's Jungle 2 Jungle, a 1997 film starring Tim Allen and Martin Short.

-- Kimba the White Lion was the protagonist of a popular Japanese anime series from the 1960s. The original name of the series was Jungle Emperor. The series was based on Osamu Tezuka’s manga of the same title. I used to watch this cartoon when I was a child.

Names for white kitties

If you have just adopted a white feline and are looking for a name, visit our page devoted to names for white felines. From the obvious (Milk, Snow) to the unique (Opera, Quartz) you will find lots of name ideas for your white little lion.

White Cat Pictures

Gift Ideas

If you or and your cat loving friends are fans of white felines, here are a few gift ideas inspired by them:

--Posters and prints showcasing white felines

--Figurines of white kittens

--Cat t-shirts depicting cats with white fur

--Jewelry pieces with white kitties on them

Do You Have a White Cat?

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