Deaf White Cat
Deaf white cats are domestic cats with a pure white coat. Some white cats suffer from congenital deafness caused by a degeneration of the inner ear. This condition is associated with blue irises. In white cats with mixed-coloured eyes (odd-eyed cats), it has been found that deafness is more likely to affect the ear on the blue-eyed side. White cats can have blue, gold, green, or copper coloured odd eyes.
In one 1997 study of white cats with varying degrees of hearing deficiency, 72% of the animals were found to be totally deaf. The entire organ of Corti was found to have degenerated within the first few weeks after birth; however, even during these weeks no brain stem responses could be evoked by auditory stimuli, suggesting that these animals had never experienced any auditory sensations. It was found that some months after the organ of Corti had degenerated, the spiral ganglion also began to degenerate.
Famous quotes containing the words deaf, white and/or cat:
“Who is so deaf or so blind as he
That wilfully will neither hear nor see?”
—16th century English proverb, collected in J. Heywood, Dialogue of Proverbs (1546)
“The whole white world is ours.”
—Hilda Doolittle (1886–1961)
“For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry.
For he is the servant of the Living God, duly and daily serving him.
For at the first glance of the glory of God in the East he worships
in his way.
For is this done by wreathing his body seven times round with
elegant quickness.”
—Christopher Smart (1722–1771)