Odd-eyed Cat - Deafness in Odd-eyed Cats

Deafness in Odd-eyed Cats

See also: Deaf white cat

There is a common misconception that all odd-eyed cats are born deaf in one ear. This is not true, as about 60%–70% of odd-eyed cats can hear. About 10%–20% of normal-eyed cats are born deaf or become deaf as part of the feline aging process. White cats with one or two blue eyes do, however, have a higher incidence of genetic deafness, with the white gene occasionally causing the degeneration of the cochlea, beginning a few days after birth. If a white kitten has any speck of another color, the frequency of deafness is greatly diminished, even if the speck of coloration fades as the cat becomes more mature.

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Famous quotes containing the words deafness and/or cats:

    “By deafness one gains in one respect more than one loses; one misses more nonsense than sense.”
    —Horace Walpole (1717–1797)

    “Animals are ever so psychic. There are some people who just can’t come in here.... The cats particularly. They seem to know. You can fool everybody, but landy M deary-me, you can’t fool a cat. They seem to know who’s not right, if you know what I mean.”
    —Dewitt Bodeen (1908–1988)