Do blue-eyed cats go blind?
William Rodriguez
Published Jan 21, 2026
A: Blue-eyed, white cats are not more prone to blindness - either hereditary or acquired - than other cats. Your friends may be confusing blindness with deafness: here, the situation is completely different. Hereditary deafness is a major concern in white cats, and even more so if one or both irises are blue in color.
Are cats with blue eyes deaf?
Domesticated cats with blue eyes and white coats are often completely deaf. Deafness can occur in white cats with yellow, green or blue irises, although it is mostly likely in white cats with blue irises.
How can I tell if my cat is going blind?
Shine a bright focused light suddenly into the eye. A normal cat will be dazzled and blink, squint or turn their head away. A blind cat usually continues to stare ahead. Shine a laser light rapidly over the floor or wall in front of your cat, or drop cotton wool balls from a height beside the cat.
What cat is most likely to be blind?
But, as well as being quite rare in the general cat population, white cats have a reputation for being prone to deafness and blindness, as well as being susceptible to sunburn and some cancers.
Are blue eyes rare cats?
Cats have some of the most beautiful eyes in the animal kingdom, but when they're blue they're particularly striking. Because they don't develop eye pigmentation until they're about six weeks old, all kittens are actually born with blue eyes, but it is rare to have them as adult cats.
41 related questions foundWhat is the rarest cat color?
1. Albino Cats. The albino cat is the rarest of all coat types. Two recessive alleles in the C gene cause complete albinism, and it is extremely rare for cats to get both.
What are GREY cats with blue eyes called?
Chartreux cats are the national cat of France. This breed likely originated in ancient Persia and is rare outside of Europe. This kitty is almost immediately recognizable for its blue-gray fur and copper-colored eyes.
Can black cats have blue eyes?
So Is It Possible For Black Cats To Have Blue Eyes? Yes! However, due to genetics, it is not common to see a completely black cat with blue eyes. It is, however, highly common to see a black and white cat having blue eyes.
What color are blind cats eyes?
A cat's vision is similar to a human who is color blind. They can see shades of blue and green, but reds and pinks can be confusing. These may appear more green, while purple can look like another shade of blue.
How rare is a white cat with blue eyes?
5% of the general cat population is white cats (i.e. pure white). 15-40% of these pure white cats have one or two blue-eyes. Of those white cats with one or two blue eyes, 60-80% are deaf; 20-40% have normal hearing; 30-40% had one blue eye and were deaf while 60-70% had one blue eye and normal hearing.
Can cats suddenly go blind?
A wide variety of conditions can precipitate sudden blindness in a cat, including a burst of bleeding into the eye's interior or a traumatic blow to the head. In rare cases, a cat's ingestion of an antibacterial medication called enrofloxacin has also been shown to damage the feline retina and cause sudden blindness.
What do cats eyes look like when they go blind?
In particular, one of your cat's pupils might appear bigger or smaller than the other, which can signal the onset of blindness. Squinting can also be a sign to watch out for. Redness around the eyes or the eyes looking cloudy can be warning signs that should be brought up with your vet, too.
Is it cruel to keep a blind cat alive?
It is not cruel to allow your pet to function as a blind pet. In fact, blind pets are not nearly as concerned about their deficit as most owners. When your pet becomes blind, the cat will just rely on its sense of smell and hearing.
Are all blue eyed cats part Siamese?
All Siamese cats have blue eyes, including some half-Siamese cats. Siamese cats have a recessive albinism gene that leads to a lack of the pigmented iris eye membranes. This gene must be present in both the mother and father for a cat to have Siamese blue eyes. The recessive albinism gene may not affect eyesight.
Are all orange cats male?
Orange tabby cats are usually male.
In fact, up to 80 percent of orange tabbies are male, making orange female cats a bit of a rarity. According to the BBC's Focus Magazine, the ginger gene in cats works a little differently compared to humans; it is on the X chromosome.
Are all blue eyed cats Siamese?
Siamese cats are always pointed, and this is the only breed that will always have blue eyes. Within the breed, there are variations in eye color. For example, the eyes of a Seal Point Siamese can be a deep blue shade while those of a Lilac Point Siamese usually are a paler, grayer shade of blue.
What color can cats not see in?
Since a cat's cones are most sensitive to blue and yellow wavelengths of light, they do not see colors like red, orange, or brown. They are similar to people with red-green color blindness—red hues likely appear as the color green to your cat.
Do cats know their names?
So, do cats know their names? Yes, they do! In April 2019, an article was published in the journal Nature about this very subject. This study took place in Japan and investigated 78 cats and if they could distinguish their names from other random words spoken to them.
Does cat color blind?
While feline photoreceptors are most sensitive to wavelengths in the blue-violet and greenish-yellow ranges, it appears they might be able to see a little bit of green as well. In other words, cats are mostly red-green color blind, as are many of us, with a little bit of green creeping in.
Do kittens blue eyes stay blue?
Kittens' eyes will change from baby blue to the eye color they will keep permanently. Kittens with grey, green, or yellow eyes are likely 7 weeks or older.
Are all cats born with blue eyes?
All kittens are born with nominally blue eyes, and some cats retain this apparent hue throughout life.
What breed is a cat with blue eyes?
Cat breeds with blue eyes include the Siamese, Balinese, Himalayan, Persian, Birman and Javanese. Ragdolls are known for sparkling blue eyes, but not all Ragdolls have this color. There is also the very rare Ojos Azules breed, which can produce cats with dark coats and blue eyes.
Is my cat a Russian Blue?
To identify a Russian blue, look out for a cat that appears long and slender. Check to see whether the cat is around 10 inches tall to its shoulder, which is the average height for Russian blues. If you are looking at a Russian blue, you will also notice its thick, plush coat, and its distinctive green eyes.
Is my cat a Russian Blue or a Chartreux?
To summarize, Russian Blue cats have intense green eyes while Chartreux have deep orange eyes. A Chartreux cat is sturdier than a Russian Blue, which has more of an elegant figure. Finally, the Russian Blue has a silver shimmering to its blue coat contrary to the Chartreux which, therefore, appears darker.
Are Purple cats real?
No, it's a color. Many breeds recognize the lilac color, including Thai Lilac, Burmese, Siamese, American Bobtail, American Curl, Balinese, Bengal, Japanese Bobtail, Lykoi, Oriental, Persian, Himalyan, and Ragdoll.