Dear reader,
I am glad to welcome you to the world of beauty and amazing seals! Today I want to talk about one special breed – white Maine Coons with blue eyes. Admit it, this combination is simply breathtaking – white wool and eyes the color of heaven! However, some people mistakenly believe that this is a sign of albinism. No way! The reason for such a bright appearance is the dominant epistatic W gene in the cat’s genotype. That’s only 40% of the time such cats are born deaf.
However, it is worth noting that any kitten can be deaf if one of the parents has this very gene, and it does not matter what color it is – white, red or black. Therefore, when buying a kitten, it is necessary to pay attention not to its color, because white is only a consequence of albinism, which means that your pet will hear you perfectly.
An interesting fact confirming the truthfulness of these statements: only 10-20% of white cats, of which only 5% on our planet, are born deaf. It is worth remembering that deaf cats need special home care, because it will be difficult for them to survive on the street.
Many critics consider it completely unfair that some breeders refuse to breed kittens from deaf white cats, believing that it is not worth increasing the number of animals with pathologies. As for the professional conscientious breeder of Maine Coons, he will never allow a deaf animal to breed.
It is best to check if your beloved cat hears.
Usually, non-deaf kittens make sounds much louder than their ordinary relatives, because they do not hear their own voice. Try to approach and always ask the guests to look at their feet so as not to harm the deaf cat.
So that cats can feel the vibration of your steps and have time to react to it, try to put your feet louder when walking. Be careful when touching: if a deaf cat gets scared, it can show aggression as self-defense.
In any case, you should not be afraid of deaf cats. After all, they are just as cute and beautiful, they just need a little more attention from us humans!
With best wishes.
Andrew Sinakin
Maine Coon Cattery “Fire Stone”