Not all white felines are deaf

Those of us that have shared our lives with many felines through the years can't help but hypothesize if color, coat pattern or fur length determine a feline's personality. The feline community does tend to make generalizations in this regard.

For instance, red tabby boys are generally thought of as affectionate and needy mama's boys. Black felines generally have great dispositions because they have to work harder to get their forever home because of centuries of superstition.

Any feline that is a brown tabby with long hair is categorized as Maine coon mix, which is thought of as affectionate, outgoing and termed to be "the gentle giant" of the cat world.

So I started to think, what about white felines? We have had fewer white felines at the shelter than any other color. Even pointed felines like Siamese or Tonkinese have been more common.

What genetically determines a feline to be white and genetically predisposes them to be deaf? As soon as anyone looks at our white felines they ask," Can it hear?" "Is it deaf?" "Does it act indifferent to people?" With these questions out there, I would like to eliminate some myths or generalities people may have about white felines.

White felines, unless albinos, carry a dominant gene that makes their true inherited color. This gene keeps the color or pattern of the feline from expressing itself. In some rare instances, there may be a patch of color in the under coat.

What about eye color? White felines can have blue, gold, green, copper or aquamarine colored eyes. They also can have odd colored eyes or any combination of one of each.

If a white feline has totally blue eyes, the underlying color is from a pointed cat such as the Siamese, the point-pattern just does not show because of the masking dominant gene. This composition is usually not deaf.

If color of the eye is due to lack of pigmentation of the iris, the cat has a greater likelihood of being deaf, especially on an odd-eyed white, (blue and another color). The ear on the blue side has a better percentage to be deaf, also called degeneration of the inner ear.

So, with this all said and done, all white felines are not deaf and they are not indifferent. I have had people tell me in the past that their deaf cat is more in sync with them emotionally because they feel vibrations that go along with emotions and they compensate with visual clues as well.

Today, one of the The Buddy Foundation's Featured Felines is an outgoing white wonder. She also is not deaf just in case anyone wants to ask the question.

All of today's Featured Felines share a commonality in the white gene with some variation in pattern. These felines also share another commonality. That is, they are all rather large, playful and almost awkward juveniles.

Their time for adoption is now, before they get passed over by the next season of kittens. All of these large kittens share the same playroom. For you, that means they love other felines and play well with others.

Featured felines

• Pearl is our largest kitten, only by a few months. She is a totally white, petite female. Pearl's behavior in the kitten room is rather interesting given her tender age. She leads the room in play, as if the rest of the room is playing follow the leader. She also watches over the rest of the kittens like a big sister or mom. She greets you as soon as you walk into the room. She is anxious for attention and readily purrs. Her only hang up is that she does not want to be held, she just wants to rub on you. I am sure once in a home setting she will learn to like being picked up slowly.

• Sabrina is white with small black patches. She was born at the end of April last year. She plays with all the kittens, especially Joker, and she looks for Pearl to lead the way. Sabrina would love to have other feline company, as that is all she has ever known.

• Joker is the male troublemaker in the room. He is a littermate of Sabrina. They play great together, but sometimes his is a little rough for Sabrina and Pearl. He just laughs it all off, hence he is the Joker.

Upcoming

• Celebrate Buddy's 23rd birthday and St. Patrick's Day Thursday, Feb. 22, at Chandlers Chophouse, 401 N. Roselle Road, in Schaumburg. Your donation of $30 in advance or $35 at the door includes a buffet and two drink tickets. Send your check to The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005, or call (847) 290-5806. Credit cards are accepted and tickets will be returned by mail. Visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org to purchase your tickets through Pay Pal.

• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 shelter. Call (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org.