11 Fascinating White Cat Facts You Didn’t Know

Pure White Cats Are the Rarest Color

There are many colors of felines, all beautiful. And, of course, cats can have many coat patterns, including tabby, tuxedo, calico, and tortoiseshell.

However, among solid-color cats, pure white is one of the least common coat colors. So, what causes their all-white coats? If a cat has the dominant W gene, known as the masking gene, it will "hide" every other coat color and pattern gene in the cat's genetic makeup, resulting in a snowy white coat.

Many Different Breeds Can Have All-White Coats

Like calico and tortoiseshell cats, all-white cats aren't linked to a specific breed. Rather, many different breeds—both long-hair and short-hair—can present a pure white coat, including the Persian, Turkish Angora, American shorthair, Siamese, and Devon rex.

White Cats Can Have Very Unique Eye Colors

Did you know a cat's eye color is linked to the melanin production in the body? Melanocytes contain melanin, which is a pigment found throughout the body. If there are little to no melanocytes in the eyes, white or light-colored cats will have light eyes, especially blue.

All-white cats can have a variety of striking eye colors, like blue, green, yellow, orange, or a combination of colors.

Many White Cats Are Deaf

The same genetic factors that give white cats their snowy coats and unique eye colors can also cause total or partial deafness. The W gene reduces melanoblasts, which are cells that produce melanin. This causes chemical imbalances in the ear, and the hairs in the inner ear are destroyed, leading to deafness. 

This is especially likely in white cats with blue eyes, and they can become deaf at just a few days old. In white cats with one blue eye and one eye of another color, it's not uncommon for the ear on the "blue side" to lack hearing while the ear on the other side hears normally.

If your cat is partially or completely deaf, there are several precautions you must take to keep them safe. Be careful not to startle them and use visual cues rather than verbal signs to communicate.

It's also best to keep a partially deaf or fully deaf cat indoors at all times; they may have trouble avoiding hazards or protecting themselves from potential predators.

White Cats Are Not Albino

Having white fur and having albinism are not the same thing. There's a key difference: white cats simply have a gene coded for white fur, while albinism is a genetic condition that results in a complete lack of color pigmentation in the skin, fur, and eyes.

The easiest way to determine whether or not a cat is an albino is by looking at their eyes. White cats, as previously mentioned, can have a wide range of eye colors. Albino cats, however, often have eyes that look very pale blue, pink, or red. (Their eyes aren't really pink or red; the reflection of light against the blood vessels in their eyes just gives them the appearance.)

White Cats Can Get Sunburned, Too

Like humans, cats with light or white coats are at an increased risk of developing sunburn—especially on their ears, eyelids, and nose. Because they're more susceptible to sunburns, white cats also have a higher risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma or other forms of skin cancer.

It's important to take the right steps to protect your cat's light skin from sun damage:

• If your kitty loves to sunbathe, try to limit time next to bright windows between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is strongest.
• Consider investing in heavier drapes or shades that will help block or limit UV light coming in through your windows.
• Do you have an outdoor cat or live in an area where the sun is extra strong? Talk to your veterinarian about water-proof sunscreen designed to protect cats' sensitive skin.

White Cats Are Considered Lucky

Unlike allegedly unlucky black cats, all-white cats symbolize good luck and good fortune in cultures across the globe.

The well-known Japanese Beckoning Cat (also known as Maneki Neko) is most often depicted as a white cat. Originating some time around 1870, these figurines are placed near the entrances of homes and businesses to bring in good luck.

Many White Cats Have Lived in the White House

Appropriate, right? Several Presidents of the United States had white cats scurrying around the White House during their terms.

• Rutherford B. Hayes, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter—the 19th, 38th, and 39th Presidents, respectively—all had Siamese cats (although many Siamese cats aren't completely white, the majority of their coats are white).
• William McKinley, the 25th President, had two Turkish Angoras with equally exotic names: Enrique DeLome and Valeriano Weyler.

White Persian Cats Are the Most Popular

There's no doubt about it: white cats are gorgeous! But the most striking—and in-demand—white cat, perhaps, is the Persian. Their long, silky coat and big, expressive eyes look super elegant. It's no wonder they've graced kitty-themed calendars and pet food labels for as long as we can remember!

If you have a white Persian, however, you know regular grooming is key. Otherwise, you'll have a dingy, tangled mess, rather than a model kitty on your hands!

White Cats are Perceived as Shy

While every cat has a unique personality, people often like to generalize about the various cat colors and their personality types. Common generalities include tortoiseshell cats having lots of "attitude," orange cats being outgoing and friendly, and black cats being exceptionally loving. Along these lines, white cats are often said to be a little shyer and calmer than other colors.

Many White Cats Have Appeared on Television and in Movies

Eye-catching white cats have been featured in entertainment through the years. An example is the white animated cats named Duchess and Marie in Disney’s The Aristocats. Another example is the white Persian that played the role of Blofeld’s cat in the James Bond movie From Russia With Love. And a white cat was featured in the 1972 film called Bluebeard.