Deafness in White Cats Tuesday Opt to Adopt

For Opt To Adopt Day, we're sharing from Blind Cat Sanctuary's blog post on Friday about white cats being born deaf. Here is some information that we did not know. (ttp://blindcatrescue.blogspot.com/2016/01/1222016.html)

Researchers found that 17 to 22 percent of white cats with non-blue eyes are born deaf.   The percentage rises to 40 percent if the cat has one blue eye, while upwards of 65 to 85 percent of all-white cats with both eyes blue are deaf. Some of these cats are deaf in only one ear. Interestingly, if a white cat with one blue eye is deaf in only one ear, that ear will invariably be on the same side of the head as the blue eye. 

What links blue eyes, white fur, and deafness? The combination of traits develops from a genetic defect in the set of embryonic stem cells that eventually become the cat's central nervous system, including hearing, and its pigment cells, which produce the melanin that gives eyes and hair its coloration. The white fur and blue eyes both are a consequence of a lack of melanin from pigment cells. Meantime, the same defect often also affects a cell layer of the inner ear that is essential for hearing. The resulting congenital deafness is noted by 3 to 4 weeks of age, the age at which newborn kittens normally are able to hear.

Penny, a cat at BCR just happens to be both blind and deaf.

From her sponsor me page: She was brought to BCR by a lady up in the mountains that had looked after her for a year or so. She stated that she had found her on her front porch one day and she wouldn't leave. She said she was allergic to kitty litter and no longer wanted the cat. She had tried for a year or so to find a home for her and no one wanted her. Penny was very lucky that a friend of the lady knew what was going on and BCR to take her. - 

Penny at BCR

Penny is a super sweet girl with a big time purr and loves to climb!  BCR staff has to always look up to find her because she will be at the top of the climber. She had belonged to someone at some point in her life. When the lady found her she was already spayed and declawed. - See more sweet photos of Penny at: http://blindcats.org/penny.htm

 



Guero is lucky and shows no signs of deafness. He still doing well with Prozasin. Have no idea why vet waited til last minute to try the medicine.  Yet thankful that the meds are working.

Guero

(Note: Silvia still short 50.00 this morning, because she had to take Gordo to vet Monday. If several folks sent a little - rent can be paid... I don't have the funds today to cover her rent. Thank you so much for helping Silvia and her kitties stay in their only home. -Katie. )

Jordi Is Deaf

However Katiez Furry Mewz looks after one deaf kitty who only knows how to hiss.  His name is Jordi and he is afraid of people.   

His only hope is a forever sanctuary that takes in scaredy cats...  When he was a kitten, he had just started to trust me, when a preventable event occurred... his feral mom was brought in to get her spayed and she stayed in the same room.  I never fully got his trust back. Although he will sometimes eat from my hand, and he does like treats... he stopped hissing long enough to get some Weruva one time and take his photo. 


Please check out Blind Cat Sanctuary Cats and find a kitty to sponsor! 
http://blindcats.org/

The Tuesday’s Tails blog hop is hosted by Dogs N Pawz and Talking Dogs. This is the blog hop that features shelter pets. Find a pet at your local animal shelter or rescue and join us!

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