Are odd-eyed white cats blind in one eye?

Question: Are odd-eyed white cats blind in one eye?

What does it mean when you see a white cat with two one blue eye & one yellowish-green eye? I've been told that a white cat with two different color of eyes means that it's blind in one. I just want to know if it's true. White cats are just beautiful regardless what color of eyes they have!

Answer: Although a cat with one blind eye may show a milky blue coloring in that eye, I think you may have been misinformed. There are some interesting facts however about eye color in white cats. These are both a matter of feline genetics:

• White cats with two blue eyes are often (but not always) deaf.
• White cats with "odd eyes," i.e. one blue eye and one green or yellow, may be deaf in the ear on the same side as the blue eye.

I am not aware of any blindness gene inherent in odd-eyed white cats, but I'm sure someone will correct me if there is. For more information on the genetics of white cats, read this outstanding article by Sarah Hartwell, writing for MessyBeast.com.

I do agree that white cats are extremely beautiful, regardless of their eye color. We shared our home for 18 years with Arthur, a beautiful and sweet female cat with blue eyes. (She was not deaf at all.)

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