Are you a cat lover? Do you have a white cat with blue eyes? You may not know that most white cats with blue eyes are born with hereditary deafness. Because of this, white cats are a symbol for hearing loss and the deaf community.
Today is International Cat Day so we thought we’d celebrate with some facts about our favourite type of cat.
Hearing in Cats
There have been many studies done on hereditary deafness in white cats, and researchers have found this interesting link. According to the veterinary department at Cornell University, 65-85% of white cats with two blue eyes are deaf in both ears. If a cat has only one blue eye, they are less likely to be deaf. Up to 40% of white cats with one blue eye are deaf. The number falls again for white cats with no blue eyes, as only 17-22% of them are deaf. Most interestingly of all, if a cat has one blue eye and one eye of a different colour, and they are deaf in one ear, it is almost always on the same side as their blue eye.
Because of the high prevalence of deafness in white cats, they are a symbol for the deaf and hard of hearing community. At Hearing Auckland we have adorable white cat enamel pins for sale. Wearing a white cat pin is a way to show your support for the deaf and hard of hearing community, and purchasing one of our pins is a way to support our charity.
Hearing in Humans
Unlike the hereditary deafness in white cats, 50% of all hearing loss for humans is preventable. This comes from the World Health Organisation, who publish information about hearing loss in the global population. Luckily, there are lots of ways you can protect your hearing such as wearing appropriate hearing protection in noisy environments. For more information about hearing loss prevention, you can pick up a brochure in our clinic or find tips online. If you’re interested in protecting your hearing, talk to us about custom ear plugs, especially if you’re a musician, frequent concert attendee, or regularly find yourself in noisy environments.