White cats: description and popular breeds

The snow-white cat is a very spectacular animal, it is impossible to take your eyes off it. Breeders and just cat lovers are happy to breed and acquire white animals. This color is quite rare, it is not easy to get it through selection, because the genes of dark colors dominate over light ones. Therefore, an even color in a snow-white range is so highly appreciated by experts and cat fans.

First of all, you need to understand that the white cat owes its luxurious color to the albinism genes. An albino kitten, in principle, has no color, the albinism gene is responsible for the absence of pigmentation. If you have a real albino in front of you, then the iris of his eyes will be reddish. Such representatives of the feline kingdom are very rare. But blue-eyed albinos are more common. To get a white kitten, you need to breed a cat with a white gene with a male of any color. If you bring together a cat and a cat, in the set of which there is this gene, then the color of the kittens is indefinable, it can be any. As a rule, cats with this genotype have brightly colored eyes.

The gene responsible for piebald produces white spots of a solid type at the output, but outwardly the animal looks completely snow-white. It happens that the spots do not adjoin one another, then the animal turns out to be spotty. Eyes can be of different colors. People who have white cats often associate them with features that are scientifically inexplicable. For example:

• a white cat crossing your path brings good luck, success, gain;
• a domestic cat of this color should bring prosperity to the owners, monetary prosperity, but someone else's cat that comes into your house will, rather, bring a material loss;
• snow-white cats cannot be offended, otherwise they will attract misfortunes;
• white cats are even credited with the ability to increase the chance of conceiving a child for a woman if she often strokes the light-colored skin of a pet;
• when attaching kittens, it is recommended to give cats to men, cats to women.

The color of the eyes of white cats can be different, it was already mentioned above that genes are responsible for this. That is why albino eyes do not have a pronounced color and stand out with a red rim. And here if the cat's eyes have shades of green, yellow, blue, the dominant gene of white has worked here... Sometimes these cats have different eyes, for example, one bluish, the other yellow. Among blue-eyed cats, a large percentage of animals with congenital deafness. If one eye is blue, the ear on its side may be deaf.

So, it was found that deafness in white cats is associated with eye color and genes. Ear degeneration occurs in 40% of odd-eyed animals and approximately 75% of blue-eyed animals. Hearing impairment occurs due to the fact that the gene for white color destructively affects the migration of melanoblasts producing and transporting pigment. This also affects the functioning of cells of a different order. The kitten receives this deviation as an embryo. Of course, not all snow-white cats with blue eyes are deaf. Judging by the total number of felines, this is just over 1% of the total. Geographically uniform distribution of such cats has not been revealed.

The risk of deafness in blue-eyed cats is about 4 times higher than in other colors. In addition, it has been proven that cats with long hair are three times more likely to be born hearing-impaired than short-haired cats. Deaf cats do not participate in breeding programs, they are rejected, but at home they can be started without problems. The only nuance of leaving is that they are categorically forbidden to walk on the street, especially without supervision, there are too many dangers for them.

There are many purebred domestic cats, which can also be snow-white, for some of them white color is a characteristic feature of the variety. We offer a list of the most common pets that are distinguished by their white color.

• Kao-mani. This breed has spread from Thailand. She is quite ancient, once upon a time this breed was considered a courtier and was inaccessible to ordinary people. Distinctive features:
  • snow-colored wool;
  • multi-colored or single-colored eyes of amber, greenery, blue;
  • many representatives of the breed have spots on their heads at birth, which disappear with age;
  • more than 50% of cats have hearing impairment on one or both sides;
  • animals are quite energetic, active in character;
  • they treat a person with confidence, are peaceful, affectionate;
  • this breed is one of the most expensive, very rare.

• Foreign white. These representatives of the feline were created by breeding in England in 1966, so their snow-white color is the result of human efforts. The ancestor of this cat is a Siamese cat. There are features:
  • color is white, snowy;
  • blue eyes;
  • there are no hearing problems in this breed;
  • the character of cats is very similar to the Siamese brothers.

• Balinez. This breed is a long-haired variety of Siamese. He mutated naturally without artificial interference.Representatives of the breed have long been considered defective, unsuitable for the standard, however, in 1965 it was decided to register the Balinese as a separate line. There are representatives of completely snow-white and color-point suits, when dark spots stand out on a white main background.

• Turkish Angora. Considered one of the oldest breeds, it was almost completely lost during the Second World War. Breeders were able to start recovering after they found a female and a male angora preserved in the zoo. The breed is still very rare. Distinctive features:
  • the animal has a slightly elongated body;
  • the coat is dryish, crumbly, thin;
  • there are different colors, the initial one is snow-white;
  • eyes are multi-colored or blue;
  • the disposition of cats of this breed is peaceful, benevolent;
  • active behavior, cats quickly become attached to humans and animals

• Russian white. This variety is the result of selection of two primordially Russian breeds - blue and Siberian white. The result is a cat of a rather calm and affectionate disposition, affectionate and very beautiful. The eyes are usually green and white in color. Despite the name, the breed is not bred in Russia; it is most popular in Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and is found in the USA and Europe.

• Turkish van. Representatives of this breed have an elongated coat, the main color is white, but there is a slight spotting in the area of ​​the head, tail, limbs. The eyes can be green, amber or blue.

• Anatolian. The appearance of this breed took place without human participation, it was created as a result of natural mutation. There are a lot of such cats, among the animals there are white representatives and snow-white with reddish spots. There are practically no albinos, the eyes can vary in color.

• Persian. It is a very popular breed found all over the world. Its representatives have long hair, thick undercoat, eye color can be the same or different.

• British. Another favorite among cats, most often smoky blue, but there are also snow-white cats. The eyes are most often blue. One of the calmest breeds, such cats are phlegmatic in temperament.

• Scottish lop-eared. This breed is very similar to the previous one in appearance and characteristics, the only significant difference is the drooping ears. There are representatives of a snow-white color, the eyes are most often blue, but there are also odd-eyed cats.

• Himalayan cat. A very spectacular representative of the feline, this is a variety of color-point Persian cat. The main color is white with a creamy sheen, with brown highlights.

• Devon Rex, Cornish Rex. They are almost hairless cats, their short fur is slightly curled. There are white individuals that are very expensive, since they are rare and in demand.

• Oriental. The color is snow-white, cold, eyes of a shade of green, topaz, blue, animals can be odd-eyed. Very showy and rare cats, therefore rather expensive.

• Snow Bengal. A snow-white cat of this breed did not avoid a specific patterned color in the form of stains and spots. There are several subspecies of this breed:
  • sepia - against a lightened warm background with a slight honey tint, darkened patterns, aquamarine or yellowish eyes;
  • mink - the base is snow-white, the pattern is bright, contrasting type, the eyes can be blue, gray, with a greenish tint;
  • Lynx is the most snow-white of all subspecies, patterns are almost invisible on animals, eyes are bright bluish, there is no hearing impairment.

And now let's look at no less status, but more budgetary breeds.

• Maine Coon. This breed is distinguished by long hair, a wide variety of color options, and rather impressive dimensions. White color is quite rare, therefore very expensive.

• Norwegian forestry. Representatives of this breed are also quite large in size.Their coat is long, the color options are varied, including white, which is very much appreciated.

• Manx. The main distinguishing feature of the breed is the absence of a tail. The snow-white color is common among cats, sometimes it is supplemented with mottling in black or reddish tones.

• Neva Masquerade. An incredibly beautiful cat with elongated coat, white body color and smoky mask, limbs and tail.

• Exot. It is often referred to as the Persian Sloth Cat, as the cat's coat is much shorter than that of the Persian. White suits are rare, therefore expensive.

• Japanese bobtail. Cats can be short or elongated, most often they are two-colored: white with black and reddish spots.

Since the snow-white color of cats, regardless of whether the breed is fluffy or short-haired, requires special attention, it is necessary to devote more time to caring for pets. They are kept in clean rooms, care for their wool, washed, and are not allowed out for free range. To make the animal look spectacular and maintain its perfect color, you need to try hard. To do this, you will have to not only take care of the coat, but also feed your pet correctly, and organize his lifestyle.

One of the main grooming procedures is combing; you will have to accustom the cat to it from the first days after purchase. A furminator is used for this, but this is the case if the wool is of an elongated type. If you do not accustom the animal to regular combing, each event will be accompanied by violent methods, scratching. Long hair is combed daily, hair must not be run in, otherwise it will roll in tangles. In addition, wool throughout the house will be provided to you. It will not be easy and painful to comb out the wool that is matted, so you should not allow this if you do not want to shave the cat baldly.

• small - for ears and head;
• medium - for the limbs;
• large - for the abdomen, back, tail.

A very important point in care is a manicure. It is necessary to cut the claws at least once a month or a little more often, otherwise the cat will start scratching and injuring itself. Use the special tweezers available from your local store or veterinarian. In no case do not cut the claws at the root, the border of cutting is the beginning of the claw capillaries, they must not be touched. In addition, provide the cat with the opportunity to sharpen its claws, otherwise it will start to spoil things and furniture in the house.

Eye care is also important, since many felines suffer from festering and tearing. If your cat is susceptible to this, you should consult your veterinarian. The eyes can be washed with, for example, brewed tea, but do not forget that it dyes the snow-white wool brown, so be careful. This is especially true for animals that participate in exhibitions.

In addition, try to:

• replace the contents of the tray regularly and in a timely manner;
• feed the animal well with balanced feed, you cannot allow food from a common table and give cheap feed, which cause many diseases;
• once a quarter to carry out prophylaxis of parasites, helminths with appropriate means;
• once every six months, treat the animal from insects superficially;
• timely vaccinate against rabies, infectious diseases;
• periodically show the animal to the veterinarian.

Breeding snow-white animals is a rather problematic activity, which has its own nuances with almost every breed. For example, for breeding Persian cats, a pair of completely white representatives of the breed is acquired, but this can also provide you with a surprise. After all, white is actually the absence of pigment, various colors are masked under it. Therefore, a kitten can be born with absolutely any color or spotted.

It is most important to keep track of the pedigree, representatives of other stripes in it practically guarantee the dominance of the pigment in subsequent generations. Experts say that there can be no one hundred percent certainty in getting exactly the snow-white offspring. There is only one way to breed exactly snow-white cats - to acquire a homozygous pair: a male and a female. This prevents genes from being split in the offspring, which guarantees the desired color.

See below for more details.