Cat Health Problems Associated With White Cats

White cats are a favorite with many pet owners as a lot of us would like to have a pristine pet in our household. However, very few of us know much about white cats such as the reason behind its color, other interesting facts as well as potential cat health problems. This article lists some information that will help you to get to know your pet better. At the same time, you will be able to take better care of a white cat.

Facts about White Cats

There are basically three factors in cats that cause them to turn out white. These are:

• Dominant White: This is caused by a gene which masks the other colors and the result is a white coat and a cat that generally has blue eyes.

• Complete White Spotting: When the white spotting factor in a cat is dominant, it can result in a completely white coat in a cat.

• Albino White: Albino cats are different from the former two. In albino cats, there is no pigmentation at all. This results in the white color and pale bluish eyes.

Eye color is another aspect to look out for. Generally, it has been observed that a white cat with blue eyes is deaf. Again if the kitty has odd eyes, such as having one blue eye and another of green or other colors, then it is generally deaf in the ear close to the blue eye. In general, these type of genetic deformities are observed more in dominant white cats.

A white cat is very much prone to skin cancer and sun-burn. The cat health problems that occur due to repeated sun exposure are called squamous cell carcinoma. Usually, the parts of the body which has thin hair are prone to this form of cancer. That is why the ears, nose and eyelids get affected with squamous cell carcinoma if the cats are allowed to roam frequently in the sun.

There are some famous white cat breeds available, which include the White Persian cat, White Siamese Cat, Tuxedo cats and White Bengal cats. Among these, the White Persian cats are hugely popular and you can find them featured in popular culture such as Snowbell in the movie Stuart Little. However, before you bring home a white cat, it would be a good idea to learn more about it and the possible cat health problems that it may suffer from, so that you can take care of it in an informed manner.