White cats are more likely to be deaf compared to cats of other colors, but not all white cats are deaf. Deafness in white cats is strongly linked to genetics, specifically a dominant gene called the W gene that causes the white coat color and is associated with deafness and blue eyes.
- White cats with two blue eyes have a 65% to 85% chance of being deaf.
- White cats with one blue eye have about a 30% to 40% chance of deafness, usually on the side of the blue eye.
- White cats with no blue eyes have a much lower chance of deafness, about 10% to 22%.
- Deafness in white cats is congenital and caused by degeneration of the inner ear, specifically a lack of functioning melanocytes in the ear.
So, while many white cats—especially those with blue eyes—are deaf, not all are, and the likelihood depends largely on eye color and genetics.
