Are White Maine Coons deaf?

Not all white Maine Coons suffer from hearing loss. There is a risk factor, however, that any cat breed with an all-white coat will be deaf. The risk is greater in a white cat with blue eyes. The same gene that causes the coat to be white (the “W” gene) is the same gene that causes hearing loss.

If a cat has both eyes that are blue, then there is a 40% chance of him being deaf. If he has one blue eye, then the risk is 20%. The cat will usually be deaf on the side with blue eyes.

There is a test that can be performed which is referred to as the BAER ( Brainstem auditory evoked response). It evaluates the components of the external ear canal, middle/inner ear cavities, cranial nerve, and selected areas of the brainstem. If deafness is suspected in any cat, this test should be performed.

The Blue Eyed Maine Coon

The blue-eyed Maine Coon cat could possibly be the most striking in the entire lineup. The solid white coat against those beautiful baby blues is stunning.

The color of a kitten’s eyes doesn’t change to their permanent color until they’re about 7 to 9 weeks old. Until then they will be what we call “baby blue”. This is a deep blue color – almost navy. Once the eyes start to change colors, it starts first around the pupil and works its way out.

With a blue-eyed Maine Coon, there’s a way to tell if the cat will have permanent blue eyes, as well as odd eyes. When you take a photo of a cat in low light using flash photography, the pupils don’t have time to close. The light from the flash passes into the eye through the pupil and reflects off the back of the eyeball.

Blue-eyed Maine Coons have less melanin in their eyes, thus causing the red reflection in the photos. This rule applies to people with blue eyes, as well!

Are White Maine Coon cats rare?

Only 1.5% of the total Maine Coon population are solid white. That makes them a pretty rare color. Having one in your home really gives you a new appreciation for this breed.

Some may worry that a cat of this snowy color may find himself being dirty or hard to groom. Quite the contrary the white Maine Coon cat learns to groom himself and keep himself snowy white so that you can feast your eyes on his beauty.

The only way to produce solid white Maine Coon kittens is for one of the parents of the litter to be solid white. Sassy Koonz has had two females that fit the strict qualifications in the breeding program, Blanche and Magic.