Answer: No, white cats are not always deaf, but unfortunately a significant proportion of them are.
The gene responsible for white coat color is often linked to a gene responsible malformation of that part of the inner ear (cochlea) which is sensitive to sound waves. This means that the condition is inherited and that it cannot be corrected subsequently.
With the exception of cats crying Siamese and Burmese dilutions, blue eye white cats are usually deaf. Also, a white cat with only one blue eye usually be deaf in one ear, through not necessarily on the same side as the blue ye. Although many white cats have blue yes, the color of a cat’s eyes is inherited independently of the color of the coat. Up to about three months of age all kittens have blue eyes; only afterwards do the true adult eye colors become apparent.
Totally deaf cats usually appear to be hyper alert. To test for possible deafness, observe the animal’s reaction to sudden noise, such as a hand clap or whistle, but to rule out other factors, take care to do this out of the animal’s sight, e.g. behind it, and not so close that it might react to any movement of the air. Stamping on the floor is unsatisfactory because the cat will fell the vibration even if it heard no sound. But bear in mind that kittens are born deaf because their ear canals are closed, although this is corrected after nearly two weeks. It is normal for young kittens not to be able to recognize or oriented towards sound until they are three to four week’s old.
