Are all white cats deaf? Understand the theory
Between the middle White cats And and Deafness It has been famous for over a century. In 1868, Charles DarwinIn the book A variation of animals and plants under breeding (Variation of animals and plants under breeding), already mentioned ”White cats with blue eyes almost always deaf”.
Since then, studies have confirmed that the prevalence of deafness in this group is high, especially in cats with blue eyes.
Not all white cats are deafBut the frequency of the situation frequency reunion is much higher than that of other colored cats.
The type of deafness in these animals SensorialDue to the absence of cochlea hair cells, the sound vibrations can cause nervous signals.
This condition is different from the conductor’s hearing loss, which can cause problems in transmitting sound to the inner ear, and is connected to the neurosensery, the sensual cells or the auditory nerve.
At birth, all cats are deaf, but hearing usually develops in the first week of life.
In the case of deaf white cats, hereditary degeneration in cochlea prevents this process, leading to total or partial hearing loss.
Studies show that deafness in these animals is inherited Autosomal Not MendelianaWith the standard of regression, perhaps the multi -genes.
For example, if both parents are deaf white cats, 70% of puppies have deafness, while others may have arbitrary, partial or normal hearing.
The diagnosis of the deaf is done by methods such as measurement Reactions of hearing strokeTechnology to identify electrical changes arising by sound stimulus. This method is used in scientific research, especially in the White Cat colonies, for studies on hearing loss.
It is important to highlight that deaf white cats are not albinos. Unlike the blue accent of deaf white cats, Albinism refers to the absence of melanin and very clear eyes. Moreover, there is no relationship between deafness and race Siamis.
Deafness in white cats usually does not bring other physical problems. Most people have normal behavior and without partisanship for sensory, motor or visual systems. In some cases, these animals have a good view, perhaps a compensation for hearing loss – a phenomenon in deafness.
