Recently updated on February 27th, 2023
Especially for our white-cat-loving audience, we picked up some fascinating info you probably didn’t know about your purring Snow Kings and Queens.
As ever, we kindly ask you to surround yourself with adored snacks, hot tea & coffee, and turning on the music you love the most. Our team believes that these white cats’ facts will relax you after a hard day at school, university, or work.
Be ready to have fun, and let’s start!
1. White is the Rarest Coat Colour in the Cats’ World
There are dozens of cats’ coat patterns, colors, and shades like Tabby brown, Calico (the combination of three different colors), Tortoiseshell black & red, etc. But did you know that barely about 5 percent of felines have a solid white coat?
We can compare this with people’s red hair. Only 1-2 percent of the population can brag about such an exceptional natural color.
So, it’s a total royal flush if you are a redheaded hotshot owning a cute white cat.
2. The Reason Felines’ Born with White Hair is a Unique Gene
Like people with red chevelure, white-fur cats have both parents carrying recessive genetic traits. In simple terms, white cats merely have fewer skin pigments called melanin. In contrast, darker ones (black, red, blue, grey, and others) have lots. That’s why you should not let your Snowflake sunbathe too much.
We are curious to know that only cats with all-white coats can give birth to a solid-white color kitten. Though, do you know what is more amusing than that? The white color of the meow guys’ fur is not even a color!
But more about that in the following fact.
3. There is Something Hidden under This White Coat
The white gene is more likely a specific mask than a kitty coat color. As well as you are putting makeup on your face, mother nature has put a beautiful white cover on some predefined cats.
But under all these eyeshadow palettes, mascara, and eyeliner, there are your “naked” eyes, natural eyelashes, and body-color eyelids. And we’ve got the same story with cats. Snowball-like cats hide their actual color under the white “mask.”
Sometimes you can even recognize the actual color of your pet’s coat. For this purpose, you should watch your cat at a young age. Numerous kittens have a natural color spot on their coats. However, later, these spots may magically disappear when they grow up in a few months.
For example, if your favorite white kitten has a tiny red mark, his color is red. And white is just natural makeup genes decorated your purr friend.
4. Albino and White Cats aren’t the Same
We bet many of you, our dear readers, think that white and albino cats are alike. Notwithstanding, that’s a big fat delusion.
Albino cats have a genetic condition in the lack of color pigments in fur, skin, and eyes. In comparison, the whiteness of white cats is simply about white genes.
It seems impossible, but visually distinguishing a white cat from an albino is not so difficult. After all, albinos have a specific pink skin tone and eye color that varies from light blue to bright pink. Also, they can’t have brown, gold, and green eyes, as albinos don’t have melanin.
5. White Cats are Quite Sensitive to the Sun
Have you ever had such a situation that you immediately got burned when you arrived on vacation? We are sure that this has happened to you or your friends!
And the reason is that your skin, which is very light by nature or sitting for a long time watching Netflix, cannot get used to the sun so fast.
So, you understand now how your milk-like white cat feels the aggressive sunlight on his skin. The sun can be more dangerous only for albino and hairless cats.
Hence, ask your veterinarian about your cat’s sun limit, and please never let him go over it!
6. Lots of White Purr Friends are Deaf
Congenital deafness is common in white cats. The percentage of white cats born deaf is related mainly to eye color.
It’s 17-20 percent for non-blue-eyed white cats, 40 percent for those with only one blue-colored eye, and 60-85 for blue-eyed white fur guys.
7. People Perceive White Cats as Timid and Calm
Each member of our cat-loving team doesn’t like jumping to conclusions, but we couldn’t but mention quite-a-few things about magnificent white cats’ personalities.
Snow-like toms owner will probably confirm that white cats aren’t hotheads with paws in every pie. Although they are high-intelligent felines, someone describes them as cold and wintery. However, it only seems this way. In reality, white cats are amiable but also shy and quiet.
Sometimes it may seem that they are not very friendly because these cats, as we have already said, often have a hearing problem. In addition, the white color in some social groups means a feeling of coldness and inviolability.
8. White Cats Often Have Odd-Eyes
Heterochromia (most known as odd eyes) is common in white cats. In short, heterochromia makes one eye of your loved milkshake-like cat blue and the other green, yellow, or brown.
9. All-White Cats are Associated with Luck & Happiness
You should know that proverbs about white cats symbolize good luck and positive energy. It isn’t easy to disagree with these words. White is always about smth pure, cute, and cloud-like…
Our team thinks every cat means all the best to its owner, regardless of the coat & eye color, ear size, or coat length.
Each cat brings luck & happiness its way, and each cat must be loved as strongly as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How rare is a white cat?
White cats are not necessarily rare – their coloration results from a genetic mutation affecting their fur pigmentation. The white color in cats is caused by the dominant white gene, which masks other coat colors. This means that white cats can have different eye colors, such as blue, green, or golden, and can have different patterns and markings. However, some white cats may also be deaf, a well-known side effect of the dominant white gene.
What is unique about white cats?
Deafness: Some white cats may be deaf, a well-known side effect of the dominant white gene. However, this does not affect their ability to live a happy and healthy life as a pet.
Cultural Significance: In some cultures, white cats are believed to bring good luck and prosperity.
Do white cats have health issues?
White cats can have health issues, just like any other cat. However, their white coloration is associated with a genetic mutation that can cause deafness in some cats. In addition to deafness, white cats may also be more prone to skin cancer, as their lack of pigmentation makes them more sensitive to sunlight. White cats with blue eyes are also at a higher risk of developing a form of cataracts called hereditary cataracts.
However, it’s important to note that these health issues are not exclusive to white cats and can affect any breed. Regular vet visits and a balanced diet can help prevent or manage any health problems that may arise.
Are white cats more loving?
A cat’s love and affection are not determined by its fur color but by its personality and temperament. Some white cats may be more affectionate, while others may be more independent. Similarly, some cats of other colors may be more loving, while others may be less. The best way to determine a cat’s personality is to spend time with them and observe its behavior. Factors affecting a cat’s personality include its early socialization, genetics, and environment.
Are white cats mostly males or females?
The gender distribution of white cats is roughly equal between males and females. The white coloration in cats is determined by a dominant white gene, which affects fur pigmentation and can be present in both male and female cats.
Thank you for your time!
Please, share these white cats facts with your besties! The world should know more about our shy and cute Snowballs 🙂
Thanks for sharing your information on white cat’s. We have an adorable,loving,devoted pure white cat who is also very shy and wary of anyone who enters the house even if she knows them but our other mixed breed cats are ok.
Great information about white cats. I’ve had so many different coloured cats but this is my first pure white one I’ve noticed that she is the only one that has a superior princess attitude towards the others is this a common trait in white cat’s? She’s a very loving, adorable cat and never nasty to the others just sits above them watching
We have 2 cats. Archie is tabby and Harley is all white short hair. Harley is very sweet. He is like a dog. If you come to our home, he is ready to greet you. Archie pretty much just loves us. Harley will eat just about anything. He loves Dairy Queen ice cream. If you say Dilly Bar, he comes running. We refer to them as the boys. He will eat all of his canned food very fast and try to get Archie’s food. We do see the difference in their personalities. We do love them equal. If you are considering a white cat and there are 2, I think that would be cool to adopt both. We adopted Harley from a rescue shelter and he had a sister. We already had Archie for several months and did not feel that it would be fair to overwhelm him.
I had a white cat with beautiful blue eyes. It just appeared one day at the farm in the middle of winter. Its feet smelled of barn but I wondered why someone would just drop it off, and the nearest neighbour’s farm was half a mile away so I knew it didn’t walk that far or its paws would have been clean. It was about 2 months old and its coat was dirty. It could hear perfectly. I brought her inside and had her for 16 years. She was a one person cat and I was her person. That was 36 years ago and I still miss her. I called her “Blue.”
What a special friend she was to you! I had a blue eyed boy cat that was deaf and now I have a blue eyed girl cat who is not deaf. Her name is Luna Beam and she too is a one person cat. I will love her in Blue’s honor. Thanks for the heart felt post.❤️
I acquired a white cat over 14years ago. She was fully grown so assumed her to be about 18 months. Her fur is thick and medium length. In the summer she sits on the wall at the front of my house and greets everybody as if they were her long lost friend.her favourite thing to do is to roll about on her back. She keeps herself spotless and I only brush Hertford give her some extra love and attention .She is the best cat I-have ever had . Her previous owners loss was my amazing gain.
We rescued a pure white male kitten about 8 years ago. He is by far the best cat I have ever had. He is so smart it’s unbelievable. It’s almost like he can tell time, he comes and gets us up about 10mins before the alarm, he knows if we are late eating dinner (his dinner time too). He also knows if his bag of food is getting low and he will cry and cry until he sees his new bag come in then he’ll go rest peacefully. He is also the most loving boy but if you happen to make him upset he will surely hold a grudge to the point where you’ve forgot what he’s even mad about.