Black cat or white cat: If it can catch mice, it’s a good cat
-Deng Xiaoping
Blue eyed black cats are just irresistible. It’s not easy to escape the spell they cast through their mesmerizing blue eyes. They just capture your heart, and then it’s impossible for you to get over them.
Only that is why I have advised you not to get close to them. And when it’s about kittens, their fragile little body, blue eyes and shiny black skin, the spell is even more powerful.
Though it’s not common in felines to have both black skin and blue eyes but when they have it, the aftereffect is unstoppable.
Stay away from them: they are hard to resist
If you ever happen to be in India, you will get to know that their black cat is a symbol of prosperity, good fortune and romance sensations. How paradoxical that if it cuts your way, this is supposed to be a bad omen.
If we delve into history, black cats are associated with witchcraft and evil.
When it’s about black cats with blue eyes, the combination is not limited to some specific breed of cats.
More common in males, the same genes combo provides for the color combination that is responsible for producing a sharp penetrating golden gaze in black cats at night.
Let’s talk about black cat with blue eyes meaning. It’s immense attraction!
I come across many stories where people can’t resist themselves approach these adorable creatures and eventually get themselves scratched. This is the level of attraction that manifests itself oftentimes.
That’s why I am warning you to stay away from them.
The mesmerizing attraction
The capacity of a black kitten with blue eyes to receive affection is amazingly huge. When a cute kitten saunters my way, honestly, it’s so tough for me to resist myself from stroking her.
Imagine the joy you can feel when petting one of the most eye capturing cat Skin-Eye color combination, Black kitten with blue eyes.
In this Article we are going to put light on everything you need to know about black kittens with blue eyes.
We will talk about the science behind their blue colors, cat eye color changes, what cat breeds are most likely to have blue eyes and black skin,Blue eyed cat blindness and deafness and websites to buy and adopt Black kittens with blue eyes.
How common are cats with blue eyes?
It’s rare.
Blue eyes of a kitten are natural but their eye color transforms as they age. So blue eyes in mature cats are not common.
When a cat gets mature, her eyes take their natural color inherited from the ancestors.
Though many white cat species show this trait i.e. Cats with light body color and darker-colored paws etc. It’s rarer in black cats. Later in the article, I have drawn some scientific explanation on this.
read about grey and white cat breeds.
The science behind blue eyes of black kittens
The blend of different colors in cats’ eyes is attributed to IRIS. Iris is referred to as a colored portion around pupil.
Iris has two layers, and one of these contain pigment producing cells. These cells, when abound, eye color gets darker. The pigment produced by these cells provides eyes with the color.
The paradox is: blue eyed cats don’t have any pigment producing cells because they are actually transparent . The blue color is just because of the refraction of light passing through their transparent eye coating.
Ever noticed that the edges of transparent colorless window glass have blue edges? This is refraction.
How do you tell if a kitten’s eyes will stay blue?
So you know why almost all the newly born black kittens have blue eyes. The reason is lack of color producing pigment.
The cells that produce pigment are absent in kittens’ eyes. Once they reach the age of 6 to 7 weeks, the number of cells abound and their eyes start adopting the parental cat color.
In some cats this age threshold is 3 months. This is the time when their eyes are mature enough and the Iris layer has enough cells to provide enough pigment.
These cells are called Melanocytes. They are responsible for skin color as well. Click here for more information on science behind cat colors.
Do black kittens keep their blue eyes?
At the age of three to seven months, the color of her eyes transforms. We will see that Blue eye color is biologically linked with their skin color, no matter even if skin is not blue, they are interlinked
As we all know all kittens are born with blue eyes, that blue color stays till the eyes are closed and right after they open eyes, the color starts transforming, provided everything is normal.
Is coat color associated with the eye color?
Coat color is the main driver. Cats having certain coat-color genes, particularly those having whitish effects, are more likely to cause blue eye color.
Cats with the white spotting gene can have blue eyes.
This blue color is even denser in perturbed cats- whose ancestors are all of the same breeds, or whose ancestry includes crossbreeding that is allowed in the breed standard. The reason is that they are generally bred by cats having more intense colored eyes and body color.
Actually, the biological connection between coat-color and eye color is not dominant in every cat. Only blue color, in particular, is connected with specific coat-color because both are created by the same gene.
The most common example of genes affecting both colors is white skin / blue eyes.
Do cats with blue eyes have trouble seeing?
No doubt blue feline eyes have charm, and every cat owner wants that pearl in her house. But that stunning feature of hers might be a cause of severe health consequences.
Most of the mature blue eyes cats have found to be blind. The reason is that the blue color of their eyes is not natural but a harbinger of abnormal eye activity. Missing pigment producing cells.
But this blindness is not common in the rarest creature; Black cats with blue eyes.
Nevertheless, if she does not adopt her genetic color even after months of her birth, you should consult your vet.
Are cats with blue eyes deaf?
You might have observed that blue eyed cats are often deaf, if only one eye is blue, only that side is deaf. “W” gene is the culprit here. It is responsible for white fur as well as blue coating over other eye colors.
The genetics behind deafness: The “W” gene curse
There is a “W” gene in cats.
This gene is linked with inner ear dysfunctionalities and might play major roles in your cat’s deafness. The same gene is responsible for white fur in many cats (Remember the gene we were talking about?)
So randomly chosen, the percentage of white cats being deaf is way greater than that of black cats.
What breeds of black cats have blue eyes?
Following are the species of black cats with blue eyes that you might want to have a look at:
- Siamese:
One of the most famous blue eyed cat. Excellent at making friends, has congenial nature.
Due to its elegant appearance, it had been enjoying royal status in Britain. Only problem is that it can be furious when you leave her alone very often.
- Balinese:
With Deeper eyes and silky soft skin, Balinese is second in the list. This species of cats is actually longhaired version of Siamese.
They have longer bodies and their heart capturing grace personifies the personality they are named after, Bali (An exotic dancer)
- Birman:
What’s special about their blue eyes is their glossy look.
They are considered one of the gentlest, affectionate cats out there, particularly suitable as a family pet. They are considered loyal as well.
Their extra shiny black skin makes them adorable.
- Himalayan:
A pointed-coated Siamese with a touch of Persian cats. Their coat patterns are related to Siamese, but their stature and physical attributes are more like a Persian cat.
Blue vivid eyes. The fluffy body makes them look elder than their original age.
- Ragdolls:
One of the most affectionate cats and already famous for their glittering eyes. Imagine the charm pouring out form black ragdolls having stunning blue eyes.
Their congeniality is at its best when they are in the company of human parents, that’s what makes them one of the most loved cats.
Final Thoughts
The kind of spellbind Black kittens with blue eyes have, It’s easy to see why cats in ancient times were considered to be mythical and magical creatures, especially when you meet a blue-eyed cat for the first time.
But unfortunately, the curse that we associate with black cats has affected them so much that their adoption and buying rate is lowest in the world. Their euthanasia rate is one of the highest in US.
“What greater gift than the love of a cat?”
—Charles Dickens
They might have been cursed and avoided historically, but there is nothing substantial in those dogmatic concepts.
All these lovely creatures need some love, and how they receive you in response is just phenomenal!! Now people have to agree that the beauty of Black kittens with blue eyes is just unmatchable.
So if you are impressed enough and now want to adopt a cat, click here.
If you already have a cat and her eyes are still blue, better take precaution and talk to your veterinarian and find out what you can do to make sure your blue-eyed baby is OK.
Reference
- Genevieve Van Wyden, Do Blue-Eyed Cats Have Vision Problems?, CAT HEALTH, The nest
- Cornell Feline Health Center, Supporting Cat Health with Information and Health Studies, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
- 10 Cat Breeds with Blue Eyes, Purina