The name of the condition, albinism, comes from the Latin word albuswhich simply means “white”.
When a person or animal is albino, it means they have a genetic condition that makes them completely devoid of pigmentation or color.
Find out the differences between a albino cat and a white cat.
Albino cat and white cat: the differences
As in the rest of the animal kingdom, there are also albino cats. However, some people get confused when making the distinction between an albino cat and a white cat.
The main difference between albino cats and white cats is the pink hue of their fur, due to the reflection of the color of their blood. In reality, albino cats’ skin is not pink, but because they lack melanin, the color of their bloodstream is reflected in both their skin and their eyes, which are usually blue.
White cats, on the other hand, despite having slightly pinkish skin, have eyes of other colors. The reason a white cat has this color is that it has a gene that covers up other color genes.
The reason why an albino cat is albino is explained by the fact that it has a mutation that creates an absence of color.
Another major difference between a cat with albinism and a white cat is that white cats are more prone to hearing impairment than albino cats.
Studies show that many white cats are deaf, but it’s not that common to encounter an albino deaf cat.
Where did the albino cat breed come from?
I Albino cats are not a breedbut rather a mutation that can occur in any feline breed.
For a cat to be albino, both parents must carry the gene underlying this trait.
However, a cat with albinism is an animal quite rare. It happens more often to see partially albino specimens.
For example, many of the oriental cats, such as the Siamese and Burmese, owe their coloration to a variation of albinism.
Albino cats: characteristics
As mentioned above, for a cat to be truly albino, both parents must carry the gene for this trait.
Otherwise, the feline may have white fur, but there are many characteristics and details that make it very different from a “pure” albino cat.
Someone health characteristics that a cat with albinism can present are the following:
- Sensitivity to light
- Immune system problems
- Clumsiness
The character of an albino cat
As for his temperament, it will depend to some extent on his breed. The most important are factors such as her education and the degree of socialization she received as a puppy.
There is no evidence that the albinism gene directly alters a cat’s personality.
In the following video you can see an albino kitten in action!
What color eyes do albino cats have?
Albino cats have dal eyes very pale blue rosé. Cats with other colored eyes are not albinos.
Therefore, a green-eyed cat, for example, might be white, but you can rest assured that it is not an albino cat!
How long does an albino cat live?
Albino animals in nature have short life. Often the mother herself kills them because they are different. If left alive, they do not have great hunting skills, due to their lack of depth perception and inability to concentrate well, and are at risk of starvation.
If treated properly, a cat with albinism in the home should live as long as any other house cat.
Caring for an albino cat
Albino cats need specific treatments. These are some of the aspects that should be taken into consideration:
- Protect their skin from sun exposure: Lacking melanin, these felines are at risk of sun damage, including skin cancer. It’s important to make sure that an albino cat doesn’t spend a lot of time in direct sunlight.
- Protect their eyes from the sun: These cats are prone to blindness from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, as their eyes lack melanin to protect them.
- Strengthens Their Immune System: The immune system of cats and humans requires melanin. Therefore, the lack of melanin in albino cats weakens their immune defenses and makes them prone to disease.
- Help him move around with ease: Melanin plays a role in depth perception, so its complete absence causes albino cats to occasionally trip over things.
Albino cat: price
There is no such thing as an albino breed, and albino cats are rarely bred to preserve that trait.
However, there are some breeds that have certain genes for albinism, which is where their color comes from, such as Siamese or Burmese cats. The price of these breeds varies from 250 to 2,000 euros for the Siamese and around 800 euros for the Burmese.