![]() ![]() Infection: The source can be agent, such as a bacteria, a fungus, a virus, or a parasite.Physical trauma: A direct wound to the eye can irritate the uvea.Potential causes for this abnormal eye color change include, but are not limited to: The eyes of a cat with uveitis may change to a different color abruptly, become cloudy, or turn red with irritation. Uveitis in cats is rarely a problem of its own it tends to be a symptom of any number of other conditions, all of which require veterinary attention and treatment. Uveitis, or inflammation of the uvea, can cause a cat’s eye color to change significantly and suddenly. The uvea, the part of the eye that contains the pigment, is the source of the first of these. Changing eye color as an adult or mature cat, on the other hand, is not only abnormal, but it can also be a sign of dangerous health issues. UveitisĪ cat’s mature eye color tends to develop and stabilize over the first 3 months of life. Some cats certainly develop different colored eyes, while others may have one eye present with two distinct colors. There is a higher reported incidence of blue-eyed, white-coated cats that have or develop hearing problems, and odd-eyed cats have a similarly higher rate of hearing issues than others, but neither blue eyes nor heterochromia necessarily mean that a cat’s ears are at risk. While old folk wisdom has long suggested that cats with blue eyes or cats with one blue eye are also deaf, it is not a valid generalization in practice. In cats, heterochromia or odd eyes may seem abnormal, but it’s usually no cause for specific concern. The section may be amorphous or take the shape of a slice of pizza or a piece of pie. Sectoral heterochromia: There is a spot or section of the iris that has a different color than the rest. ![]() Central heterochromia: The area of the iris closest to the pupil is encircled by one color, and the rest of the iris is a different color, or a noticeably different shade.There are two types of partial heterochromia in cats, a condition in which one or both of a cat’s irises contain two distinct colors. The one we’re most familiar with is complete heterochromia, a condition in which one eye has more melanocytes than the other, leading to a mature cat whose eyes are each a different solid color. Just as there is a range of cat eye colors, there are also a few varities of odd-eyed cats. Because any cat might carry this gene, there is no specific breed or cat coat color that is necessarily associated with odd eyes. What causes heterochromia in cats? The answer is genetic, and it’s tied to the white-spotting gene, which is associated with coat color. While it is interesting and aesthetically intriguing, cats with different colored eyes are not unusual. Let’s turn our attention now to why cat eye color can change or appear inconsistent. There is no inherent link between a cat’s eye coloration and health or lifespan, and none of the standard range of colors - from hazel to gold to amber - is considered particularly unusual. A similar phenomenon occurs when we look at a pane of glass from an edge. What appears blue to us is simply a reflection of the transparent parts of a cat’s eyes. Cats with blue eyes have very little to no pigment whatsoever. From colors denoting the least pigment cells to most, and allowing for variations and shades, the basic range of colors goes something like this:įor its own part, “blue” is a misnomer. What color are cat eyes? The general rule of thumb for cat eye color genetics is that the fewer melanocytes a cat has available, the lighter the shade of eye color, and the more there are, the darker and deeper they will be. Mature cat eyes take their hue from the amount of pigment cells in the iris, known as melanocytes, that are present during the processes of growth and development. Cat eyes that present with strange colors, different colors, odd patterns, or those that change color suddenly during adulthood may signal serious health issues. Let it be known that the vast majority of kittens are born with blue eyes, which typically settle into a specific color by the time they reach 3 months of age. Before we can determine the reasons behind abnormal eye color in cats, we must first establish and understand what is considered normal. ![]()
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