What breed of cat is most likely to have Heterochromia?
Sarah Cherry
Updated on March 21, 2026
What cat breeds are likely to have heterochromia? Heterochromia in cats is common in certain cat breeds like British Shorthairs, Cornish and Devon Rex, Japanese Bobtails, Munchkins, Persians, Scottish Folds, Siamese, Sphynxes, Turkish Angoras and Turkish Vans. It's also common in white cats of any breed.
Also question is, what kind of cats have heterochromia?
Different colored eyes are more common in certain breeds. They include Japanese Bobtails, Khao Manee, Oriental Shorthair, Persian, Sphynx, Turkish Angoras and Turkish Vans. When you take a picture of an odd-eyed cat, you might notice a red-eye effect in the blue eye.
Also Know, how common are heterochromia cats? Although it's quite rare, a condition called heterochromia can result in cats having two different coloured eyes. These odd-eyed cats typically have one iris (the coloured part of the eye) that's blue while the other is either green, brown or yellow. Heterochromia can also affect dogs and even humans too.
Consequently, is heterochromia more common in cats?
While heterochromia in humans is relatively rare, heterochromia in cats is far more common. It can result in any number of unusual eye colour combinations, such as one blue eye and one gold eye or one green eye and one blue for instance.
What species is heterochromia most common in?
Breeds most commonly affected include Australian Shepherds, Australian Cattle Dogs, Dalmations, Huskies, Malamutes and Shetland Sheepdogs, though it's also possible to see heterochromia in many other breeds.
Related Question Answers
What is the rarest eye color for cats?
Obviously it's not going to be a lighter color like green, blue, or yellow, therefore, the rarest eye color in cats is actually orange/amber! This glowing hue is quite common in the traditional “British Blue†British Shorthair cat, but it can also been seen in cats with tabby markings or other solid coat patterns, too.Is Heterochromia rare for cats?
Although heterochromia in humans (which can also be caused by genetics, as well as certain eye-related injuries and diseases) is quite rare, heterochromia is relatively common in animals like cats.Is my cat a Khao Manee?
Khao Manee cats, also known as Khao Plort cats, are playful. They have pure white coats and jewel-tone eyes. These rare kitties are said to bring good luck to owners. Learn more about living with a Khao Manee cat.Khao Manee.
| height | 10-12 inches |
|---|---|
| coat length | short |
| colors | white |
| patterns | solid |
How much is a Heterochromia cat?
They can have blue eyes, gold eyes or odd-eyes with one of each colour and are very rare to find. "Many people are asking me (about the cat). I have seen the cost of such cats which is between $7,000-11,000. It's very rare and lucky and a lot of people are coming to me (offering to buy it)," he said.Why is Heterochromia common in cats?
The odd-eyed coloring is caused when either the epistatic (dominant) white gene (which masks any other color genes and turns a cat completely white) or the white spotting gene (which is the gene responsible for bicolor and tuxedo cats) prevents melanin (pigment) granules from reaching one eye during development,What breed is white cat with blue eyes?
Khao Manee cats are pure white with a short, smooth, close-lying coat. They can have blue eyes, gold eyes or odd-eyes with one of each colour.Khao Manee.
| Khao-Manee | |
|---|---|
| Common nicknames | Diamond Eye, White Cat of Thailand |
| Origin | Thailand |
| Breed standards | |
| CFA | standard |
Are blue eyed cats deaf?
Domesticated cats with blue eyes and white coats are often completely deaf. Deafness can occur in white cats with yellow, green or blue irises, although it is mostly likely in white cats with blue irises.Are black cats with green eyes?
All cats have beautiful eyes, but the dark, shiny coats of black cats offer the perfect enhancement to any eye colour. Most black cats have green eyes but some have blue or yellow, and their black coats make their eyes stand out beautifully.How common is Heterochromia in animals?
Though common in some breeds of cats, dogs, cattle and horses, due to inbreeding, heterochromia is uncommon in humans, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States, and is not associated with lack of genetic diversity.Heterochromia iridum.
| Heterochromia | |
|---|---|
| Treatment | Iris implant surgery (controversial for cosmetic purposes) |
Do white cats have eye problems?
The good news is a white cat is not prone to blindness. However, they do have a higher chance to be deaf, and the chance increased when the cat has blue eyes. White coat on cats can occur as a result of the dominant white gene (W). This gene can suppress and block other potential colors, thus it called masking gene.Can Black Cats have blue eyes?
Yes! However, due to genetics, it is not common to see a completely black cat with blue eyes. It is, however, highly common to see a black and white cat having blue eyes. If one has a black cat, one will know that these midnight moggies often have green or yellow eyes.Are Khao Manee cats hypoallergenic?
Hypoallergenic: No Generally Healthy: The breed is regarded as generally healthy but, because it has existed in the West for such a short space of time, the verdict is by no means conclusive. Minimal Shedding: Since they have almost no undercoat, they shed very little.Is having heterochromia bad?
Only a doctor can tell if the change in the heterochromia is associated with a disease. However, there is no reason to worry about heterochromia in most cases and it tends to be benign. This condition is generally not harmful, and it does not affect a person's quality of life.Are white cats with two different colored eyes deaf?
The percentage of deafness in white cats with one blue eye rises to 40 percent, while 65 to 85 percent of all-white cats with two blue eyes are deaf. Yes–cats with different colored eyes have a condition called heterochromia and are known as “odd-eyed†cats.Is heterochromia genetic?
Heterochromia is classified primarily by its time of onset as either genetic (congenital, present at or shortly after birth) or acquired. Most cases of heterochromia are hereditary, and these may be associated with a congenital syndrome. Other cases are acquired and caused by a disease or due to an injury.What is the most expensive cat?
Here's our complete list of the most expensive cat breeds in the world in 2021:- The Ashera – Up to $125,000.
- Savannah – $50,000.
- Bengal – $25,000.
- Persian – $5,500.
- Peterbald – $5,000.
- Sphynx – $3,000.
- Scottish Fold – $3,000.
- Russian Blue – $3,000.
How rare are white cats with blue eyes?
5% of the general cat population is white cats (i.e. pure white). 15-40% of these pure white cats have one or two blue-eyes.Are Chimera cats rare?
How common are chimera cats? While chimerism among animals is exceedingly rare, among cats, "chimeras are really not all that rare", explained Leslie Lyons, a professor at the University of California, Davis. In fact, Lyons explains that most male tortoiseshell cats are probably chimeras.Why are white cats deaf?
The deafness is caused by degeneration of the auditory apparatus of the inner ear and may affect one ear (unilateral) or both ears (bilateral). Breeding studies have defined the relationship between deafness in white cats and blue eye colour. The gene responsible is an autosomal dominant gene termed W (for White).Is hazel or blue eyes rarer?
Hazel eyes are sometimes mistaken for green or brown eyes. They are not as rare as green eyes, but are rarer than blue eyes. Only about 5 percent of the population worldwide has the hazel eye genetic mutation.What are the 3 types of heterochromia?
The three categories are complete, segmental, and central heterochromia. Complete heterochromia, also called heterochromia iridum, occurs when the two irises are different colors. Segmental heterochromia, also called heterochromia iridis, occurs when a patch of a different color appears in one iris.Are purple eyes real?
Violet is an actual but rare eye color that is a form of blue eyes. It requires a very specific type of structure to the iris to produce the type of light scattering of melanin pigment to create the violet appearance.What's the difference between hazel eyes and central heterochromia?
What Are Their Differences? In short, the difference between hazel eyes and those with central heterochromia lies in how the melanin is dispersed. Hazel eyes can appear to be two different colors, but they blend together at some point, where central heterochromia has two very distinct rings of color within the iris.Can corgis have heterochromia?
Dogs with partial heterochromiaWhile genetically inherited complete heterochromia is likely in only a few breeds, partial heterochromia is slightly more widespread. This is common in dogs which can carry the merle gene, including: Catahoula Leopard Dog. Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
What famous person has heterochromia?
Heterochromia Among the Stars: 9 Celebs with Mismatched Eyes- Kate Bosworth. Perhaps the most famous celebrity with heterochromia, actress Kate Bosworth has one blue eye, and one eye that is partially hazel.
- Mila Kunis.
- Jane Seymour.
- Alice Eve.
- Olivia Wilde.
- Demi Moore.
- Dominic Sherwood.
- Benedict Cumberbatch.
