Caring for an Albino Cat
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It is important to understand that an albino cat requires special care. You may choose to adopt a cat with albinism because you like their physical appearance, but due to the characteristics associated with this condition, the albino cat may experience problems such as deafness, blindness, cancer or eye redness.
Albino cats are rare, and they have several unusual peculiarities, just like many other albino animals. Albinism is a genetic alteration that not only marks the cat's fur and eye color, but also important characteristics in their organism. You will have to give your albino cat a care and attention that other cats would not require.
Stay with us at AnimalWised and learn all about caring for an albino cat.
Contents
Differences between albino cats and white cats
Not all white cats are albino, but all albino cats are white. Besides that, what are the differences between white cats and albinos?
Albino cats have an absolutely white coat. However, you can also recognize albinism in cats in their eyes, which are usually pale blue or show heterochromia, that is, each eye is a different color. An albino cat will have a pinkish dermis, noticeable under their coat and on their nose, eyelids, lips, ears and paw pads.
If a cat has a white coat but its epidermis is grayish or white and its nose it means that the cat is not albino, despite being white.
Deafness in albino cats
Albino cats tend to suffer from partial or total deafness, which is caused by the alteration of the autosomal gene W resulting in an irreversible malformation of the inner ear. Many other albino animals have this same deficiency. In the past it was believed that albino animals suffered from mental disorders, which is not true. Being deaf causes difficulties in the cat's understanding, but it does not affect their intelligence.
Deafness can be detected when the cat is a kitten because they do not come to you when you call their name. You will have to learn to communicate effectively with them. If you think your cat is suffering from deafness, it is important to learn how to care for deaf cats to help them communicate and live without this sense. Ask your vet for advice.
Just like deaf people, it is possible for deaf albino cats to be able to communicate. This communication is done using gestures which the cat learns to distinguish with a little training. It also includes the gestures of your face.
Albino deaf cats are sensitive to vibrations, which is why they know when a door closes, or when you are approaching because of your footsteps. However, it is very dangerous for deaf cats to be out alone on the street, as there is a very high risk of being run over.
The epidermis of albino cats
The epidermis of albino cats is very sensitive to the action of sun rays. This means that you must protect them from direct sun exposure, especially between midday and 5 pm. It is vital that the vet prescribe a non-toxic cream or sunblock to apply on the cat's nose.
Their dermis can suffer from severe burns, and they are more likely to develop skin cancer than other cats.
Blindness in albino cats
In some cases of albinism, the whites of the cat's eyes are pink or even red. These cats are even better at seeing at nighttime than others. However, albino cats cannot handle intense light well.
If you suspect your cat may be suffering from blindness, it is very important to go to the vet as soon as possible and they will give you the most appropriate advice for your case.
As you can see, caring for an albino cat requires more time and attention. Have you ever had an albino cat as a pet? If so, please share your experience in the comments section.
If you want to read similar articles to Caring for an Albino Cat, we recommend you visit our Basic care category.
I’m searching for cat sunglasses for my albino. His eyes are practically closed when he goes outside.
I’m pretty sure my baby girl is albino she is a little cutie she has horrible depth perception 😂
We have, I believe to be an albino cat, lose around our complex She is trimmed and won't let anyone get to close. Many are feeding her, and today I gave her some cheese and water, she actually let me pet her a little. Her eyes are a very light blue, she has a light pink nose, but the weird thing is she has a reddish tipped tail. Each hair is a dark dusty rose color. I thought it could be like a poor bear, as in each hair is clear and in this case it's reflecting blood not light, because she's been running free for at least a month, .Also the shape of her face, her size,body and tail all suggests that's she's albino simeese . Can you please explain why the tail is like this? My husband thinks it was diyed, but I really don't think so. If we can't find the owners We plan on keeping her. Our Bombay really likes her.we think she has been either bread and water we put out for the birds and squares, leaving her sent around, making Pharaoh over joked even though he's fixed. LOL
I just adopted a gorgeous, silly white male kitten. I’ve been doing a lot of research on the difference between a white and albino cat, but I’m still a bit confused as to whether or not he is actually albino...Even after asking my vet, even she couldn’t give a *100%* answer as to whether or not he is, after saying that it wasn’t likely he is albino. Therefore I’m still skeptical... After reading all the traits of what makes a cat albino, he seems to match them. He isn’t deaf, but I also read that not *all* albinos would be deaf. I am wanting detailed picture comparisons of white and albino cats, or better yet a professional in distinguishing albino cats to look at my cat. XD Here’s a question that I didn’t really get a clear answer from anywhere...Would only albino cats have a reddish-pink color in their pupil when light is reflected? Or is that for all white and albino cats? My cat definitely has that...And his iris color is a pale blue. Dermis (on all visible points, paw pads, nose, ears) are pink. Not a *very* light pink, but definitely pink haha. Would Albion’s have a much lighter to almost white pigmentation or can they also have a more pink skin? 
I am a TICA registered breeder. I bred 2 Lilac Point Mitted parents together. 3 of the 6 kittens are Albino. This has never happened before.
I am fostering two cats from a hoarding situation. Both are possibly pregnant. I noticed that the white one squints a lot in bright light and mentioned it when we were at the vet. The vet looked at her cornea and said she was an albino. My question is if she is pregnant would there be any possible complications extra to her or the babies if she was pregnant because she is an albino? Picture of her and her sister.
Hi I was wondering is it more dangerous for albino cats to have kittens than regular cats? Can they get sick or have a bad reaction if they get pregnant. I’m soon going to have a baby girl. Also not sure what to name her yet, thinking Crow. But please let me know :)
My black tabby just gave a litter of 4 cats...out of which 3 I suspect are albinos...today they opened their eyes they were red as blood ..😰😰..even their feet and faces arr ppink...can you tel me if they are albino or not...🙏🙏
Came across this post, just adopted this 3 month old kitten today. I'm wondering now if he is albino after reading this post. White fur all over, eyes look white, doesnt come to me when I call him maybe because he still doesnt know his name, but now I'm thinking maybe he is deaf. Taking him to the vet next month for his shots and I'll find out.
Hi this is our kitten and we just found out it is a albino the dad and mom are not. Does anyone know where to get special glasses for animals
I bought this sweetheart of a hamster. Her name is Shai and she's DEFinitely albino! Place I bought her from wasn't treating her well. Taking me an eternity to teach her that my hands aren't scary. I call her name, saying "Shai do you want a cookie?" And she comes running to me! Definitely seems blind though as she sniffs any treat I give her before taking it. Debating giving her away but I'd only want to give her to a good home. I've never let kids hold her since I can barely hold her! She freaks out if she's held for too long.
Hi we have 2 albino cats, mom and daughter. We battle with their skin. Their fur very thin and skin by eyes, neck most of the time raw looks like cat fight but its not. How can we treat them not to get this. It's very difficult to keep them indoor not to go out in sunlight
HE WAS BORN 4-4-19 HE HAS PINK EYES AND A BROWN SPOT ON HIS NOSE
