I am so white that my whiteness seems merely a kind of lure, a stealthy trick of reflections. When there are leaves above me, I turn green, and blue cinerarias cast upon my flanks a splash of tranquil indigo that barely stirs when I breathe. Have you never seen me rose-coloured at the hour when the great cirrus clouds flee before the setting sun like a flight of flamingoes?
It tires me to have all these colours taking possession of me, because my childhood without a nurse has left me delicate and sensitive, very much taken up with my own fragility and the attention it secures for me. I'm pensive as an angel, and if I often close my eyelids it's to prevent the blue of the sky from meeting and deepening the blue of my eyes."
Obviously a cat who is a very deep thinker as well as being very beautiful and full of itself.
Am I correct in saying white cats are sometimes deaf? I am sure I've heard that somewhere and I suppose I should 'look it up' instead of just asking.
I don't know if white cats are typically deaf, or if they're just like other cats. You know... simply ignoring us when it suits their fancy. :)
ReplyDeleteApparently it is correct about deafness in white cats. It is linked to the white colour coat and blue eye colour. although not all white cats with blue eyes are not necessarily deaf. In cats with eyes of two different colours the deafness is more likely to affect the ear on the blue-eyed side.
DeleteI was pretty confident about this but should have confirmed before posting blog.
Cats do of course ignore us when they feel like but I must say our Candy is nearly always rather obedient when called. I still think she is so thankful to have found a furever home after being in the APS for 6 months or more.
Yes, some blue-eyed particularly, white cats are deaf.
ReplyDeleteCollette's writing is always lovely - and she obviously knew and adored her cats.
As you can see in my reply above I was proven right but should have done more research to confirm it.
DeleteI'm not having to research Colette as I'd not heard of her before. I often think my range of literature has been rather limited of late.
I've never heard about white cats being deaf, but I'll take EC's word for it.
ReplyDeleteThose blue eyes are gorgeous.
If you check back you will see I eventually researched about the deafness. I'd heard it years ago and was pleased to find I'd remembered correctly.
DeleteThose blue eyes got me as soon as I saw them and that had to be the picture to go with this post. Even to the extent the fur seemed to have the glow from the green surrounds.
Hari Om
ReplyDeleteYes am familiar with that concept of deafness in white cats... then again, I was also told that all pure ginger cats are 'toms'... but it turns out only about 75% are. Oh the mystery of genes...
That is a beautiful piece of writing you found for us today! YAM xx
Apparently it is true but as is the case with many rules, they are often broken.
DeleteI also know the one about all ginger cats being toms but we had a female ginger that had cats. (she had been dumped near our home and we took her and her kittens in).
I thought the words excellent. xx
I too have heard that white cats are deaf but personally, I think they are just ignoring us.
ReplyDeleteIt is true Delores but then some cats have the art of 'ignore' down to a fine art. :)
DeleteI never heard that,Mimsie and had a white fluff-ball for many years that my wandered in to my kids and my life long before I met the Pres. We named her Fuschia and she AWESOME!...:)JP
ReplyDeleteI wonder did your fluff-ball have blue eyes, as that apparently is the key to their deafness.
DeleteIsn't it always great to give a furever home to a wandering cat? I can imagine how much she was loved. :)