The cat's eyes are certainly the most striking thing about these animals. Sometimes even intimidating, cats' eyes carry several curiosities as well, such as the ability to see super well in the dark. And there is no pattern: it is possible to find cats with blue, green, yellow, orange eyes and even one eye of each color (a phenomenon called heterochromia). The blue eyes, in turn,has an extra charm that enchants all humans. But after all, does the breed of the cat determine the blue eye? See what we found out!

Blue-eyed cats: all felines are born with this trait

The kitten is born with its eyes closed. In the first days of life, the kitten is totally dependent on its mother and survives only with smell and touch, as the other senses, such as sight, are still developing. The kitten's eyelids only separate between the 7th and 12th day of life, and can take up to three days to open fully. At this stage, every kitten has a blue colorationThis is due to the lack of pigmentation in the eye and the effect of light being refracted onto the cornea.

Cats' eyesight at this stage of life is still poor as it is still developing and will only become mature between the 6th and 7th week of life. When the eyesight is fully developed, the definitive color of the eye becomes evident and may remain blue or change color.

Blue-eyed cats have peculiarity defined by genetic factor

The final color of the eyes begins to be defined when the melanocytes, which are the cells responsible for color, begin to produce melanin, which is the protein responsible for pigmentation in the iris region of the eye. With this, the final coloration of the feline's eye is the amount of melanin produced, which will depend on the genetic factor.

Blue-eyed cats: can the breed determine this aspect?

As stated above, the color of a cat's eyes is defined by the amount of melanin produced by the body. This process also involves the color of the coat. Because of this, it is more common for cats with light coats to also have light eyes, which is why black cats with blue eyes are very rare. This factor is directly linked to the cat's genetics and, although the breed does not always determine the color of the cat, it does not always determine the color of the cat.of the eye, some may show the characteristic always or more often. Check out some of them:

• Angora White cats: this breed of white cat with blue eyes can also have green eyes. It is also common for kittens to have one eye of each color (heterochromia).

• Siamese : this is one of the most popular blue-eyed cat breeds, always having the characteristic.

• Khao Manee : this is the other example of a white cat with blue eyes. Like the Angora cat, this cat can also have green eyes or one of each color.

• Ragdoll : kittens of this breed will always have blue eyes.

• Himalayan The result of crossing Persian and Siamese, it is common for kittens of this breed to have blue eyes.

• Bengal : this breed can have eyes of various colors, including blue.

While eye color is fascinating, it can have a negative influence on a cat's hearing. According to research by International Cat Care, a white cat with blue eyes is five times more likely to become a deaf cat than cats with other colors of fur and eyes.

If your feline has an eye color and it has changed since they became an adult, it is recommended that you take them to a veterinarian. Diseases such as FeLV, feline cataracts, and eye infections can cause kittens' eye color to change. Also remember to always take proper care of your feline's eyes, especially when they are still kittens.