by Lyndsey
(Canada)
Albino Siamese- Oafie
Albino Siamese cat….Lyndsey
Thanks Lyndsey for the picture. If it is alright by you I’ll see if I can add some words….Michael
Oafie has a modern Siamese appearance (in contrast to the traditional Siamese cat) but not extreme in appearance.
Albinism is rare. I am not going to talk much about genes because it is mind blowingly complicated and I don’t think the experts actually know everything about albinism from a genetic standpoint.
However, Robinson’s Genetics says that the albino cat in the USA and Europe is not, it seems, a “true” albino as reported in other species of animal.
This is because although the coat is white, the iris is a pale blue rather than colorless or pink. The blue of the iris indicates pigmentation that runs counter to the albinism.
Apparently, the complete albino that has pink eyes and a white coat is practically unknown in the cat (there are some rare albino wild cats). Robinson’s reports two cases, one in North America and one in France. The pupils are blood red and the iris a translucent white.
It perhaps surprising that there is not an accepted breed of cat based on albinism (or is there one?).
The Albino Siamese in the United States is like your cat, completely white (no points) and pale blue eyes (pale bluish pink eyes). This is due to a recessive gene to both normal colour and Siamese. The same type of albinism can be seem in the Himalayan (pointed Persian).
There is a Belgian cat called the “European Albino” that has been bred. The cat is a European Shorthair in overall appearance (see a post on the various shorthairs from Europe, Britain and USA – new window)
Touching on genetics, Robinson’s says that the recessive mutant gene that produces the Albino Siamese bred in the USA is the same as that found in the European Albino. It is thought that it is a mutant allele labelled ca which is just short of “true albinism”.
Perhaps these cats are true albinos and the eye colour is misleading as it may be due to the structure of the eye and not through pigmentation.
A blue eyed albino Siamese is not a dominant white cat cat, whose appearance is due to the dominant W allele (see cat coats white)
Deafness is associated with white cats but is “not a property of albinism” (Robinson’s Genetics). See Deaf Cat
From Albino Siamese to Siamese Cat Breeders
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I’m amazed at some of the photos identifying the cat as being Albino Siamese when the photo shows a cat with bright blue eyes like other Siamese cats. I’ve had three Albinos and have seen many others. Each of them have had eyes with large pink pupils and pale blue iris. The pupils seem to stay large causing the entire eye to appear pink. The Albino Siamese cats I’ve had resemble Oriental Shorthairs except for the unmistakable pink eyes. Each of the Albinos I’ve had squint in bright light. I’ve never researched the reason but have assumed it’s due to the lack of pigment, including in their eyes. I try to keep these guys out of direct sunlight. Your vet can tell you about skin cancer in our pets.
| Mar 03, 2011 Rating  | Albino Siamese We have an albino Siamese. She’s white and her eyes have a light blue ring around the pupils, which are pink, like a white rabbit’s pupils. Her name is Ruby, because of the color of her pupils. |
| Dec 01, 2010 Rating | Picture of another Albino Siamese Cat Albino Siamese cat – “Fanny” – photo by stephen522 (Flickr). |
| Dec 01, 2010 Rating | Dexter Here is Dexter 1 year old male. |
| Dec 11, 2009 Rating | Foreign White Oafie is a very handsome boy. So he is a recessive white/albino? I did not realise they had such blue eyes. He reminds me of a “Foreign White”. (Siamese with a Dominant White gene . The blue eyes are produced by the Siamese gene, not by the dominant white gene. Just looking at this photo, he looks like the shape of many Siamese in the mid 20th century, which some people call the “classic”. Anyway, he is a lovely boy. thanks for sharing the photo. |
Here he is…maybe
Keith, please try again and just make sure that file size of the photograph is not too large. I would like to see an albino Siamese cat if the photographs that you are loading is of such a cat.
Pink eyed albinism is the extreme, not a RULE of the genetic trait. Check out Johnny and Edgar Winters, famous bluesmen brothers from Texas. A tendency toward eye weakness, sensitivity to light, and some irregularities in pigmentation and vitamin metabolization,are sufficient to make the characterization in humans. My new adopted cat is a true Siamese,an “applehead” with a piercing and very communicative voice some might recognize, he is also functionally blind beyond about 10-12 feet. I will post his pic shortly.
Keith, Thanks for visiting and telling us about your true Siamese, the version of this cat that I much prefer. Thanks for the extra information.
The cat in the main photo isn’t albino – he’s a Foreign White/White Oriental Shorthair. Sadly a lot of folks see an all-white cat and jump to the conclusion it must be albino. A blue-eyed albino has very washed-out looking blue eyes, not vivid blue eyes.
Thanks Sarah. As far as I remember that is what I indicated. It is always nice to have your expert input.
So, I believe that this is where they came upon the breed (shorthair oriental). I had one of these and they are actually not very hard to come by. Siamese cats, years ago, that developed genetic mutations that moved their phenotypic appearance away from that of a typical Siamese were then bread to be shorthair orientals. They range from striped gray, pure gray, white, etc…just like domestic shorthair cats we typically see in America.
I think what you are saying is that a white Siamese is an Oriental SH, which is true. There are many cat breeds that are spin offs from the Siamese.
Greetings;
The other day, a long haired Albino Cat marched into my home and decided to stay. It was very hungry, full of fleas and in general starved down. It’s a female and it is looking for a boy cat. Is there anyone out there with a male albino long haired cat they might like to mate with my cat? As for specific breed, it is an Alleycatus Nonspecificus or something along those lines with one yellow and one blue eye. My E-Mail address is herbst@fairpoint.net
Hi, thanks for the comment. Are you sure you think it is a good idea to breed from your albino cat? There are lots of cats that need homes. I know albino cats are interesting and rare but…
If your cat has one blue and one yellow eye, she is a odd-eyed white, not albino. The yellow eye has melanin, a pigment that true albinos lack. Also, you really should have this kitty spayed, since there are way too many cats/kittens in shelters waiting for homes, and your cat is not a purebred.