Investigations on the Incidence of Deafness in Van Cats and Its Distribution by Eye Color

Abstract

This study aims to demonstrate the incidence of deafness in Van cats and its distribution by eye color. A total of 300 Van cats aged between 2 months and 8 years were classified into three separate groups (equal in number) subjected to hearing tests using Clinical ABR (Auditory Brain Response) device. In this study, the incidence of deafness in Van cats was found to be 14.33%. Moreover, it was determined that deafness was not related to sex and hair length. Van cats with spots on their heads did not have deafness. The hearing thresholds showed that most Van cats had a very good level of hearing (0-10 dB nHL). The incidence of unilateral deafness was much lower in Van cats than it was in other white cat breeds. By means of this study, the breeding of the cats found to be deaf according to the results of ABR test will be prevented, and in this way we believe that the incidence of deafness in Van cats will decrease in future. This study is the first deafness study conducted in Van cats and it is worth to present as the findings of the study will shed light on future studies.