Disorder - Coat colour, white spotting

Organ Systems Involved
Integument

Alternative disorders described within LIDA

Possibly Dominant White (W) and associated deafness and blue eye colour

Alternative Names
Piebald spotting

Presenting Signs

The white spotting gene causes areas of white hair and non-pigmented skin throughout the coat of a cat. The gene affects the migration of pigment producing cells (melanocytes) in the skin. Cats with a dominant and a recessive gene have a solid white pattern along their bellies, not divided into spots. These cats are also called ‘bicolour’. Cats with two dominant genes show white over most of the body with colour restricted to the head and tail, as seen in the Turkish Van breed. This is the gene that causes the white ‘blaze’ across the face and the ‘tuxedo’ pattern.

Cats at Risk

Offspring of any cat with white spots or a white belly (bicolour) may have white spots.

Breeds Affected
Turkish Van


PubMed References
Coat colour, white spotting

Contributor
Sarah Callan