Cat Breeds with Blue Eyes [16 beautiful cats!]

Many different cat breeds can have blue eyes including the American Shorthair, the Siamese, and more. However, some white cats with blue eyes are born with birth defects such as deafness. Albino cats will have blue eyes but they are different from the cats on this list because albinos have no pigment in their eyes.

Pet owners absolutely love cats with vivid blue eyes, and there is a good reason for that. Baby blue and deep blue eyes are both incredibly striking on a cat. 

Many of the most popular cat breeds can have blue eyes. 

In this article, we will be listing all of our favorite cat breeds with blue eyes. We will also be answering some questions about blue eyes in cats including their health issues.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about blue eyed cats!

Are Blue Eyed Cats Rare? 

In the wild, feral cats do not commonly have blue eyes. This is because blue eyes technically come from a variety of different genetic mutations.

This mutation causes the eyes to lack pigmentation such as the white spotting gene and the gene that causes albinism. 

However, people have bred these blue eye genes into many different cat breeds including the Siamese, Persian, and Himalayan breeds just to name a few. 

For some cat breeds, it is common to have blue eyes and they are listed below. 

Why Do Kittens Have Blue Eyes? 

All kittens are born with blue eyes. However, many times their eyes will not stay that way. 

Kittens are born with blue eyes because they lack a pigment called melanin and have not finished developing yet. Melanocytes are cells that produce the pigment called melanin.

As a result of this, the cat’s eye pigmentation does not reveal itself until a little later on in life. In fact, it will take about three months for a kitten’s true eye color to truly reveal itself. 

Lack of melanin because of fewer melanocytes causes brilliant blue eyes in a cat!

Can Cats Have Just One Blue Eye?

Yes, cats can have one blue eye and an eye of another color. This is called having odd eyes and it is often passed down from parents to kittens genetically. 

However, in rare instances, it can be acquired through things like medications, specific illnesses, or even through injuries. 

It can also be a sign that a cat has some developmental genetic defects. 

Do Albino Cats Have Blue Eyes? 

Yes, albino cats do have blue eyes, but there is a difference between albino cats and cats that just have blue eyes and white fur. 

Albino cats will have pale blue eyes and they will not have a rich blue color. In addition, albino cats’ eyes may have a red hue to them, especially in photos. 

This is because a cat with albino eyes has no pigment in its eyes, while normal blue eyes do have some pigment. 

Albino cats are also likely to have light sensitivity, and cats with just blue eyes will not have this problem. 

What is the White Spotting Gene? 

The white spotting gene is fairly common in cats, and it is responsible for white patternations and spots in a variety of different cat breeds. 

This gene is sometimes also responsible for a cat’s blue eyes. 

Are White Cats With Blue Eyes Deaf?

Many cats with pure white coats and blue eyes, or white coats with odd eyes, are deaf. 

This is because the genes that are responsible for this condition also often cause developmental defects that lead to congenital deafness. 

However, not every cat that has a white coat and blue eyes is destined to be deaf. 

Cat Breeds With Blue Eyes 

A cat with blue eyes is not necessarily a rare breed. There are many different cat breeds that can have blue eyes. 

In fact, some of the cat breeds that we have listed below include blue eyes within their breed standard. Here are some of our favorite cat breeds that can have blue eyes. 

American Shorthair Cats 

American Shorthair cats are among some of the most common in the United States. 

They are believed to be descended from the cats that European settlers brought with them to North America hundreds of years ago. 

They are usually very friendly cats that are relatively low maintenance. 

They can come in a large variety of coat patterns and colorations, and they can have a variety of eye colors as well. Of course, this includes blue eyes. 

Balinese Cats 

Balinese cats appear to be quite similar to Siamese cats at the surface, and they are actually somewhat closely related to one another. 

Balinese breeds share the same body and head type as the Siamese. However, there is one huge difference between these two cat breeds, and that is the difference in their coats. 

Balinese cats have long, flowing, silky coats that lie close to the body.

Although they do come in similar colorations to the Siamese, Balinese cats can also come in some other coat colors and patterns. 

In addition, Balinese cats must have blue eyes according to their breed standard with the Cat Fanciers’ Association. 

Birman Cats 

Birman cats are another version of color-pointed cats, and many of them can be traced back to cats that were actually living in Europe. 

They are known as the Sacred Cat of Burma. These cats have color points in a variety of different colors, but most of their fur is always white. 

The Birman breed standard through the CFA also states that a Birman cat’s eyes must be blue, and the more vivid their blue eyes are the better. 

British Shorthair Cats 

The British Shorthair is believed to be one of the oldest cat breeds that hail from England. 

They come in a variety of coat colors and patterns like the American Shorthair. British Shorthair tends to have a thicker coat and rounder heads than the American Shorthair does.

These cats have large and round eyes, and sometimes they come in a beautiful blue color. 

Colorpoint Shorthair Cats 

The colorpoint Shorthair is related to the Siamese, and these pointed cats actually have the exact same body and head structure as the Siamese. 

However, the Colorpoint Shorthair has a wider variety of coat colorations, and the breed was created in the 1940s and 1950s for exactly this reason.

As for their eyes, the Colorpoint Shorthair’s breed standard explicitly states that their eyes must be a vivid blue color. 

Himalayan Cats 

The Himalayan cat is actually technically a cat crossbreed, and it was created by mixing Persian cats with Siamese cats in the 1930s. 

These cats have a long coat similar to that of a Persian cat. However, the Himalayan’s pointed color markings are from the Siamese breed. These cats have blue eyes as well. 

Maine Coon Cats

The Maine Coon is a naturally occurring cat breed from the United States that has a large, muscular body and long thick hair. 

This hair can come in a very wide variety of coat colors and patterns, and it can have a wide variety of eye colors as well.

The Main Coon’s breed standard states that all white Maine Coons or Maine Coons with some white in their fur can have blue eyes or odd-colored eyes. 

Norwegian Forest Cats 

The Norwegian Forest cat is an extremely old cat breed from Norway. 

However, their thick waterproof coats and adorable expressions have made these cats very popular in the United States in recent years. 

These cats come in a large variety of coat colors and patterns. The cats that have a large amount of white fur are the ones that may have the blue eyes.

Otherwise, their normal eyes colors are shades of green, copper, and gold. 

Like the Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cats can have blue eyes if they have an all-white coat or some white in their coats. 

Ojos Azules Cats 

This is a fairly rare cat breed, and it is also pretty new. In the 1980s a feral Tortoiseshell cat in New Mexico had kittens with some amazingly beautiful blue eyes. 

After people picked up these kittens and started breeding them a while later, they discovered that these stunning blue eyes are a genetically dominant trait that does not affect coat color. 

As a result, Ojos Azules cats have come in a wide range of coat colors and patterns. However, according to their breed standards, they must all have vivid blue eyes. 

Persian Cats 

The Persian cat is a breed that is widely popular throughout the world. These cats have long hair, a round face, and large round eyes. 

The Persian can come in a huge variety of coat colorations and patterns including solid, pointed, tabby, and more. 

In addition, Persian cats can also have a huge variety of eye colors with blue eyes being among the most sought after. 

Ragdoll Cats 

The Ragdoll cat breed is pretty new, and they were created by a cat breeder in California in the 1960s. 

These cats are known to be very friendly cats that love to be around their owners and families. These cats can come in a small variety of coat patterns and colors. 

However, they are usually only colored at the points. The Ragdoll breed standard also states that these cats have to have blue eyes in order to be considered a Ragdoll cat. 

Siamese Cats 

Siamese cats are an extremely old cat breed that comes from Thailand, or Siam, as it used to be called. 

These cats are known for their unique body and head structure along with their classic seal point coats. 

Siamese cats are also famous for their blue eyes, and the breed standard does state that Siamese cats must have blue eyes. 

Snowshoe Cats 

The Snowshoe cat was originally created by a Siamese cat breeder in the 1960s when one of her Siamese cats had kittens that had white paws. 

Although this pattern over these kittens’ feet is not allowed within the Siamese cat breed standard, the breeder still loved these unique cats. 

After a while, she began breeding for these Snowshoe cats specifically, and both Siamese and American Shorthair cat breed genes are present in the Snowshoe cat today. 

These cats, like the Siamese cat, always have bright blue eyes. 

Tonkinese Cats

This is yet another oriental cat breed that commonly comes in a color-point coat pattern and commonly has blue eyes. 

Although they are somewhat related to many of the other oriental breeds such as the Siamese and Burmese, these cats tend to have a different-looking face structure.

However, they do still have that classic long, lanky body.  

Turkish Angora Cats 

Turkish Angora cats are a beloved breed that hails from Turkey.

In fact, in order to register your Turkish Angora with the Cat Fanciers’ Association, you must be able to trace your cat’s lineage to Turkey. 

Although these cats are most popular in white coats, other solid colors and coat patterns are available in this breed. 

These cats also commonly have either blue or green eyes. 

Turkish Van Cats 

Many people may confuse the Turkish Van with the Turkish Angora because of their similar names. 

However, these two breeds are extremely distinct and different from one another. The Turkish Van is a relatively rare cat breed that is from the middle east. 

They have water-resistant coats that are perfect for swimming, which is actually one of this cat’s favorite pastimes. 

These cats come in a variety of coat colors and patterns, and many of them have blue eyes. 

Conclusion

Cats with blue eyes are truly adorable and amazing cats. Many of the cats on our list have many endearing qualities in addition to their deep blue eyes. 

Of course, you should always do your research before bringing a cat into your home to ensure that they are the right fit for you and your family.