She was a kitten from my grandma’s “horde” of feral cats that she feeds. I had NO clue she was heterochromic; I just picked her because she was the only white kitten, and I thought she was the cutest one there with the all-white except for the little smudge on her head. Grandma went down and got her for me, as the cats don’t show up if there’s someone else with her. Handed her to me, and she looked up at me, and: “Holy crap, grandma! She’s got two different eyes! She’s got one gray eye and one blue eye!” Grandma had no clue; could only ever see the tops of their heads and backs while eating. So now I got to realize my lifelong wish of seeing a heterochromic cat in person “just once“ in the BEST way possible! Even more interesting, she seems to hear out of both ears just fine!

Edit: Whoa! Thanks for the award! Wasn’t expecting that for my little odd-eyed maniac! ❤️

  • Her eyes make her look as if she just witnessed a crime scene. She's a cutie, I'd fill my phone gallery with her pics if I have a chance..😸

    parent

    Haha! She’s always got “the stare” going on, because she’s a maniac who is just…WILD 24/7! Drives us nuts, but I love her to death!

    parent root

  • The spot on her head is gone?????

    parent

    Yep. Actually pretty common because of the genetic mutation that causes white cats with heterochromia. She DOES still have a FEW dark gray hairs on top of her head, but literally so few that if she ever stayed still long enough, I could count them. Lol.

    The genetic mutation actually TAKES AWAY their color (to put it in “everyday” terms). She “technically” should have been some for color, most likely a gray calico or a gray tabby, judging by the rest of the horde and her mother and most likely father, but the mutation makes them either be born without any color at all, or come out with some small patches of color that slowly disappear as they grow up. Usually by 2 years of age, all their color that’s going to disappear does. So she will probably have her few gray “sprinkles” for the rest of her life, but that’s it. It’s also how the mutation for white cats with BOTH blue eyes works, as it’s the same mutation or a VERY similar one.

    It also affects the night vision in their blue eyes: they don’t have any, as the reflective layer (called the tapetum lucidum (sp?)) in their eyes deteriorates before they’re even born most times, or very shortly after, before their eyes even open. It’s cool, though. In low light, when you can see Smudge’s eyes reflecting, her blue eye reflects red like human eyes, while her other eye reflects green like a regular cat’s eyes do. Gives her a cyborg-y aesthetic. 😂

    It also usually affects their ears on the same side as their blue eyes as well: the tiny internal bones deteriorate before birth or shortly after before their ears even open up. That’s why almost every white cat with 2 blue eyes is entirely deaf, although that’s not 100% the case like the lack of night vision is. It’s pretty rare, but some white cats with 2 blue eyes do still have their hearing. Smudge does seem to have hearing in both her ears. I’ve tested by rubbing my fingers together next to that ear while she’s dead asleep, and she wakes up and looks around at my hand every time (a suggestion given to me by my vet when I asked about it). So she got lucky. And, let me tell you, she hears EVERYTHING. There’s no escape! 🤣😭

    Sorry this was such a long reply; this subject always fascinated me, even before I got Smudge!

    Edit: for better coherency.

    parent root
    parent root

    What happened to her siblings? I feel bad that they could have found a forever home, too.

    Is it a feral colony nearby that your grandma feeds? The baby kittens will just keep coming unless the adults are fixed. There are local TNR groups (Trap, Neuter, Return) that will come out and gladly do this for you. Costs are typically covered for this. The fixed adults are then returned to the same location after surgery.

    Please help your grandma get in touch with a local TNR group (county cat rescue, etc). It’s wonderful that she cares for these cats by feeding them, but without intervention this “horde” will only grow exponentially, leading to needless suffering for generations of sweet kittens like your Smudge who shouldn’t have to live life on the streets.

    parent root

    There aren’t any TNR groups where grandma lives. You have to catch the adults (impossible) and the kittens (possible) all on your own, and then pay regular vet prices to get each one fixed. We’re out in the middle of nowhere, and I’ve looked. Well, Grandma is; I don’t live in the area anymore.

    Also, the horde has actually been slowly dwindling over the years. It’s been ongoing for WELL over 10 years. Started by my pap, actually. A lone cat showed up at his cow barn one day, and he fed her, and she was apparently pregnant. At one point the horde was up to 30+ cats, but it hasn’t been even 10 cats for 5+ years now, and now it’s down to 6. Either they wander off and end up claiming another territory, or they just don’t make it. Grandma does what she can, and we help as best we can, but we don’t have the money to pay $150/cat to get fixed. Neither does grandma (she’s 83 and living off hers and Pap’s social security, plus a little extra).

    parent root
  • parent

    It’s a clever ruse! She’s actually one of the smartest cats I’ve ever known! Which makes it VERY hard to keep her out of trouble! 😂 She likes to keep the humans off-balance and unsuspecting!

    parent root

  • She looks like a meeper♥️

    parent

  • SHE IS STARING STRAIGHT INTO MY SOUL!!!

    parent

    Always! Her favorite pastime with humans is to stare down their souls! 😳

    parent root

  • Nothing in that head.

    parent

    LOL!!! That’s a ruse! She’s actually RIDICULOUSLY smart! She just tries very hard to play the innocent doofus card! 🤣

    parent root

  • I love her so much. She looks so stressed. Relatable queen.

    parent

    Ahaha! She does! But she’s not. She’s just…Smudge. And crazy! 😂 She DOES chill…occasionally!

    parent root

  • There is not a single thought behind those eyes

    parent

    Actually, the brain behind those eyes is CONSTANTLY concocting devious plans and schemes. But she gets away with it because she’s adorable and she knows it!

    parent root

  • Do ypu have any confirmation that she has ever once had a thought because it doesnt look like it

    parent

    LOL!!! 🤣🤣🤣 Yep! It is unfortunately all a clever ruse! She’s practically a super-genius, so keeping her OUT of things she shouldn’t have, or eat, or lay on, is next to IMPOSSIBLE! If the dumb act doesn’t work, she switches to the cute angel kitten act!

    parent root

  • OMGGGGG SHE HAS SEEN HORRORS

    parent

  • Shoutout Smudge 🥹

    parent

  • Such a cutie for a homophobic, heyyyy smudge

    parent

  • I love that she’s just a tiny bit cock eyed lol my cat’s eyes do that when I rub her face in the perfect way that feels so good lol

    parent

    Haha! I love that, too! I think it’s because of her eyes being different from each other. I think the blue one lets in either more or less light, so they are always the SLIGHTEST bit different. The vet said that’s probably what’s going on. It fits her personality: she’s a nutter! 🤣

    parent root

  • She looks like such a character!

    parent

    You have NO idea! She is the WEIRDEST cat I’ve EVER known! I love it! Even if she does drive me crazy sometimes!

    parent root

  • I love her. Number 4 gives me “huh” meme energy lol

    parent

    Lol! You’re so right! 😂

    parent root