The Eyes Have it - The Hows and Whys of Feline Eye Color

 

They're soulful, hypnotic, bright and so many other things!  A cat's eyes can be mesmerizing. 

Anyone who’s seen a kitten knows they’re born with their eyes closed and they stay that way for a week or so.  Once they start to open up, it takes about two weeks to complete the process. Most kittens start out with blue eyes but when they get to six weeks old the color may begin to change.  A cat’s eye color can have a wide range and a wide spectrum within specific colors.

What decides a cat's eye color?  Sort of like with people, it’s a cellular thing. The more melanin present the more intense the color will be.  Melanocytes, which are in the iris of the eye, will control light or dark color.  Maybe the most amazing factor helping to determine a cat’s eye color is us humans! 

A study done by several scientists revealed that, while wild animals tend to have a pretty narrow range of eye color, domestic cats have a much wider range.  Why is that?  When cats were domesticated, selective breeding began to happen, which changes the genetic make up for eye color.  Same goes for cat fur color and texture.  It's also true that a cat's fur color and pattern have nothing to do with the color of its eyes.

Among the BCR cats, you’ll find a huge array of eye colors from Sargent's vivid green eyes to Meghan's startling orange gaze and Voldo's blue peepers.  Looking at these cats, it's easy to see why some believe cats have mystical powers!