What do you think of animals with pure white coats? Do you see them as pretty and showy, spooky and ghostly, or just likely to shed white hairs on your dark clothes?
Unlike the "lethal white" gene that produces fascinating shadings of color in dogs' coats, true albinism is not a lethal gene. "Marle" dogs are influenced by one copy of a gene whose weak form merely prevents hairs from developing full color. Two copies of the gene prevent other parts of the dog from developing functionality. Depending on the "strength" of the gene a puppy born to two marle-coated dogs might be born blind, born with other defects and disabilities, or not able to live at all.
Most white cats are showing the effect of a "dominant white" gene, which doesn't cause other health problems but often appears in association with deafness.
Here are some adorable, adoptable white cats' pictures. If you can't adopt them, you can help by sharing these pictures to find someone who can.
Zipcode 10101: Aveena from New York City
There could be some Siamese in Aveena's ancestry. She's known to be five years old but noted for looking and acting kittenish. She "talks," and may use different cat noises to communicate with you if you pay attention. She likes to be stroked but not to be held. She's already spayed and is not deaf or burdened by other health issues. The shelter staff sound just a bit nannyish. If they are, it's not as if there's any shortage of white cats on Petfinder.
Zipcode 20202: Lucious from D.C.
Four months old when his page was set up, Lucious entered foster care as one of four brothers, three of whom have all white coats. He seems to be on the cool and cautious side, but likes to play and will tolerate some touching as he gets to know people. Well, he is going to be a tomcat...possibly a lovable curmudgeon of a tomcat like Cleveland Amory's Polar Bear.
Zipcode 30303: Larkspur from Smyrna
That gray cushion in the background that looks just like another cat's fur? It is...two other cats' fur. The shelter will insist that you adopt another kitten so Larkspur will have somebody to play with, unless, of course, you already have another kitten. So, you're going to adopt two kittens and leave one in a shelter? I didn't think so. If you adopt this cute little fellow you are probably going to adopt the trio. They should be entertaining company for the next ten years or more.
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