The breed was developed in the late 19th century by crossing a Siamese cat and a solid white domestic cat. The breeder came up with the idea relatively long ago, as soon as he started breeding furry pets, but it was not immediately possible to implement it.
According to some cat breeders, Foreign White is a breed that is a certain background for the genetic designer, which is referred to only as the “Siamese cat.”
Origin story
Blue-eyed beauties with a snow-white coat were given to the world by the English breeder Patricia Turner, who was breeding Siamese cats. While reviewing photographs of her beloved pets after another photo shoot, Patricia discovered one damaged photograph. The lilac cat depicted on it turned out to be white, and this fact was of great interest to the breeder.
Patricia decided on a risky experiment - to breed Siamese cats with snow-white fur and blue eyes. The difficulty was that most white cats suffered from hereditary deafness, and the woman set herself the goal of creating an absolutely healthy breed.
For breeding work, the breeder chose a British shorthair cat with a snow-white color and representatives of the Siamese breed with a seal point color. The first kittens born as a result of this marriage were not completely white, but the breeder did not give up and after several generations her efforts were rewarded. The kids had a snow-white fur coat and blue eyes, and most importantly, they had excellent hearing.
Inspired by the success, Patricia made a detailed description of the breed of her new pets and presented them at the London exhibition in 1966. The sophisticated snow-white beauties captivated not only ordinary visitors, but also specialists, and within a few years, Foreign Whites were officially recognized by all authoritative felinological organizations.
Features of Foreign White
In fact, the Foreign White is a Siamese cat, with all the features inherent in the breed, but partially possessing the albinism gene, which gives the coat a white color, but without the manifestation of deafness. The peculiarity is that the gene does not allow the coat to color when exposed to temperatures above 37 degrees. Therefore, kittens are born white, because it is warm enough in the womb. Moreover, the animals are not albinos.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with: Felinology: what kind of science is it. Expert felinologist: a specialist who studies cats. Who is studied by the science of felinology of cats or eagle owls?
The white foreign cat is the most elegant among the oriental breeds. The coat color is solid white. The hair color is uniform from root to tip. The coat is silky and shiny.
Other names for the breed are White Shorthair, White Siamese, Foreign White.
The Foreign White is the only Oriental breed that cannot be crossed with other representatives of the Oriental breeds. Only white foreign and Siamese cats can be present in the pedigree. Strict selection and breeding rules guarantee the production of offspring with white fur and not suffering from deafness. The gene for blue eyes is inherited from the parent of the Siamese breed.
Crossbreeding of two representatives of the Foreign White breed is not allowed, since as a result of such matings kittens with Waardenburg syndrome are born. But crossing is allowed in cases where both parents are carriers of the albinism gene. Breeders recommend avoiding crossing Foreign Whites with Siamese - carriers of red pigment (red, apricot, cream), because
Most felinological organizations equate Foreign White cats with Siamese cats, evaluating them according to the standards developed for the Oriental breed group.
The average weight of mature males is 4.5-5.5 kg, females weigh slightly less, but the animals may appear much heavier than it appears at first glance when assessing size.
Like all representatives of the Siamese family, these pets are very sociable and intelligent. They love to play and communicate with humans. In terms of the degree of attachment to their owner, these cats are even more like dogs: they follow their owner everywhere, love to climb into their arms and play active games.
But there is also a downside to this temperament: Foreign Whites require constant attention. No matter what the owner does, they will certainly demand to pet them and give them time. If a pet does not receive the required amount of attention, it begins to feel disadvantaged.
For this reason, the socialization of an animal is very difficult in the house if there are other pets and many family members. A cat can be very jealous of its owner towards others and even show some aggression. She has a heightened sense of ownership, and she is unable to share her object of adoration with someone else.
Foreign Whites are very talkative creatures. If a pet wants to attract attention or play, it begins to purr obsessively. True, in such a situation the cat looks more like a crying child.
A very difficult character also lies in an acute love for one’s own person. If others sometimes treat pranks addressed to them condescendingly, then the Foreign White may hate a person when he pulled his tail or stepped on his paw. This should be taken into account by those who are considering purchasing a pet for a family with small children. In a fit of anger, it sometimes comes to scratches from sharp cat claws.
The main advantage of the representatives of the breed is their outstanding intellectual abilities. At home, they easily understand the purpose of a tray or scratching post. It is difficult to discipline your pet due to their freedom-loving nature. You can achieve success only with affection and patience. You cannot even lightly spank your pet or yell at it - the result will be the opposite and the animal will become uncontrollable. But approving stroking and a friendly tone are much more effective.
Therefore, when raising, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the breed’s character. With a polite and kind attitude, the pet will certainly respond and become a favorite and faithful companion. Kittens are usually purchased from nurseries that breed them.
Description of the breed
Foreign White cats are of average size and weigh 3-5 kg. The breed standard according to the TICA organization is the same for the entire Siamese group of breeds: Siamese, Balinese, Oriental Shorthair and Oriental Longhair. This includes Foreign White.
Detailed description of the breed:
- The head is long but proportional, on a slender long neck, tapering to a neat muzzle, with an even profile, strong chin and flat forehead;
- The ears are large, wide at the base, set so that they continue the wedge-shaped shape of the head, similar to a triangle;
- Eyes – oriental, almond-shaped, set at an angle;
- Body – long and slender, pelvis slightly above the shoulder line, muscular build;
- Paws – long, slender, hind paws longer than front paws, oval paw pads;
- The tail is long, tapered, whip-like, without a break;
- The coat is short, close-lying.
How to choose a foreign white kitten
In addition to the main criteria for choosing a kitten, appearance and compliance with the breed are important. Kittens are born white, but they may have dark hair on their ears and colored spots on their noses and paw pads. With age, dark hair disappears.
At birth, kittens have blue eyes; by six weeks, the color of the eyes develops to a greater extent.
The kitten has a tubular body shape, a wedge-shaped head with an elongated muzzle. The ears are large and stand straight.
Kittens are sold after they reach 16 weeks of age.
Character
Foreign White is a social cat that is literally created for communication. Intelligence is typical of the Siamese type. Pets are temperamental and love to interact with humans. They love to take part in the owner’s daily life and constantly try to lure household members into their noisy and funny games.
They don’t like loneliness - in this case, another companion cat will help to avoid stress. It is advisable to acquire a new neighbor and running partner with a similar temperament, so that there are no conflicts due to misunderstandings.
Almost all “foreigners” are loud and have a wide range of throat singing. If an animal begins to demand something, it will do it with all the power of its strong vocal cords.
Excessive activity of pets requires owners to create a safe habitat for them. The house or apartment should have enough space for active movement. Ideally, it wouldn’t hurt to give your pet a whole corner equipped with special cat exercise equipment, which will make the cat not only happy, but also physically healthy.
It is extremely important to monitor the animal’s nutrition: the cat should receive healthy and balanced food, which will maintain the glossy appearance of its snow-white fur. The choice of the right diet remains up to the owner, since this concept is quite conditional and flexible: some animals need exclusively natural food, while others feel great even when eating high-quality ready-made “dry food”.
Foreign Whites are gluttons, but they are not prone to obesity due to their metabolic characteristics. But you shouldn’t overfeed them either - frequent and abundant feeding will lead to vomiting.
Breeds of white blue-eyed cats
As we have already figured out, not in every breed you can find an animal that simultaneously has snow-white fur and blue eyes. White cats with green or yellow eyes are not uncommon, and blue-eyed cats of various colors are also quite common. Blue eyes are especially common in Siamese cats, and their color has a milky or coffee tint with darkened paws, muzzle and tail. Let's consider the breeds in which such a desirable combination is possible - blue eyes and white, spotless wool.
Siamese cats have stunningly beautiful blue eyes, but their coat color is far from snow-white.
Oriental cats
Among the representatives of the Oriental cat breed, there are kittens of rare beauty: they are completely white, with soft blue eyes. These cats have pink nose and paw pads; there are no other color shades present in the color. At birth, snow-white Oriental kittens may have darkening in the ears and “arrows” near the eyes, but by one and a half to two months the dark fur disappears.
Alien blue-eyed oriental
Foreign white
This breed is very similar to the Oriental, which is not surprising: Foreign Whites were bred by British breeder Patricia Turner by crossing a Siamese cat and a British shorthair. Accordingly, the Foreign White has the same roots as the classic Orientals, which means it must meet the standards developed for cats of this type.
According to the standard, Foreign Whites are always born pure white, with eyes that can be any shade of blue. Fur and iris of any other color are not allowed. Accordingly, when purchasing a purebred Foreign White, a person will receive that same magical combination - aquamarine eyes on a white background. However, Foreign Whites cannot be bred with each other, since kittens are born with congenital ophthalmological pathology.
Foreign white kitten
British cat
Among these imposing and independent cats, which we are accustomed to seeing smoky or blue, there are also completely snow-white individuals. White, blue-eyed "British" kittens are incredibly rare; these kittens sell for two to three times more than their regular brothers and sisters.
British kittens with light blue and green eyes
At the same time, snow-white color is included in the standard colors of British cats; accordingly, snow-white wool is an advantage, not a disadvantage, from the point of view of felinologists. This increases the value of a representative of the breed endowed with such a striking appearance. Snow-white “British” people do not necessarily have blue eyes; coffee, orange, greenish, and brown shades are acceptable. Accordingly, the likelihood of a combination of white fur and aquamarine eyes becomes even lower.
Kobe is the cat who won thousands of hearts with his appearance
Scottish cat
Snow-white shorthaired Scottish cats are also called white solid. “Scots” of this species are always born with a white fur coat; the color of the iris can be blue, yellow, or green. In this case, kittens can be either standard or fold-eared. As among British cats, among Scottish cats this type of color is rare and valuable.
Scottish white solid kittens
Khao-mani
The oldest breed of cats, originally from Thailand. Animals of this breed have snow-white fur, eye color, like the previous breeds we named, can be green, yellow, blue, and heterochromia (multi-colored eyes) is also common. As a rule, Kao Mani kittens are born with black markings on their heads, but these disappear in the first year of the cat's life.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with: Encyclopedia of the pigeon breeder stately pigeons
From Thai, “khao mani” is translated as “precious white stone,” and cats of this breed fully justify this name. If the white cats described above with blue eyes are rare, then it is almost impossible to find khao mani outside Thailand. And in their homeland there are hardly more than a hundred of these cats.
Kao mani - the oldest representative of white cats
Maine Coon
Giant Maine Coons are also included in the list of breeds within which blue-eyed white cats exist. In the case of these huge fluffy cats, the combination of heavenly eye color and snow-white long hair looks very attractive. Maine Coons themselves resemble wild representatives of the cat world, and in such an exotic form they even look like fairy-tale animals.
White Maine Coons with blue eyes are also classified as solid white. This is not to say that these animals are rarely born with white fur, but more often it is accompanied by green eyes. Note that there are frequent cases of deafness in snow-white Maine Coons; kittens do not hear from birth.
Luxurious blue-eyed Maine Coon
Turkish Angora
A gorgeous long-haired cat with a fluffy tail like a fan is a classic representative of snow-white cats. The white color of the Turkish Angora is considered traditional, and the vast majority of purebred kittens are born as white as freshly fallen snow. These cats are allowed to have green irises, all shades of yellow and blue.
When Turkish Angoras appeared in Russia, local cat lovers were delighted with the beauty of this breed, and since these cats were extremely rare, all snow-white cats were called “Angora” for a long time.
The fluffy tail is the calling card of the Angora
Persian cat
Among the snub-nosed Persians, completely white cats and cats are often found; some of the “snow whites” have beautiful blue eyes. For the first time, snow-white Persian cats appeared in America, and several white Persians were presented at the felinological exhibition in Chicago. One of them, a cat named Lord, became the winner of the entire event.
Note that the first white Persian cats were born with blue eyes, but breeders did not like this because of the similarity of the animals with the Angora breed. Therefore, Persians with orange or yellow eyes were more valued. Of course, blue-eyed kittens of the Persian breed have not gone away; to this day you can find and purchase such a handsome one.
Serious blue-eyed Persian cat
Javanese cats are close relatives of Orientals, belonging to the large Oriental-Sima group. Like all cats of this species, Javanese are often born with bright blue eyes, but white fur is rare for them. However, sometimes snow-white kittens appear in the litter. At the same time, Javanese cats have a color in which, against the background of a white body, the animals form a light cream “mask”, “socks” and the tail is painted in the same shade.
Kittens of this color are also born snow-white, and by the age of one and a half months other shades appear. Therefore, breeders do not always immediately understand that they have a rarity - the white blue-eyed Javanese. Such kittens are sold at a high price; the cost of a high-breed animal can exceed one hundred thousand rubles.
Javanese resemble longhaired Orientals
Sphinx
Another breed with common blue eyes is the Sphynx, both Canadian and Don. However, representatives of this hairless breed can only conditionally be called white. Sphynx cats that lack pigment can be considered pale pink or beige; these are the most “bleached” hairless cats.
However, there are sphinxes with really very pale, almost snow-white skin, which, combined with bright blue eyes, gives these alien cats an even more exotic and funny look. Many fans of hairless cats hunt for such kittens.
Sphynxes are also almost snow-white
Cornish Rex
Another breed that looks extremely cosmic is the Cornish Rex. These cats have curly, astrakhan-like fur, an elegant physique and incredible grace. Cornish Rex lovers compare them to porcelain figurines and really appreciate the snow-white color of the kittens.
In principle, the color standard of the Cornish Rex is extremely democratic - all sorts of color combinations are allowed, including extensive white spots. The first kittens of this breed were white and red in color, which is why white animals are born periodically. Blue eyes are also not uncommon in the breed, so a person who intends to have a white Cornish Rex kitten with blue eyes can well count on his dream coming true.
Kitten of an unusual “curly” breed
White foreign cats are social creatures that need human interaction and attention. Representatives of the breed love to take part in the daily life of family members. The affectionate nature of Foreign Whites makes them ideal companions, especially for older people and people leading a quiet lifestyle.
A white foreign cat becomes attached to a person who takes care of it, feeds it and shows his love. It is this person who receives the attention of the animal, and treats the rest of the family members loyally. Animals sometimes even show their jealousy if the person to whom it is attached pays attention to other family members and animals. Cats are gentle with children, but only if the children treat them with respect and do not hurt them.
Representatives of the breed are intelligent cats, self-confident and sometimes showing independence. They have a playful disposition and energy, enjoy playing with humans, and also enjoy interacting with interactive toys.
Physical activity through games is an important factor in maintaining the mental and physical health of your pet.
These mysterious creatures will fascinate throughout their lives. It’s enough that you want to admire cats with elegance and grace, with a deep look.
Foreign Whites meow loudly, but their voice is softer than that of Siamese cats. White foreigners meow only to attract attention, for example, when they want to eat or go outside.
Health and care
Unlike other white cats with blue eyes, this breed is not susceptible to hearing loss. In general, these animals are distinguished by good health if their selection is carried out correctly.
A necessary condition is that the Foreign White should be crossed only with representatives of its variety or with Siamese, whose colors are lilac, blue, brown or seal point.
The result of mating with Siamese individuals with red pigmentation (fiery, ivory, cake, peach) was a high probability of the manifestation of Waardenburg syndrome in the cubs. As a result of mating with tabby point Siamese, babies usually inherit points on their nose and mouth.
Representatives of the breed usually live 15-20 years. Caring for a foreign cat is not difficult: brush it once a week, wash it occasionally and periodically clean its ears.
Possible diseases
This breed is characterized by good health, and practically has no tendency to deafness - this is extremely rare. However, due to inbreeding, the following complications can sometimes occur:
- Mammary tumors are the most common tumors in cats, accounting for 12% of all tumors in cats and 17% of tumors in foreign whites.
- congenital peripheral vestibular disease. Clinical signs develop at 3–4 weeks of age, and there is usually an increase in clinical signs at 3–4 months of age. Clinical signs include head tilt, imbalance, nystagmus (rapid horizontal or rotational eye movements), and ataxia (uncoordinated walking).
- Hydrocephalus - Hydrocephalus is the most common abnormal brain disorder. This may have genetic roots.
You may be interested in: Description of the Javanese (Javanese cat) breed
Upbringing
The mental abilities of foreigners are at a high level. Even as children they are smart and curious. They study the world around them without any special instructions from their owners. This way they can get accustomed to the tray and scratching post on their own. It’s enough just to show once how great everything is.
The educational process should proceed calmly. Do not raise your voice under any circumstances . Patience is the key to success in everything related to this breed of cats. You can't hit. Even the slightest slap on the butt can turn a cutie into a wild beast. The cat will definitely not forget the insult and will soon do something.
Say that he/she is good and obedient. Praise and encourage. Cats understand everything perfectly. This is the only effective method of education. Love is also important for Foreign White, and for the sake of it he will understand what is required of him.
Historical reference
Ambitious breeder Patricia Turner left her legacy to humanity in the form of a new breed of blue-eyed cats with a snow-white coat. All the events described below took place in Great Britain in the 1960–1970s. Some sources indicate that the idea of creating Foreign White was spontaneous; Patricia saw a low-quality, overexposed photograph of a Siamese cat and decided to “bring” the picture to life.
Strong Siamese were taken as the main gene pool, which were crossed with European shorthair and white domestic cats. In the process, Patricia enlisted the help of her breeder and friend, Miss Brian Sterling Webb. By the way, Miss Sterling Webb already had experience in breeding new breeds; her achievements include the appearance of the Persian color point and the well-known Devon Rex.
Patricia and Miss Brian were professional breeders and understood perfectly well how dangerous the “games” with mating white blue-eyed cats were. Using the example of Angora cats and their close relatives, Persian cats, it turned out that when mating “white on white”, there is a risk of giving birth to completely or partially deaf offspring.
In most clubs, such matings are prohibited, and in some countries, they are considered a violation of the law on the humane treatment of animals. Initially, hearing loss was considered a “feature”, but after tightening the rules of breeding selection, it became a defect in the breed. To prevent congenital deafness, breeds related to Angora cats were excluded from the selection program.
On November 5, 1962, the breeding program for the Foria White breed officially began. European shorthair cats of white color and Siamese with seal point coloring took part in the breeding work. As a result of experimental matings, the first Foreign White kittens were born; however, they bore little resemblance to the final version of the breed, but already carried the gene of a white cat with blue eyes and excellent hearing.
What to feed Phoren White?
Feeding a pet of this breed does not have any special features; you need to adhere to the standard rules of a balanced diet for a cat. Proteins should predominate in the diet, fats should be kept to a minimum, and the amount of carbohydrates should be moderate. Be sure to keep an eye on the freshness and constant availability of water in your animal’s bowl. Drinking should be kept away from the tray - cats are very clean and will not shit where they eat. If you decide to feed your cat ready-made food - dry or liquid, make sure that the product is of high quality and contains all the necessary vitamins and microelements. Dry food is not recommended for kittens. If you feed your pet yourself, introduce fermented milk products, meat, vegetables, and cereals into the diet. But you can’t afford fish often. You should definitely give your animal the vitamins your doctor prescribes - this is the key to good health and absence of disease.
Foren white is a unique pet with a complex character. If you find an approach to it, the cat will become a faithful and true friend for you. Love your snow-white foreigner, and he will certainly reciprocate your love.
Video
Maintenance and care
Unlike other cat breeds, Foreign Whites do not require special care. Representatives of the breed are clean, they regularly monitor their hygiene on their own. Only occasionally it is necessary to clean the ears, trim the nails once every 2 weeks, comb the animals with a brush once a week and bathe as necessary.
A balanced diet and correctly calculated feeding rate is the key to a cat’s health. When compiling a diet, it is important to select foods that will help maintain a smooth and glossy coat. Foreign Whites are not prone to obesity, but they have a good appetite, which is explained by the energy of the animals.
White foreign cats are sensitive to ultraviolet radiation, prolonged exposure to the sun causes burns, especially to the ears, so it is recommended to keep cats indoors or use sunscreen while outdoors.
Since the Foreign White cat has a large shell, there is a risk of dirt and bacteria accumulating in it. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically clean them with cotton swabs and a special lotion, which can be purchased at any veterinary pharmacy. This will help avoid inflammation and ear mites in your pet.
You should bathe your cat only when necessary: she usually does an excellent job of cleaning her fur herself. But it is recommended to regularly wash your eyes with an infusion of herbs, for example, chamomile. You can use cotton pads for this. Although this is a short-haired breed, it will also require brushing.
Foreign Whites have good health, but they are characterized by diseases of all representatives of the Siamese group. To avoid possible problems, you need to follow simple rules:
- Siamese are prone to respiratory diseases, so it is important to avoid drafts in the house;
- You should periodically clean your cat’s ears and teeth;
- From time to time, your cat will need a routine check-up with your veterinarian because kidney disease may occur.
A foreign white cat will decorate any home. These wayward pets are distinguished by their affection and devotion to their owner. They are very beautiful: their elongated body of the oriental type in combination with the snow-white color creates a unique exterior. At the same time, pets do not require special conditions and painstaking care. All they need from their owner is care and attention.
There will be no special instructions for caring for snow-white beauties; everything is done as needed. The ears should be wiped with a cleaner or baby oil, the eyes with a cotton pad dipped in clean water. The short, close coat does not require constant brushing, but a “standard” brush once a week will not hurt.
Naturally, a white cat needs bathing, but Foreign Whites, who have no undercoat, do not like water, to put it mildly. If your pet walks outside, it is worth accustoming it to water procedures at the age of a kitten. In an apartment, the cat copes with maintaining cleanliness on its own; if necessary, the fur is cleaned with sanitary napkins.
Claw care is also standard; usually, active pets enjoy using a scratching post and grinding down their claws while playing. Inspect your pet's hands once a week and file the claws if necessary. Foreign Whites do not have hereditary problems with teeth, however, when eating exclusively soft food, there is a possibility of the formation of plaque, and subsequently tartar.
“Snow Whites” have a good appetite, but are not prone to gaining fat mass. The pet needs energy for games and a normal lifestyle, which explains the “gluttony.” The type of food is not important, it’s up to you to decide whether it’s “dry” or “natural”, but remember that the nutritional value and balance of the food are important. If it’s industrial food, then it’s of good quality; if it’s natural, it’s 50% meat and offal, boiled cartilage for cleaning teeth, vegetables and cereals.
There are no special requirements for maintaining Foreign White. Brush his coat, take care of his eyes, ears, and teeth. Trim your nails regularly or purchase a scratching post. Do not forget about routine vaccinations and treatment against parasites.
When it comes to nutrition, the same recommendations apply as for most cats.
- Provide water to the animal in the required quantity, change it more often. Make sure the bowl is kept away from the tray.
- The menu can be either natural or industrial. The only condition is quality.
- Give your pet fish occasionally, preferably sea fish.
Appearance
The Foreign White cat is striking due to its lean, muscular and at the same time elegant body structure, large ears and charming bright blue eyes. The cat has medium or small dimensions, and its weight varies from 3 to 6 kg. Blue-eyed beauties, according to TICA (International Cat Association) standards, are included in the same species group along with Orientals, Siamese, Balinese and have the same breed description standards:
- The head is wedge-shaped, in the shape of an isosceles triangle with neat bends. The nose is elongated, smooth, without a visible transition to the forehead. The cheeks are taut and clearly defined. If you look at the photo of a Foreign White in profile, the muzzle is level, the chin and forehead are wide and well developed.
- The eyes are slanted, almond-shaped, medium in size, set close to the bridge of the nose.
- The ears are triangular, wide and large, if not huge. Set very wide. Visually, the auricle continues the triangular contour of the muzzle; if you draw a straight line from the cheekbone to the base of the ear, it should be straight.
- The body is muscular, “dry”, elongated with a strong and wide chest. The neck is straight, tapering from the shoulders to the head.
- The paws are smooth with clearly defined joints, long and powerful. The brush is round and large. The pelvis is slightly higher than the shoulders, the gait and stance are “wild”.
- The tail is smooth, long, tense, tapered to the tip.
The only acceptable coat color is intense white, and the irises are blue. The length of the coat is moderate, there is no undercoat. The fur coat is dense, close-fitting without protruding hairs, visually looks like a “second skin.”
