Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Van Cat Research and Application Center in Turkey demonstrated an average of 14.33% of Van patterned (all or mostly white with coloration on the head) are deaf using Automated Brain Response (ABR) method of screening.
The authors advocated the use of testing and selective breeding to significantly reduce the incidence of deafness in the breed.
A March 2023 article published in the Turkish Veterinary Journal compared the coloration and ability to 300 cats at the Turkish Van Research Center in the Van province of Turkey.
The incidence of deafness was 25% for Van cats with two blue eyes, 6% in those with two amber eyes, and 14% in those with one blue and one amber eye. The mean deafness rate for all three groups was 14.33%.
The article reported 43 out of 300 cats were deaf. The highest rate of deafness was found in Van cats with two blue eyes and the lowest rate of deafness was in those with two amber eyes.
No gene associated with deafness has been identified in cats or dogs although it has a close association with the W (white) gene. All cats with a copy of the gene are not white.
Read more in the complete article.
