The blue-eyed miracle of Foreign White: getting to know the snow-white beauty

In England, in 1962, breeders decided to breed a pure white cat, without hereditary deafness. On November 5, they crossed a white Siamese cat and a solid British cat. As a result of mating, the first Foreign White babies were born.

Amazing snow-white kittens have captivated many people with their appearance.

Today, the price for a purebred Foreign White kitten starts from 20 thousand rubles.

Origin story

White Oriental, White Siamese - Foreign White is also called that.
Their homeland is England in the mid-21st century. It was then that Patricia Turner (a nationally known geneticist), looking at a photograph of a lilac Siamese cat, decided to try to breed an oriental type cat with blue eyes, but without hereditary deafness. Interesting fact: this photograph was overexposed, due to which the image was transmitted with significant distortion. The Lilac Point Siamese in the photo turned out to be as white as snow. The program began in November 1962. The very first crossing brought the desired result: from a Siamese seal point and a white British shorthair, cute Foreign White babies were born.

An attempt to develop a new breed was carried out not only in England, but also in Ireland and the Netherlands. Breeders bred a white shorthair cat of the British breed with a Siamese cat of red point color, but it all ended in failure: the babies born were very sick. There weren’t enough fingers to count their flaws: infertility, muscle weakness, strabismus, deafness, depigmentation, joint contracture, intestinal problems, wide-set eyes, skin and coat problems.

The breed was officially recognized in 1977, in June, and already at the beginning of winter the first cat won the title of Champion.

Price

This is the breed on which it is better not to skimp. Knowing your baby's ancestry will give you peace of mind. Genetic diseases of your pet, which can arise from improper mating, will not make your life joyful. Therefore, select breeders especially carefully. The average cost of a kitten can exceed fifty thousand rubles.

If you cannot afford this amount, try to negotiate with the nursery to purchase kittens with minor defects that are not suitable for further procreation and participation in exhibitions.

Standard

These are small, gracefully built cats. Average weight - 3-5 kg. The standard is the same as cats of the Siamese group of breeds, but the Foreign White is considered the most elegant of all.

Disadvantages of appearance:

• thick tail, tail and kinks or loops;
• round or small eyes;
• round head;
• different coat color;
• undershot or overshot;
• different eye color;
• small ears.

White oriental cat

The white oriental cat has an extraordinary appearance. The muscular and strong body of the foreign white is combined with a refined, graceful form. The white oriental cat grows to a height of 30-35 centimeters and weighs on average 6 kilograms.

This cat is distinguished from other species by its sharp triangular ears located high on the top of the head. The special shape and arrangement of the ears gives the white oriental cat a clear resemblance to wild felines. The Forenwhite has long, slender legs with oval paws (the hind legs are longer than the front) and a tail that is equal in length to the body and tapering to the end.

The cat's head has an elongated shape; a distinctive feature of the breed is the protruding muzzle and chin. The cat's cheeks and cheekbones are emphasized and highlighted. The breed standard is pink on the paw pads, nose and eyelids.

The almond-shaped, slanted eyes characteristic of this breed come in varying shades of blue (from light blue-gray to dark blue and indigo).

Character and behavior

Foreign White cats are considered highly intelligent cats for a reason. This breed has adopted the best features of the Siamese: the ability to think logically, the ability to think and make choices, as well as truly canine devotion to its man (whom Foreign Whites choose once and for all).

Don’t think that they are affectionate with only one and can’t stand other family members, no. Their sociability and kindness extend to everyone else: both adults and children.

But everyone should remember: these are not cats that can be pushed and poked with impunity. Their patience is not limitless, and as soon as it runs out, the offender will get back from the heart.

They get along with other living creatures: be it a dog, a rodent, a snake or a bird. But they will defend their supremacy to the last. Those who do not accept this will be persecuted. Whites know how to fight and make concessions only to those who are significantly smaller or clearly weaker. They will enter into a fight with pleasure with an opponent of equal strength.

They are inquisitive, love fresh air and new territories. And, given their fearlessness, letting them out on solo walks is simply dangerous: they will move further and further from home, start communicating with everyone, and may get injured or even die. Therefore, it is not recommended to take them out without a leash.

Does your pet like to go for walks?

HomebodyWalking on the street

They are not excellent hunters, and, indeed, they do not strive to hone this skill, but they will not refuse to catch a mouse or bird for their own entertainment.

Owners of a loud and emotionally colored voice, rich facial expressions, which allows them to express their desires and feelings very clearly. They love to communicate, and strive for this constantly, without making any distinction between light and dark times of the day.

They respond well to training, but only if they are interested in this process. Teams “get it” on the fly. There is no need to force them: it is a waste of energy. The rules of behavior in a Foreign White home should be taught from a very early age: this applies to the tray, food, and games.

They are very active, love games and running around, so the play set will be useful. It is not necessary to buy a large structure: 2-3 levels, several ladders, crossbars and pipes are enough.

They are jealous and do not hide their emotions if they see that the owner is paying more attention to someone else. They can be very offended by the lack of affection.

When choosing a kitten, keep in mind that they are born snow-white, but at the age of several weeks their fur may show multi-colored spots on the nose and paw pads, as well as single brown hairs on the ears. Over time they disappear. The eyes also change: in newborns they are very light, as if faded, but as they grow older they become rich and bright.

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.

Care instructions

Foreign Whites are very clean creatures and spend a lot of time taking care of themselves, but they will also need your help. To live comfortably, a cat must have:

• wide tray with high sides;
• filler (wood or gel);
• comb with natural bristles;
• nail clipper;
• 2 wide bowls: one for water, the other for food;
• separate towel;
• cotton pads;
• scratching post

They do not require special procedures. Clean your ears once a week with a cotton swab (not dry, but soaked in ear lotion or boiled water), wipe your eyes (if they are leaking), brush your teeth once a month with a special cat paste and a soft brush, and comb the fur 2-3 times. in Week. Nothing complicated, as you can see. These cats do not like to bathe, so do it if absolutely necessary (before giving birth, an exhibition, or if your pet gets particularly dirty during a walk).

Expert opinion

Dusheba Vera Ivanovna

In 2010, she graduated from the Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine named after K.I. Scriabin with honors, specializing in veterinary medicine. I regularly attend veterinary conferences, congresses, and webinars.

You should not use human hygiene products or household chemicals when caring for your cat. This applies to gels, pastes, and lotions. Cat skin is much more delicate than human skin, and reacts more sharply to “chemistry”. And, after swallowing toothpaste, an animal can simply become poisoned.

A cat wears down its claws during active play and on a scratching post, but from time to time you will still need to sharpen them: very carefully, trying not to damage large vessels.

Foreign whites are very sensitive to ultraviolet light, so do not let them stay in the sun for long periods of time. When going for a long walk, take sunscreen with you - lubricate your cat's ears with it (they burn quickly).

A foreign white kitten costs approximately 40-50 thousand rubles. The price consists of several factors: the cost of mating, childbirth and nursing, medical procedures, paperwork.

Caring for foreign whites at home

As noted above, unlike all other albino cats, Foreign White cats do not suffer from deafness or any other hereditary diseases. In principle, if this breed is bred correctly, beautiful albinos with pink noses and paws will be born.

Regarding the selection of representatives of this breed, it will be necessary to note the following requirements - Foreign Whites can only be crossed within the population, as well as with Siamese cats of the following colors: lilac, blue, seal or chocolate.

In the event that a cross is carried out with Siamese possessing red pigment (red, cream, apricot), there is a high probability of Waardenburg syndrome occurring in the offspring. And when crossed with Tabby Point Siamese, the kittens develop freckles on the nose and lips. These cats live on average 15-20 years.

In addition to the fact that Foreign Whites are distinguished by good indicators in terms of health (for an artificially bred breed as a result of repeated inbreeding, these are excellent indicators), they are also relatively unpretentious in terms of caring for them:

• Combing every week;
• Swimming several times a year;
• Mechanical ear cleaning once a week;

Catering

This breed is not prone to weight gain and, thanks to its strong stomach and good digestion, can handle both natural and commercial food.

They have an excellent appetite (which is explained by their irrepressible energy), but you should immediately accustom the animal to the correct diet. Cats older than one year eat 2 times a day: morning and evening. From six months to a year - 3 times, younger - 4-6 times.

Natural products

Foreign white is allowed to be given to:

• lean meat (veal, chicken, horse meat, turkey, beef);
• offal (liver, cartilage, kidneys, ventricles, ground chicken necks);
• porridge (millet, rice, oatmeal, buckwheat, pearl barley);
• vegetables (carrots, pumpkin, zucchini, greens, broccoli);
• boiled quail and chicken eggs (from chicken eggs only the yolk is given);
• fish (flounder, salmon, trout, navaga);
• fruits (apples, melons, cucumbers, radishes).

The meat is served defrosted, scalded with boiling water (this is done to destroy parasitic pathogens). The fish is boiled and cleaned of bones, fins and husks.

It is prohibited to give:

• dog food;
• human canned food;
• alcohol, tea, cocoa, coffee, juices, compotes, sparkling water;
• fatty, flour, sweet, sour, salty, fried, smoked;
• mushrooms, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, legumes;
• grapes, dried fruits.

To get rid of hairballs, cats look for a certain type of grass, eat it, and induce vomiting. Domestic cats do not have this opportunity, so buy a special kit at the pet store and regularly germinate it in a convenient tray.

Recommended food

Among the foreign white industrial feeds, food from the holistic and super-premium groups is suitable. These are Acana, Naturea, Savarra, Nutram, Pronature Life. The rest - premium and economy - are cheaper, but much worse in quality.

Below are recommended super-premium and holistic foods. Links with the names of the food are clickable, on them you can, within our website, get acquainted with the descriptions of the food and read reviews from owners of Foreign White cats.

Dry food can remain in the bowl for a day; wet food should be removed 3-4 hours after eating. Fresh clean water must be poured constantly. You can buy clean water in a store or leave it in an open pan for 10-12 hours.

Diseases

Many people are concerned about the question: are Foreign Whites prone to deafness? We hasten to please you: no. Despite its Siamese roots, this breed has excellent hearing.

But there are often problems with something else:

1. Tumor of the mammary glands is the most common type in cats in general, and in foreign whites in particular. The neoplasm can be benign (adenoma, cyst) and not life-threatening (causing only physical inconvenience, but you will still need to monitor it) or malignant (sarcoma, carcinoma), and therefore deadly. Tumors of the mammary glands are more common in unsterilized animals (over 7 years old), in animals with hormonal imbalances and trauma to the mammary gland area. The tumor can be removed with surgery, and a course of chemotherapy can be used to prevent the disease from developing again.
2. Peripheral vestibular disease. Its clinical picture is as follows: the kitten’s paws begin to move apart, its head falls to the side, and movements are difficult for it. The reasons are varied: from intrauterine infection to a reaction to certain medications (human antibiotics, for example). In most cases, the problem can be dealt with with medication, care and affection.
3. Hydrocephalus is a brain abnormality, simply called “dropsy of the brain.” Causes: intrauterine infection, poor heredity, birth trauma, reaction to medications. The animal cannot be cured, but with the help of a shunt the condition can be significantly alleviated. However, please note: this method only helps kittens and if the operation is performed by an experienced neurosurgeon.

Vaccinations against rabies and the most common diseases are mandatory, even if your pet has never been outside in its life. Pathogens can easily enter his body through raw meat, poorly purified water, and from your own hands.

Health of Snow White Foreign Whites

By nature, these seemingly fragile cats have fairly good health and good body defenses, but this does not mean that they are not susceptible to any cat diseases. Just like all other cats, they can be infected with parasites, so it is necessary to carry out regular deworming.

It is extremely important to strictly follow the vaccination schedule and preferably do them in a veterinary hospital. Don’t forget to show your pet, even the healthiest one, to a specialist from time to time for a general examination of the body, since many cat diseases can develop without obvious symptoms, and they need to be diagnosed in advance. If, nevertheless, everything is fine with Foreign White, then in this way you will once again reassure yourself.

READ Birdmore bot (Syncrossus berdmorei)

But this breed also has its own “Achilles heel” - these are their teeth, they are prone to the formation of tartar and inflammation of the gums, so one of the main nuances in caring for them is oral hygiene.

Cats are also susceptible to respiratory diseases, so be careful to ensure that your pet never freezes, and in the cold season, it is better to limit it from walking in the fresh air.

Photo gallery

Below are photos of Foreign White cats.