Heterochromia in Animal World

Odd-eyed, but still beautiful, cat. Heterochromia in Animal World

Heterochromia in Animal World
According to scientists, Heterochromia among animals is more common than among people. Besides, it usually causes a blue color to one eye. Interestingly, eyes of different colors happen among cats with a large percentage of white in fur color. And especially in such breeds as the Van cat and the Turkish Angora. Traditionally, Cats with different colored eyes can have one orange eye, yellow or green in color and the other eye is blue. According to tradition, the Prophet Muhammad’s favorite cat Muizza had different colored eyes.
As for dogs, it is the Siberian Husky breed that holds the leadership in Heterochromia.

Long-eared odd-eyed cat

Horses with complete heterochromia usually have one brown and the other white, gray or blue eyes. Complete heterochromia is most common among pinto suit horses. Heterochromia is also found among cows and Asian buffalo.

Heterochromia is a result of the relative excess or lack of melanin. It may be inherited, or caused by genetic mosaicism, disease, or injury. Heterochromia can be complete, when one iris differs in color from the other. In partial heterochromia or sectoral heterochromia, part of one iris is a different color from its remainder.