The Rarity of Blue Eyes in Cats — And Why We Named Our Cattery Blue Eyed British
Hi, I’m Brandy, the owner of Blue Eyed British Cattery. One of the things that makes our cattery truly special is our love for the rare and beautiful blue eyes that some British Shorthair cats have. While many people associate blue eyes with breeds like Siamese or Ragdolls, blue eyes in British Shorthairs are much less common—and that rarity is part of what inspired our name.
Why Are Blue Eyes So Rare in Cats?
Eye color in cats comes down to genetics and the amount of pigment, called melanin, in the iris. Most adult cats have eyes in shades of gold, copper, green, or hazel. Blue eyes occur when there’s very little pigment in the iris, which causes light to scatter and reflect blue.
Almost all kittens are born with blue eyes, but for many breeds, that changes as they grow. Only a small percentage keep those vivid blue eyes into adulthood.
The Genetics Behind Blue Eyes
There are a few main genetic factors that lead to blue eyes in cats:
The white (epistatic) gene, which can cause all-white or mostly white coats and often results in blue eyes.
The colorpoint gene, common in Siamese and other pointed breeds, which limits pigment to warmer parts of the body and leaves eyes blue.
The rare Ojos Azules gene, which causes deep blue eyes regardless of coat color.
Blue eyes can also show up in bicolor or van-patterned cats with high white spotting—especially when combined with dilute or cream coloring.
Blue Eyes in British Shorthairs — A Special Trait
Blue eyes aren’t a common trait in British Shorthairs. The breed standard typically pairs blue coats with copper eyes and silver coats with green eyes. But we do see blue eyes in some British Shorthair varieties, especially:
Colorpoint British Shorthairs (sometimes called British Colourpoints)
Cream and white or lilac and white bicolor/vans
Cats with certain recessive genes from imported bloodlines
At Blue Eyed British, we’re proud to have blue-eyed cats like our queens Lily and our stud Angel—all beautiful examples of this rare and captivating trait. You can meet our current cats on our Kings & Queens page.
Looking for Blue-Eyed Kittens?
We often have litters that include kittens with stunning blue eyes. If that’s what you’re dreaming of, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We have blue-eyed kittens expected soon, and we’d be happy to talk with you about availability and answer any questions you have.
