Ojos Azules

• ExerciseModerate

  A couple of daily play sessions keep body and mind sharp.

• GroomingWash & go

  Their own tongue does most of the work — an occasional brush helps.

• Living spaceApartment-friendly

  Perfectly happy indoors — add vertical space to climb.

• Owner experienceSome experience helps

  A little know-how makes life smoother.

• Commitment12–16 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Deafness · Obesity · Dental issues

The Ojos Azules, Spanish for blue eyes, was discovered among feral cats in New Mexico in 1984. Its interest to geneticists is specific: in every other cat, deep blue eyes come bundled with white spotting or with the colourpoint gene, which is why a solid black cat is normally never blue-eyed. The Ojos Azules carries an independent dominant gene that produces blue eyes in any coat colour, and it is the only breed that does. That same gene is why the breed remains almost nonexistent. When two Ojos Azules are bred together, the homozygous kittens can be born with serious cranial and skeletal defects and are not viable, so responsible breeders only ever mate a blue-eyed cat to a normal-eyed one. This halves every litter's yield and has kept numbers in the low dozens worldwide. Anyone offering Ojos Azules kittens cheaply and in quantity is almost certainly not selling the real thing. Where they exist, they are gentle, calm, quietly affectionate cats of ordinary size and easy short coat, needing no more than a weekly brush. The health point that matters day to day is hearing: blue-eyed cats in general have a raised rate of congenital deafness, so have a kitten's hearing checked and, if it is deaf, keep it strictly indoors and use vibration and light cues rather than voice.

• How much play does a Ojos Azules need?

  Moderate. A couple of daily play sessions keep body and mind sharp.

• How much grooming does a Ojos Azules need?

  Wash & go. Their own tongue does most of the work — an occasional brush helps.

• Is a Ojos Azules suited to apartment living?

  Apartment-friendly. Perfectly happy indoors — add vertical space to climb.

• Is a Ojos Azules a good fit for first-time owners?

  Some experience helps. A little know-how makes life smoother.

• How long do Ojos Azules live?

  12–16 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Ojos Azules?

  Keep an eye out for Deafness, Obesity, Dental issues. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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