Olive, a cat from Derbyshire, UK, stands out from the rest. With her special looks, this 4-year-old cat has grabbed the interest of lots of people on social media. What makes her different is her white fur, which makes her two-colored eyes really stand out.
Meet Olive – a special cat with a rare genetic condition called sectoral heterochromia. This means half of each of her eyes is yellow, and the other half is blue. Olive has become hugely popular on Instagram, where she’s known as Odd Eyed Olive. She’s a mix of Oriental and Siamese breeds, with almond-shaped eyes and a white fur coat. While her unique eyes weren’t immediately obvious as a kitten, they’ve become one of her most captivating features as she’s grown. Owner Kim didn’t pick Olive for her eyes, but for her lovely personality. As Olive grew up, her two-toned eyes became more pronounced, surprising everyone.
Olive, a sweet little cat, has a condition called sectoral heterochromia. Her eyes are divided into yellow and blue halves, making her quite unique. Kim brought Olive home to join their family of three other kittens. Olive is lively and gets along well with the others. She has a big following on Instagram, with over 18,000 fans, and often cuddles with her boyfriend, Charlie, who also has striking blue eyes. Olive has an unusual preference for cake over cat treats, setting her apart from other cats. While her breed is typical in many ways, Olive can be mischievous and gets jealous if Kim pays attention to other cats. She adores belly rubs, chin scratches, and massages all over. Olive has a regular cat routine – she enjoys playing in boxes, watching birds while making ‘ek ek ek’ sounds, and attacking feather toys.
According to Medical News Today, heterochromia of the eye happens due to differences in melanin levels and how it’s spread out. Melanin is a pigment that gives color to eyes, hair, and skin, and this difference can occur in both humans and animals. The term comes from Greek words meaning “different” and “color.” Olive has a rare type called sectoral heterochromia, where one or both eyes have sections of different colors. Even among all-white cats, which often have completely different colored eyes, Olive’s type of heterochromia is very uncommon. Unlike other kinds where the colors are scattered or blended, Olive’s eyes each have a distinct blue and yellow section, making her truly one-of-a-kind.
Olive, the cat with special eyes, has an interesting genetic story behind her captivating gaze. Normally, kittens are born with blue eyes that change as they grow and produce melanin. But some cats, like Olive’s pal Charlie, keep their blue eyes forever. While many white cats with blue eyes might be deaf, Olive hears and sees just fine. Even though she looks different, Olive is loved by her fans and is simply seen as a lovely creature.
