All of us think our cats are cute.
Most of the time we think they’re cuter than all the cats in the world.
But some of them are actual stunners and not just because they are ours.
Bowie, a European Shorthair, is one of those cats.
The reason why Bowie’s looks are so enchanting is that he has heterochromia.
That means that one of his eyes are a different color than the other.
He has one blue eye and one green eye.
According to Catster, heterochromia is common in certain cat breeds.
These breeds include British Shorthairs, Cornish and Devon Rex, Japanese Bobtails, Munchkins, Persians, Scottish Folds, Siamese, Sphynxes, Turkish Angoras and Turkish Vans. It’s also common in white cats of any breed any like Bowie.
Heterochromia in cats can be hereditary or occur over time.
Acquired heterochromia can occur due to a loss in pigmentation in the eye.
“This can be attributed to many factors, such as inflammatory conditions, physical injuries and even certain medications,” Dr. Doug Payne, DVM, medical director of VCA East Penn Animal Hospital in Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, says.
“There are many other conditions that may affect eye color in dogs and cats. Some of these conditions can be very uncomfortable for pets and if left unaddressed could lead to permanent damage or even loss of vision.”
There are actually three different types of heterochromia in cats.
Complete heterochromia, or heterochromia irides, is the type that Bowie has where one eye is an entirely different color than the other.
Sectoral heterochromia occurs when part of the cat’s iris is blue and the rest of the eye is a different color.
Central heterochromia is when there are different colors in the iris that have a spiked or haloed appearance.
“Cats seem to have complete heterochromia more often, but sectoral and central forms can also be seen,” Payne said.
White cats like Bowie with one or more blue eyes also have a higher chance of having congenital deafness.
But Bowie seems to be able to hear just fine.
Bowie isn’t an Instagram star just for his eye color but for the orange and tan markings down the middle of his face that makes him look like musician David Bowie’s his alter ego Ziggy Stardust.
He would often appear with one dilated eye and one non-dilated eye.
“As Bowie’s fans, we knew it when we named our cat after him. But when I saw his face, I couldn’t think of a better name! With his blue and green eyes and the marking on his nose… it was the perfect name.”
In addition to his stunning looks, Bowie is an all-around lively cat.
“Bowie is very playful, sometimes too much! He loves playing with other cats, but sometimes the other cats don’t want to play with him!” Bowie’s owner and rescuer Maria Lloret from Spain told The Dodo.
He’s also big on napping and eating.
“We haven’t found a food he doesn’t like,” Maria said.
Bowie was found abandoned in a park when he was just 3-months-old and taken in by a local animal shelter.
“My sister saw an advertisement looking for a family for Bowie and when we met him, we fell in love. He was obviously a beautiful cat but he was also so loving, always purring and looking for some warmth. The moment he got home, he started to eat like crazy and fell asleep in my arms,” Maria said.
“Rescuing an animal from a shelter instead of buying always saves lives.”
Now Bowie lives a happy life with lots of fans on Facebook, more than 36,000. You can check out his page here.
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