Ojos Azules

Ojos Azules is an extremely rare, likely extinct cat breed from the United States, best known for its unusually deep blue eyes that can appear in almost any coat color.

Origin and status

• The breed began in the 1980s with a blue‑eyed tortoiseshell feral cat named Cornflower found in New Mexico, whose blue‑eye trait proved to be dominantly inherited.
• It was accepted for registration by The International Cat Association (TICA) around 1991–1992, but the registry was later dropped because of health concerns linked to the eye gene.
• Because very few cats were ever registered and breeding programs stopped, the Ojos Azules is considered extremely rare and possibly extinct today.

Appearance

• Ojos Azules are medium‑sized cats, typically around 30–40 cm in body length (excluding the tail) and about 4–5.5 kg in weight.
• They have a graceful, well‑proportioned body, slightly longer hind legs, a medium tail, and a somewhat triangular head with an arched neck and large, round eyes.
• The defining trait is their intense blue or blue‑gray eyes, sometimes with odd eyes (one blue, one gold/green) or partial heterochromia, and they can occur in almost any coat color or pattern except solid white, often with a white tail tip.

Personality and temperament

• Because so few existed, temperament descriptions are limited, but reports describe them as affectionate, friendly, and loyal cats that bond closely with their families.
• They are generally portrayed as active, playful, and intelligent, with curiosity and adaptability typical of many domestic cats.

Health and genetics

• The blue eyes come from a specific dominant blue‑eye mutation that does not require the cat to be color‑pointed or white, unlike many other blue‑eyed breeds.
• When inherited in double dose (homozygous form), this mutation has been associated with serious defects such as cranial malformations and other developmental issues, which led breeders to halt further development of the breed.
• For heterozygous cats, reported lifespan is around 10–12 years, similar to many other domestic breeds, but data are sparse due to the breed's rarity.

Summary Table

Aspect	Ojos Azules details
Origin	Developed in the USA (New Mexico) in the 1980s from a blue‑eyed feral cat named Cornflower.
Recognition	Accepted by TICA in the early 1990s, later removed from the registry.
Rarity	Extremely rare; possibly extinct as a formal breed.
Size/weight	Medium build, roughly 4–5.5 kg and 8–10 inches in height.
Coat	Short or long, soft and silky; most colors and patterns allowed, but not solid white; white tail tip common.
Eyes	Deep blue or blue‑gray; odd eyes permitted, with very striking appearance.
Temperament	Reported as affectionate, friendly, active, and intelligent, though data are limited.
Health note	Dominant blue‑eye gene linked to lethal or severe defects in homozygous kittens, which ended most breeding efforts.

References

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