Foreign Whites DO NOT have the deafness problem.

Because of the difference in how the breed was created and in the requirements for breeding and registration in the UK, the Foreign White has remained free of the deafness gene. The Foreign White is the only one of the British Oriental Shorthairs that may NOT be inter-bred with any cat other than another Foreign White or a Siamese. They were created using copper-eyed white cats, who do not have the deafness problem, and Siamese. Thus the gene for blue eyes comes only from the Siamese, and does not carry the connected genetics that cause deafness.

Knowing this, and having a major personal pet peeve about breeders who go on breeding animals when they know they are breeding animals with genetic defects that are passed on, I can only feel right in saying;

Don't buy a white Oriental Shorthair. Buy a Foreign White if you must buy a kitten. Please don't perpetuate a problem by encouraging breeders who don't care enough to stop breeding animals with a major defect.