Living with a Deaf Cat
Posted: Tuesday, June 03, 2008
by Summer Foovay
http://demented-pixie.com
A genetic anomaly causes blue-eyed white cats to be born deaf. I have not been able to find out what percentage of them are deaf - but it is fairly common. Odd-eyed whites are often deaf on the same side as they are blue eyed! This anomaly is present in all the several breeds in which blue-eyed white cats occur, from Persian to Oriental to the lovely Turkish Van.
You wonder how great a handicap it is. How difficult it might make it for you, or the cat.
I usually jokingly reply to people, when they ask what it is like to have a deaf cat that she is just like all my other cats. I yell "no" and she ignores me, just like all the others do.
In general, deaf cats cope very well with their disability. Pearl, my deaf cat, has taught me that there are only a few things I must keep in mind for her comfort. One is that - she cannot hear me! So I cannot call her to me, "kitty kitty kitty", like you can most cats. However, we have developed our own little sign language. I catch her eye and hold out my hand and make a scratching motion, as if I were scratching her back. She may decide to come over and get her back scratched. That's just the Oriental in her!
But she also cannot hear a shouted warning, the hiss of another cat behind her, or you walking up to her when her eyes are closed. It is simply considerate to let her know you are coming - otherwise she will waken with hisses and slashing claws. Like all cats, she is sensitive to vibration. If she is asleep on the bed, I put my weight on the bed a foot or so away from her and that will generally wake her up without startling her by touching her when she is sound asleep. My husband has less of a problem, since he is heavier than I am - she usually seems to sense him walking across the floor when he gets near. If she is very soundly asleep I might touch her whiskers gently. She will shake her head a time or two then open her eyes to see what is tickling her.
As far as shouting a warning - or "no" - there are several things that will work. Pearl has had a bit of a hard life so I try not to startle her unless it is absolutely necessary. I, personally, don't like the squirt bottle with water method because it upsets Pearl. However, with a new kitten, you might try it and see how the kitten reacts. For Pearl, I have a number of "koosh" balls - these are very soft balls that have a bit of weight to them. If she is about to put her dainty foot where it doesn't belong I will toss a "kooshie" in her general area. I don't throw them AT her to hit her, just so that she can see it - it distracts her - and she has gotten the message over time that when that koosh goes by, I am probably getting up to come get her out of whatever mess she is in, so its better to just stop or run off. And besides, she likes to play with them - so often she quits just to go play with the kooshie.
As time goes on and you live with your deaf cat, the two of you will work out a language you both understand.
Of course, you would never want to allow your deaf cat outdoors - unless you teach them to walk on a leash (the Orientals will learn to do this) and can be right there with them every minute. The world is too dangerous a place for cats - and even more so if they cannot hear.
I know when I adopted Pearl (who was almost 2 years old) I was curious about a couple of things. One was whether she chatted or purred. Orientals are usually very vocal. She does meow, and certainly purrs, although she is considerably less vocal than other Orientals I have had. (She is just as opinionated though). The other thing I've noticed is how expressive cats ears are. Yes, she still swivels them back and forth and up and down, but not to catch noises, but to express her mood from moment to moment. We are used to reading a cats body language by their tail, but the ears, too, have quite a bit to say.
If she is alert and interested they are high and perky. If she is relaxed they are relaxed also and sometimes even swivel slightly to the side and down. If she is angry, of course, they are flat and pointed back. There are about a million subtle nuances between these three stages, and you will soon learn them, as you grow closer to your cat.
My advice, if you are considering a adopting a deaf cat, is to feel comfortable and go ahead. So long as you do intend for the cat to always be an indoor cat, I don't think any other special measures are called for. The little bit of extra consideration and effort called for will be easy to give that white bit of fluff as it captures your heart with those gorgeous blue eyes.
About the author
Artist, writer and webdesigner, Summer Fey Foovay also has the honor of being owned by Pearl, a deaf, and psychic, cat. This Article has been viewed 964 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)The Barnaby Warning for Deaf Cat Owners Please emphasize to all owners of deaf cats that you can never, never, never permit a deaf cat to go outside without total supervision. And especially to never trust a cat sitter to honor that rule unless you thoroughly and completely get him or her to understand and agree to it. We have just gone through a terrible tragedy with our Barnaby - Deaf Turkish Angora Cat (now deceased). Our grandson who was told not to let him out and to whom we paid money to for him to house-sit, let the cat out. The cat was attacked by something and lost his eye and he ran into the road and was killed outright. We loved that cat with all our hearts and souls and he loved us dearly also. You cannot imagine the pain and suffering we have gone through to find out what happened, to retrieve his precious little body and give him a proper burial. So please, please, please tell people they must not under any circumstances permit a deaf cat to get outside without supervision. Thanks so much, Bill
I personally discourage anyone from allowing any cat outside - and even more so a deaf cat, as mentioned in the article. I am so sorry to hear about your Barnaby. I know your heart must be broken. The few times Pearl has managed to somehow slip outside (usually with the help of some unsuspecting maintenence man) I've been in panic mode until I get her back in. Sadly, there are people who think it is cruel to keep the cat inside - they think cats naturally want to run around outside and explore. This simply isn't true for many cats - I've had cats born inside who never ventured outside, nor did they want to get closer than a screened window to the great outdoors. The truth is, deaf or not, it is a dangerous world out there for cats - especially indoor cats who have no experience in avoiding things like other animals, cruel people, cars and other dangers. Thank you for adding your comment to this article, I hope it serves as a warning.I have recently adopted a deaf cat myself, white in colour but with green eyes.He name is Snowy. He was meant to stay with my parents but unfortunately the fact that he is deaf and should stay inside the house was a reason not to keep him due to my mum's intensive allergies. I adopted him as my heart couldnt allow him to be left elswhere. The problem was that my husband also does not want me to keep him inside so I have no other choice but to keep him in the garden in a small corner I have created for him.I have put a bell around his neck so that I can at least hear him but I am in continuous stress as I hear him all over the place! I am surely afraid but so far it seems that everyone in the neighbourhood tend to know his whereabouts due to his little bell! He is extremely active up to an umbearable point and he jumps at you (playing) biting and scratching.So far he has met a few cats that visit our garden as well us Puppy our neigbour's dog who seems to be intimitated by our cat. I get the feeling that he has adapted to the enviroment but my only concern is the passing cars even if we live on a quiet street.I pray to god that he will completely adapt to the vibrations and learn how to avoid certain dangers.I have a hope that yes deaf cats might be able to make it outside if they adapt while young.Laura
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