Cats are very independent pets, so much so that on numerous occasions their instinct leads them not to come to our call, but this does not imply that they have any hearing problem.
However, cats are also susceptible to deafness and although this is a disability, it is also perfectly compatible with a good quality of life.
If you want to take care of your cat in the best possible way, in this AnimalWised article we show you what should be the care of a deaf cat.
Deafness in cats
If the cat suffers from congenital deafness, that is, from birth, it is due to the allele-w gene, which acts as dominant genein cats with completely white fur and which is also related to blue eye color. However, this does not imply that all white cats with blue eyes are deaf. Deafness can also be due to an ear infection, a foreign body lodged in the ear cavity, or the degeneration of old age.
Knowing if a cat is deaf as well as determining the degree of deafness is not something simple, therefore it is important to go to the vet since only he will determine with certainty the state of our pet's hearing.
Communicate with a deaf cat
The deaf cat still needs all our attention and presence, and we, as good owners, must keep communicating with him, but obviously already we can't do it verbally. It is then necessary to initiate communication through gestures and teach the basic commands through them.
This may seem complex at first, but it isn't, just repeat the same gesture (briefly and clearly) in the same situations. When we have had the opportunity to repeat a gesture several times, we will see that our pet understands it without any difficulty.
Another important aspect of non-verbal communication is the facial expression, although your cat cannot hear you, you should speak to him in a firm tone and make sure he can see your face, over time your cat will perfectly understand what you mean when you smile and also that you are angry when you frown.
The importance of vibration for a deaf cat
If your cat doesn't hear, how are you going to call him by his name and expect him to come to your call? It is no use yelling because in fact this could end up causing disorders in the behavior of your feline.
A good way for your cat to respond to your call is to enter the house stepping heavily on the floor, this will cause a vibration perfectly perceptible by your cat, who will notice that you are claiming his presence.
If this is not helpful and the cat has very disturbed behavior due to hearing loss, we can use vibrating collars which emit small, harmless vibrations to your cat.
Take care outside
For a cat that fully retains its abilities and senses, the outside is still a place that entails dangers and risks, even more so when we are dealing with a deaf cat.
Hearing loss makes the outside environment too dangerous for our cat, so it's a priority that we keep exits closed to the outside and that we take care that our cat cannot slip away. Obviously, within our home we must offer an ideal environment that does not give rise to boredom or stress.
However, if you want to let him enjoy contact with nature, we advise you to teach your cat to walk on a leash to offer him a good experience without any risk.
Enhance your cat's senses
A deaf cat shows more development in the senses of sight and smell, and obviously we musttake advantage of this fact :
- Play with your cat through visual stimulation, for example, using toys with bright and striking colors. Discover on our site 8 games for cats to inspire you. Intelligence games such as kong are highly recommended to stimulate him mentally.
- We also recommend that you always use the same perfume or cologne, this way, your cat will perfectly recognize your scent everywhere of the house where you have been.
Company and affection
All cats need our love and time, but especially a deaf cat, which must feel loved fundamentally through touch, for Therefore, caresses are an essential part of caring for a deaf cat. We must caress our cat daily, even lightly blowing on it so that the vibration reaches it and interprets it as a gesture of affection. Brushing his hair daily can go a long way in making him feel comfortable and loved
We can also consider having the company of another pet, but in this case we must work very hard to achieve a proper coexistence, since that in the case of not getting along, this would be a stressful factor for the cat.
