6 signs that show your cat is deaf
The cat has an extraordinary ability to adapt. When he is deaf, he can easily go on living giving the illusion that everything is fine. Obviously, he will not be able to hide everything from you and you will be able to detect his handicap. Here are the 6 signs that show that your cat is deaf.
Why is my cat deaf?
The first cause of deafness in cats is age. Like humans, from a certain age, your cat can begin to lose sight, smell and hearing. It can also be affected by osteoarthritis, joint disease or degenerative disorders. But sometimes old age isn’t the cause of your mustachioed companion’s poor hearing.
Indeed, deafness can also appear following an illness, for example a badly treated otitis. The invasion of parasites or fungi can also cause deafness, fortunately temporary. In this case, deafness will be a warning sign to allow you to quickly heal your cat.
Finally, a cat’s deafness can also be congenital, that is to say from birth. This is often seen in white cats with blue eyes. Indeed, half of them are deaf. This comes from a mutation of the W gene (for White) which makes the coat of the cat completely white and inhibits the pigmentation of the eyes which will remain blue. This gene, in addition to determining the color of the cat’s coat, is responsible for the destruction of the cells of the channel of Corti (located in the ear). This destruction is rapid and takes place after only 5 days of life, so it makes the kitten deaf. This is a handicap particularly affecting Turkish Angora cats.
What are the signs of cat deafness?
Sign n°1: He meows loudly
If your cat tends to talk loudly all the time, it may be because he has a hearing problem. Indeed, a deaf cat does not hear itself and will not realize the sound intensity of its meows. Therefore, he will have some tendency to bug you, but it’s really not his fault, so be lenient.
Sign n°2: He lacks discretion
The cat is a predator and to hunt, it must be discreet if it wants to be able to feed itself. A deaf cat will tend to live noisily since it does not hear the noises it emits. However, don’t panic if your cat seems louder than average, they may just be clumsy or particularly playful.
Sign #3: He does not react to stimuli
A cat is always on the alert. When he hears a noise, he will at least turn one ear in the direction of the sound. If your cat is deaf, he will have no reaction. If you have any doubts, it is very easy to check it yourself. All you have to do is call your cat while he has his back to you. If he hears you, he will turn around, join you, or just turn his ears away. On the contrary, if he has no reaction, and this in a systematic way, it is possible that he is suffering from deafness.
Sign n°4: He sleeps soundly
The cat always sleeps with one eye open because it is on the lookout for the slightest danger. It is therefore easy to wake up your four-legged friend by simply making a little noise. If despite all your efforts to be as loud as possible, you find that he does not react, it is time to make an appointment with your veterinarian to have his hearing checked.
Sign n°5: He is often surprised
A deaf cat will tend to jump up often. Indeed, being unable to hear the noises in his environment, he can no longer anticipate the movements around him. When something appears in his field of vision, he will suddenly recoil in surprise.
Sign #6: He has balance issues
A deaf cat may have balance problems. Indeed, the inner ear plays an important role in the balance of mammals. It is therefore quite logical that this affection disturbs him. In addition to loss of balance, he may be the victim of falls and his head may tilt to the side.
Cat deafness is not an insurmountable handicap. However, you have to be careful to make his life more comfortable. Indeed, the world is much more dangerous for a deaf cat. Your cat will be unable to anticipate the risks of the outside world. Ultimately, if your cat has one or more of the following symptoms, a visit to the veterinarian would be a good idea.
