Deafness in cats

[Gemini]

My lovely tortoiseshell and white cat, a real character and 'people cat', has gone deaf. It must have been happening gradually but we only realised very recently. I feel so sad for her
She is 16 and otherwise well and lively. She isn't allowed out through the front door, and only really goes in our garden and next doors, so she shouldn't be in any danger from losing her hearing. I talk to her so much and she still 'talks' to me with her Chirrup when she sees me Although she can't hear me, it feels right to carry on talking to her.
I presume this is an age related thing, as I have read this can happen in older cats. She looks and acts so much like a young cat that it is hard to accept her having an aging condition!
Has anyone else any experience of cats losing their hearing?

[Daisy]

Gemini - as you know I've only ever had dogs, but even though your lovely 'people cat' has lost her hearing you're right to carry on talking to her. Both cats and dogs pick up on very subtle changes and messages in our body language and if you watch tv with the sound off you will see how people move as they talk. Your cat will still p;ick up on this, and I wonder if she may be aware of sound vibration when you're talking, especially if she's having a cuddle at the same time.

A few weeks ago we though our Clyde, now 14 ½, was losing his hearing, but then we noticed he heard even the slightest rattle of his treat box or the sound of water running into his bowl (the first stage of getting his dinner). His 'deafness' was very selective!

Years ago when we had a yellow labrador, our next door but one neighbours had a deaf white cat. The cat would often sit in the front garden, and our dog would always give chase, through our fence, across next door's garden and screech to a halt at their chicken wire fence, barking his head off. The cat, of course, totally ignored all this commotion and eventually, our dog would retreat with a puzzled look on his face! He never worked it out!

[Grauntie Mag]

I also think cats pick up on every move, vibration, etc. my elderly puss (16 at least) has started to 'yowl' in the garden, as if she is calling . I have tried all sorts of things in case she is in discomfort but she doesn't seem to be. Maybe she is going deaf too. 😼

[Nanto2girls]

Gem, I think you are right to carry on talking to her. Iv'e never experienced deafness in cats,but think it is age related.
Give her some extra cuddles,she can still see and feel you.

[Daisy]

GM - Is your elderly puss just getting a bit vague and forgetful? Lots of older animals have a kind of mild dementia and I've noticed Clyde sometimes just stands looking a bit vague, as though he thinks he ought to be doing something or going somewhere, but he can't quite work it out. With him we don't know if it's because his eyesight is poor, or he's still looking for Rusty or his blood sugar's a bit low (he's diabetic) or he's forgotten where he is.

[Oma]

GM Daisy is right my next door neighbour her cat had dementia would walk around the house howling , the vet advised her to keep it in one room with everything it needed in one place. He said she was walking around crying as she was lost , so they put everything in the kitchen her bed by the radiator and after about a week she stopped crying and settled down
Gem years ago I learned to do sign language (most forgotten now ) Deaf people rely a lot on vibration and body language as well as lip reading so maybe your cat is the same , we had a disco in the Deaf club and I know that sounds silly but they felt the music by the vibration under foot. Don't stop talking to her she still understands ☺🐱😻

[Gemini]

She's as bright as a button and alert, so I don't think it is dementia. She is the cat who climbs the loft ladder, and who sees all visitors as her visitors! Now I realise she is deaf I am trying to form some sort of sign language with her. A certain hand gesture for Hello, for example. I say hello to the cats countless times a day, so I want there to be some form of greeting for her, along with still speaking to her.

[Oma]

If she is looking at you she will recognise your facial and body language but if she has her back to you tray tapping the floor with your foot to attract her attention see what happens , i wonder if cats are like Deaf dogs they pick up certain signs dont they when trained ? would be interesting to know

[Gemini]

If I bang something, as I did the bath panel when she was in the bathroom with me this morning, she reacts but doesn't quite know where it is coming from! The same with a door banging, for example.
You can talk, shout, whistle or make any sounds at all behind her and no reaction, so she's not hearing anything.

[Oma]

Aww bless her , well one good thing bonfire night the noise wont worry her

[Gemini]

This pet owner sums up how I am feeling!

http://www.experienceproject.com/sto...eaf-Cat/560646

[Daisy]

Oh, Gemini - I know exactly how it feels. It was the same for me when Clyde lost his sight due to cataracts. Some dogs can cope (I've had a blind dog before) but he didn't. He was frightened, confused and lost. Taking him for a walk became impossible (that was the worst thing). Although he can't see close up now, he can focus at about 10 ft and it's obvious that he can see certain things, like movement, and he rarely bumps into anything. But it's still a bit sad that he doesn't make eye contact.

btw - the training classes I took Rusty and Clyde to many years ago included using hand signals so I'm sure cats can learn to respond to them as well.

[ZIZI]

My old ginger Tom, imaginatively called "Marmalade" by the kids went deaf at 20, he also had a bit of dementia, he would settle himself comfortably in the middle of the road and luckily we were in a cul de sac and everyone knew him so would get out of their cars and chivvy him out of the way. He died aged 22, still deaf as a post but still the boss. My last cat to live was Georgie and he went deaf and also bonkers. I didn't really realise until the bird scarers were on the runway and the shooting noise is very loud and used to make him run for cover but he didn't. I still used to make him a nest during bonfire night, Eid, Diwali etc. just to protect him from the flashes.

[Gemini]

This afternoon Daisy ( my cat, not my Co Admin!!) and I played with cat toys in the hallway. I threw toy mice which she leapt up to catch, and balls which she chased. It cheered us both up I think, to communicate in a way which didnt need sound. She has always loved chasing lights and beams, so I will buy one of those chaser toys for cats.

[Daisy]

Gemini - that's great. Stimulating her other senses and having lots of fun games will be good for both of you. And I'm quite sure she's much more nimble on her feet than I am!!!