Deafness in Cats– The invisible disability

Some cats are born deaf while others might become deaf gradually with age. In any case, with a few accommodations, your cat shouldn’t have much trouble. You just need to have a basic understanding that even though they are deaf, they are more than capable of understanding you and living a long, fulfilling and happy life. By being mindful of your cat’s disability you can make their world a richer, safer, and more interesting place. Here are a few tips to help:

KEEP INDOORS FOR OWN SAFETY– There are far too many threats outside for deaf cats such as dogs or coyotes, street traffic, etc. Instead of letting your cat roam free outdoors, opt for a nice window perch where they can stare outside but still be protected in the comfort of home.

USE YOUR BODY LANGUAGE TO COMMUNICATE RATHER THAN YOUR VOICE- Your cat can easily respond to hand signals, for example: Standing tall and waving your arms above your head as you approach can communicate your displeasure if she jumps onto the kitchen counter or a table. Make up for the loss of one sense by enriching the others. Physical contact with your kitty in the form of grooming and petting helps her to feel linked up with the world.

Deaf pets startle more easily- Always approach your cat so that she sees you coming, and tap your foot or give him some other warning before petting him to avoid startling. Whenever possible, approach your cat from the front so she can see you. Turning lights on and off or using sounds with noticeable vibrations can also help to get your kitty’s attention.

TRAINING

With practice, deaf cats cane trained to come with a hand signal. “Clicker training” is very effective, reinforcing the cat whenever she responds to the visual signal. Instead of using an audible marker like a clicker, use a visual marker such as a flashlight. With a flash of a light and a treat that she loves, she will quickly learn to come towards you after seeing your visual signal.

STICK TO A ROUTINE

By creating a scheduled routine and sticking to it, you can quickly teach a deaf cat when dinner time occurs and feeding location.

TOYS

Prowling around the house all day in her silent world is bound to get boring and lonely even with people at home. Avoid a bored and frustrated deaf cat by providing sufficient stimulation.

Provide interactive toys that appeal to the deaf cat’s other senses. Without their hearing, their sense of smell is heightened so catnip toys are great!

Use visual toys as well such as a laser pointer game or wings-on-a-string.

A cardboard box is always appealing for any cat, and as for any cat, be sure to provide lots of scratching posts and vertical spaces.

Through some trial and error of your own, you can manage to find toys that your deaf kitty will love!

For the Visually Impaired and Blind Cats

Your blind pet’s comfort, safety and emotional health are important. How easily pets adjust to blindness can depend on their age, personality and other factors, such as whether they were born blind or lost their vision suddenly. But with time and patience, a blind pet just may surprise you in how they can adjust so wonderfully. You just need to have a basic understanding that even though they are blind, they are more than capable of understanding you and living a long, fulfilling and happy life. Follow these tips to keep your kitty happy, comfortable and safe!

CREATING A SAFE AND FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT

After adopting a cat, introducing her to her new home -a new environment- can be overwhelming especially to a cat that is visually impaired or blind.

PLACEMENT– The first thing you should do is make your home easy to navigate. Clutter-free is ideal but not always possible but a fixed environment is key. Cats memorize the placement of objects and furniture through touch and scent. Do your best not to move your furniture around, as well as her scratchers and cat trees. These items will all help your cat navigate and orient herself (often having marked the items with their own scent by scratching and rubbing on it).

SOFT CORNERS AND CLUTTER FREE – Even with taking all the precautions, your visually impaired or blind cat will inevitably bump into objects. You can help minimize injuries by covering sharp corners with sisal or other cushioning materials and keeping your floors clear and clutter free. Don’t leave children’s toys or shoes or anything else lying around that your kitty can run into. Be sure to block off steep stairways with baby gates to prevent falls.

VERTICAL TERRITORY– Cats need vertical territory. Blind cats typically find it difficult to jump up high. Help your little one by placing pet steps, stools, and other objects strategically so that she can join you for a snuggle on the bed or relax on a cat tree. Although vertical territory is necessary, limit the height; four to five feet is high enough. Be aware that slick surfaces can be hazardous. Make shelves safe — use Velcro or double-sided tape to stick sisal or carpet on them. In addition to potentially stopping a fall, sisal is perfect for scratching, marking, and keeping felines warm on chilly days.

WELCOME HOME– Once your home is set up and ready for your new blind pet, start her out in a small room. They need to familiarize themselves little by little. Once she’s comfortable in that room, introduce her to more space. Be sure to allow her to return to the first room she was in in case it all becomes too overwhelming and she needs to return to what she knows as a safe and familiar place.

FOOD AND WATER– Always keep their food, water and litter boxes in the same place. Some cats may find it beneficial to have a drinking water fountain so they can hear the location of their water.

WHISKERS

Cats who are visually impaired rely more on scent, hearing, and touch to navigate their world. Whiskers play an important part — feeling air currents and detecting objects. Therefore, never cut a Kitty’s whiskers! (This goes for all cats- with disabilities or not!)

KEEP INDOORS FOR OWN SAFETY

There are far too many threats outside for blind cats such as dogs or coyotes, street traffic, etc. Instead of letting your cat roam free outdoors, opt for a nice (screened) window perch where they can hear the outside noises and feel the warmth of the sun and the cool breeze on her fur but can still be protected in the comfort of home. You should also block access to windows and overhangs which have a long drop to the ground.

BE GENTLE

It is normal for visually impaired cats to become startled when they hear loud and sudden noises.

Try to avoid loud noises or sudden movements. If people approach your cat, ask them to talk gently so as not to startle them and take extra care if there are children around.

When approaching your kitty, softly call her name. Gently tapping the floor will also help her orient to you. Communicate with your cat by using words like ‘dinner’ at meal times. Your voice will help orientate them to where you are.

Always speak to your cat and stroke them before you attempt to pick them up so that you do not take them by surprise.

If your pet’s hearing is also impaired, you can alert him to your approach by stepping a bit heavier or tugging his bed gently before you pet her. You can also put a little piece of food in front of their nose and let them wake up that way.

TOYS

Mental stimulation is important. Even though blind cats can’t see, they love to play and hunt just as much as any other cat. There are lots of toys available to stimulate a cat’s hearing and sense of smell.

Crinkly toys and catnip-stuffed kickers are a big hit with blind cats. They appreciate soft noisy toys that rattle, squeak, and appeal to their sense of smell. (make sure the toys or rattle is safely inside the toy and can’t be chewed off and ingested.) If your cat responds to catnip, catnip scented toys are a great way to engage her sense of smell. Scent the toy by rubbing catnip or a treat on it. Motivate her to play by using a pole toy with a stuffed toy at the end that rattles or is scented.

Interactive toys can be moved and manipulated to make noise, allowing a blind cat to track his “prey” with his ears.

A cardboard box is always appealing for any cat, and as for any cat, be sure to provide lots of scratching posts and vertical spaces.

Through some trial and error of your own, you can manage to find toys that your blind kitty will love!

OTHER PETS

In multiple pet homes, another cat or dog may serve as a guide for the blind pet. Help your blind pet by attaching a bell or other noise maker to the other animal’s collar. Introductions to other animals also should be done slowly. Here, too, you can use sound to help your blind pet compensate. 

Care

As your cat has lost her vision, her hearing and feeling of smell are particularly critical. You ought to take your cat to the vet for routine veterinary checks consistently. If you see anything uncommon, look for veterinary counsel promptly. When you approach your cat, do as such while talking soothingly to him. Be mindful so as not to startle him all of a sudden.

Visually impaired cats prefer to stay in their own surroundings so if you are due to go on holiday, try to use house sitters instead of a cattery as the environment will be unfamiliar for them.