If you are concerned that your cat is deaf or becoming deaf, it is important to know what symptoms to look for and seek your veterinarian's help. If he is diagnosed with such a disorder, his lifestyle needs to be changed a bit to keep him safe and out of harm's way.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Assessing Hearing Skills at Home
Step 1. See if they tend to get scared less easily
If you notice that he no longer wakes up and no longer runs when you turn on the vacuum cleaner near him, there is a good chance that he has lost his hearing, especially if he used to run away in front of the appliance in operation (or other noisy appliances.).
Step 2. Place your cat in a quiet room away from any distractions to check for hearing
Make a loud noise while out of his line of sight (so he can't see you) for example, you can knock two pot lids together or shake the box of tidbits he likes so much.
- The most important thing is to make sure that he can't see you.
- Also, avoid putting yourself in a position where the movement necessary to cause the noise (such as hitting two pots together) can generate a movement of air that the cat perceives.
Step 3. Watch what happens
If the cat moves its ears to try to understand where the noise is coming from or you see that it reacts in some other way (for example it suddenly scares itself), it is not completely deaf.
However, you should still take him to the vet, as this test does not tell you if the cat is partially deaf or only in one ear
Method 2 of 4: Perform a Hearing Test at the Veterinary Clinic
Step 1. Learn about the ABR test
It is an examination of auditory evoked potentials to evaluate the functionality of the brainstem and consists of a sound stimulus (such as hearing the beating of two pots together). This test helps the vet to understand if the cat's brain is capable of recording sound and if deafness affects one or both ears.
If your doctor does not have the necessary equipment, find out if hearing centers can help you. There are few facilities that offer this test for veterinary use, so you may need to go to an out-of-town clinic
Step 2. Know that the cat's head will be connected to electrodes
These are three small probes that record brain reactions when the machine emits a series of "clicks" with different frequencies.
The electrodes allow to monitor the brain's response to the sound stimulus
Step 3. Talk to your vet to find out if the little cat needs to be sedated or not
Rather meek cats can generally be subjected to a brief examination without being asleep. The test only determines whether the animal is completely deaf or not.
A comprehensive hearing test provides detailed answers about the severity of deafness and whether it affects one ear or both; it takes about 20-30 minutes and in this case the cat is sedated
Method 3 of 4: Living with a Deaf Cat
Step 1. Consider alternative lifestyles to keep your cat safe
Maybe you need to consider not letting it out to protect it from the dangers of traffic it can't perceive.
An alternative is to build a safe outdoor enclosure or path so that the animal can enjoy the outdoors without accessing the roads
Step 2. Offer him the opportunity to have a partner who is not deaf
Some owners have had good results thanks to a "hearing" playmate for the deaf cat; the body language of the healthy specimen can send clues to the deaf specimen by warning him that something has happened.
For example, the healthy cat may understand that the owner has opened the refrigerator door to prepare dinner and then run to the kitchen; the deaf one, noticing the behavior of his fellow man, follows him out of curiosity. This method works perfectly when a specimen learns to lead the couple; however, there are many factors at play, such as the compatibility of character between cats which is not always guaranteed
Step 3. Learn to communicate with your feline friend using gestures
Develop a visual language with him, such as a signal to call and bring him closer (with the complicity of a candy) or to make him go to a certain place safe from danger. Reward positive reactions with a treat, the cat should learn quickly.
You can also tap your foot on the ground to emit vibrations
Method 4 of 4: Knowing Deafness and the "W" Gene
Step 1. Know that white-haired cats are at a higher risk of deafness
This disability particularly affects individuals with completely white fur and with both blue, orange, or one of each color eyes. Deafness is linked to a defect in the "W" gene related to the white pigment.
Step 2. Evaluate the percentage of risk
It is believed that 25% of these cats are completely deaf, that 50% have lost their hearing in only one ear, while the rest hear us normally. The animals that generally have this gene are the white specimens of the following breeds:
Oriental Shorthair, Persian, Exotic Shorthair, Manx, British Shorthair, Devon Rex, American Shorthair, Cornish Rex, American Wirehair, Foreign White, Angora cat, European cat and Scottish Fold
Step 3. Know that age plays an important role
Just like humans, cats also lose some hearing over the years.
