Bringing a new pet into the home is a joy, but have you ever considered adopting a deaf pet in Broward & Surrounding counties?
Up to 50% of white cats are deaf. White cats with one blue eye are the most likely to experience some form of deafness in at least one ear.
Deafness in cats in Broward & Surrounding counties:
- Congenital (hereditary)deafness is the most common cause of deafness in cats. Certain breeds are more prone to it. Breeds that can be susceptible are:
- Cornish Rex
- Devon Rex
- Manx
- Persian
- Scottish Fold
- Turkish Angora
- American Wirehair
- American Shorthair
- British Shorthair
- Exotic Shorthair
- Oriental Shorthair
These breeds have been found to carry the “W” coat or white coat gene which has been noted to responsible for congenital blindness in white cats, in particular those breeds that are born with blue eyes. Siamese cat’s have blue eyes, but they don’t carry the W coat pigment gene.
- Studies show that there is a correlation in catswith one blue eye will being deaf.
- Excessive wax or dead skin build up in the ear canal can cause temporary hearing loss. If the condition continues and leads to infection your cat may have permanent damage.
- Small tubes in the ears, can also lead to hearing loss
- Loud noises, as with humans, can damage your pets inner ear. A cat’s hearing frequency range is almost triple that of a person. Not only can loud noises startle your feline and cause them anxiety, it can lead to loss of hearing within some of those frequencies.
- Certain medications and chemicals found in some ear cleaners can have a toxic effect on your animal which affects the hairs inside the cochlea of the ear. Many antibiotics can cause Tinnitus or ringing in their ears.
- Trauma and injury can damage the inner ear creating miscommunication between the brain and the ear.
- As our cat’s get older their bodies begin to fade. Elderly cats aren’t just being obstinate, they may be going deaf.
Is my cat deaf?
Kittens are deaf until they are around two weeks old. Some signs that your fur baby may have require unique care as they get older are:
- Cat’s ears are constantly moving to pick up sound. As a predator, their stealth is important to catch their prey and their eyes, especially during the day and up close, don’t always do the trick of spotting alone. If your ears aren’t moving they may be experiencing hearing loss.
- Most cat’s don’t like loud noises. Just turn on the vacuum, accidentally drop a pan near them, or slam a door and they will react. If they don’t, there might be a problem.
- If there is a pattern of them not obeying your cat may not have heard you. Or they might just be being a cat. As with moving their ears, the pattern is key to the diagnosis.
A full hearing test may be conducted, including a BAER test which places electrodes on your animal. In some cases they will need to be sedated. Overall testing can determine the level of your pet’s hearing loss.
How to live with a deaf cat?
Cat’s that are deaf are usually indoor cat’s. You may want to leash train them to take them outside so they can cat. Their other senses will bring them home, but outdoor cat’s rely on their hearing to locate other predators as well as prey.
Training any cat is a chore but it’s not impossible. Using hand signals when teaching them, making sure that you don’t sneak up on them by making vibrations in the floor they can feel are both key to training. Some studies have actually shown deaf cat’s and those with hearing disabilities to take to training more than cat’s that can hear. They don’t just ignore you.
Keeping your cat’s ears clean, making sure you get them checked if you think they have problems with their ears, and some medications may be all it takes to clear up temporary hearing loss. In some serious cases your cat may require surgery and sedation may be required.
Cat’s that are shown to bond with people more. They immediately see you as part of their pride. The comfort they get from touch is even more important to them than cat’s without hearing problems.
If you are considering getting a cat breed that might be born deaf, or if your animal is showing signs of hearing loss, give us a call at +130551563069 in Broward & Surrounding counties for an appointment so that we can conduct a proper test.
