The Most Common Signs That Your Cat Might Be Deaf

Like humans, felines can have physical disabilities that interfere with their senses and how they interact with the world. So, how do you know if a cat is deaf, and what can you do about it? 

Read on to discover the signs of a deaf cat and how to help your pet.

The Cat’s Hearing

A fascinating feature of cats involves their ability to hear, an extremely important sense for these animals as they are natural predators. They have very sharp feline hearing and can clearly perceive distant sounds.

In addition to hearing noises from a distance, cats notice sounds that humans can't even imagine, as they have an impressive auditory frequency which goes up to 65,000 Hz. To get an idea of ​​the power of hearing in cats, humans have a frequency that only goes up to 20,000Hz.

All this power to capture sound is due to the advanced configuration of the ears of our furry friend. They are triangular and full of "folds" that make it easier to capture noise and have many muscles, allowing them to move in any direction.

It became clear how fundamental this sense is for the interaction of cats with owners, other animals, and the environment surrounding them. Thus, its absence represents a challenge for these animals and requires attention.

Now let’s check out how to tell if your cat is deaf and what to do to help the cat adapt in the best way to this condition.

Deafness in cats

When the cat has some difficulty listening, there are a series of typical behaviors and situations that can arise in everyday life, problems such as the cat not realizing that the owner has arrived home.

Understanding the problems that a deaf cat experiences helps you care for your 4 legged friend and minimizes their frustration and anxiety.

Main Signs

First, it is worth saying that cats are very watchful animals, who quickly respond to external stimuli, especially noise. That's because, as we've already mentioned, they are natural predators. And this sense is even quite developed in kittens.

Consequently, the easiest way to recognize your cat is deaf when they don’t is reaction to ambient sounds.

Not Bothered by Noise

Cats without hearing loss usually react with amazement or fear and run away from extreme noises. Even if the noise is not intense or the animal is sleeping, when perceiving a sound in the environment, the cat’s ears usually move and turn toward the source of the sound stimulus.

So, you might want to investigate the matter if your kitty doesn't fidget or react when the dryer, vacuum cleaner, or other noisy appliance is running.

Not answering when called.

Another situation that can indicate hearing loss is when the cat does not answer or move its ears when called by name or the famous "pspsps."

Not being greeted by your feline friend.

A common scenario for those who have a deaf kitten is not being welcomed by them when they get home, most felines without hearing pathologies greet their owners when they return. In the case of deaf kittens, there is no such behavior, as they do not hear the sounds indicating people are home such as the swing of keys in the lock.

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Have greater sensitivity

Another more subtle sign that may be present is an increased sensitivity to smells and temperatures. So pay attention to how your little one reacts to new scents and climate changes in the environment.

White cats with blue eyes are more prone to deafness.

Data on the biology of domestic cats indicate that up to 72% of white cats are deaf. This problem has a genetic origin, so when two white cats are mated, the chances of the kittens being deaf increases to more than 50%.

Deafness in blue-eyed white cats occurs because the part of the genes responsible for hearing and pigmentation is not present properly. Then, there is a lack of color in the coat and eyes and the absence of this sense.

 

In this article, you learned a little more about the cat, one of the species with the most developed hearing in the animal kingdom. Also, you learned about how to tell if the cat is deaf.

With lots of love and correct adaptations, your little one will be able to have a happy and fulfilling life. 

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