Opening your home and your heart to a special needs feline can be a very rewarding experience. The return of love and companionship will more than compensate for the extra care and attention that your special needs cat will require.

Cats, like humans, can be born deaf or hearing impaired. More often, though, they gradually lose their hearing as they age.

A cat that suddenly becomes deaf may become more clingy, or may start to turn their head frequently as they struggle to pick up sound waves. When a cat has been robbed of one of their most vital alert systems, it’s easy to frighten them. This can often result in them lashing out with teeth and claws, or hissing.

Here are some things to help your deaf cat cope:

• Stomp on the floor when you come in a room where your pet is sleeping. A deaf cat can feel vibrations through the pads of their feet or through their sensitive whiskers (you may notice your deaf pet sleeping with their head tilted so both ears touch the floor – the fine hairs around the ears are still sensitive to vibration even if they can’t hear)
• Feed and water your cat with dishes that have low sides – a deaf cat will use their eyesight to look for predators and will not want their line of sight blocked by their food dish
• Give your cat visual signs when communicating. A flashlight at night works well, as does dropping a toy or object within their line of sight to get their attention. They are capable of learning some sign language, so use exaggerated movements for them.
• Put a bell on their collar so you know where they are when they walk around.
• It’s best to keep a deaf cat indoors due to dogs, cars and other hazards they cannot hear. Deaf cats can be easily trained to walk on a leash with a harness, however – so they can get their needed exercise and enjoy the outdoors with you this way.
• Deaf cats will use shiny objects as if they were mirrors, in order to see what is behind them. They may also monitor lights in the house (and the resulting shadows) to learn where possible hazards may come from. So you might want to keep some shiny objects (like shiny brass urns or planters) scattered around your home at floor level, to make your pet more comfortable in your home.

Once your cat becomes accustomed to your home, visitors may not believe your cat is really deaf. They acclimate so well, they often act as would a hearing cat.

 Deaf or hearing impaired cats are precious creatures and will most likely require a little more tolerance from you while they learn your home and lifestyle habits.