Deafness in cats comes in the same general types as in humans: there are some cats that are born deaf, some lose partial hearing later in life, while others lose all hearing with age. Cats that are born deaf learn to live with their condition, but for those that become deaf due to another factor, it can be frightening and confusing. So how do you care for a cat that is going deaf?
deafness in cats
Congenital deafness is more common in white cats that have blue eyes due to an incomplete autosomal dominant gene, but this does not mean that all white cats with blue eyes are deaf. Long-haired cats that have blue eyes are at higher risk of deafness than those with other eye colors, while white cats that have a Siamese dilution gene can have blue eyes with little risk of deafness. It is always recommended not to breed cats with congenital deafness as this will be passed on to their offspring.
Breeds that have a white coat pigment gene and are therefore at higher risk include:
• American Shorthair
• American wire
• British Shorthair
• Cornish Rex
• Devon-rex
• Exotic Shorthair
• Maine Coon
• Manx
• norwegian forest cat
• Oriental Shorthair
• Persian
• Rag doll
• Scottish fold
• turkish angora
lose hearing
There are a number of reasons a cat can lose their hearing, including middle ear infections, head injuries, ear canal blockages, drugs or poisons, and of course old age. Antibiotics such as streptomycin can damage the hearing nerves if used for longer periods of time and this can lead to deafness. Gradual hearing loss happens to some older cats, but even then, they often retain the ability to hear high-pitched sounds beyond the range of human hearing.
It can be difficult to tell if a cat is going deaf and should be judged as much on his actions as on the use of his ears. Cats normally cock their heads at a sound with their ears turning to identify the source. If you don’t respond to a sound in this way, this may be the first symptom of hearing loss. To check this, make a loud noise when the cat is asleep; if you don’t jump awake when you do, then you have a significant hearing loss. However, do not touch them when you sleep, as this can cause a reaction that is likely to scratch or bite you. Kicking the ground is another way to get their attention, as they will feel the vibration.
Deaf cats can get by quite well once they have adjusted to their condition because they still have sight and smell, as well as the tactile sensations received through their whiskers. However, it’s best to keep deaf cats indoors, as they won’t pick up on many outdoor threats, particularly vehicles.
ear infections
Deafness is not always permanent in cats, especially if it is caused by an ear infection. Cats don’t get ear infections very often and ear mites are usually the problem, but a vet can inspect the cat to find the cause of the problem. If the deafness is caused by an infection, antibiotics, deworming or antifungal medication may be needed to cure the problem. If this works, the cat’s hearing may be restored.