By understanding and responding to your deaf cat’s unique needs, both of you will develop a closer relationship and better communication skills. A sensitive pet owner can learn by observing how his pet reacts and adapts to his environment. It takes time, persistence, and patience for both owner and pet to get to know each other and learn to “speak” each other’s language.
Since there is no hearing to rely on, the deaf cat’s remaining senses are usually heightened. For example, a deaf pet may rely on vibration (touch), smells (smell), or lights (vision) for stimulation. My cat, Beau, a charming and very mischievous white Turkish Angora, is profoundly deaf. He was a rescue from a shelter and he came to me at two years old, depressed and withdrawn due to his inability to connect with others. This beautiful cat sat under my coffee table for a month, abandoned and in his own little world, only coming out to eat or use his cat box. In the following weeks, I observed his behavior and noticed that he responded when someone walked on the hardwood floors around him. He could feel the vibrations in the ground and would wake up whenever he felt movement.
To use the knowledge that he responded to vibration, I taught Beau to respond to my pounding on the floor, to come over for dinner. He picked this up quickly, along with quick and simple signs (waggling your finger as if to say “Come here,” for example). This was exhilarating to him and his mood improved with each new connection with his new family. He wanted to connect, and by giving him the ability to do so, he lifted his spirits. Over time, I used this combination of simple visual cues and tapping to teach him other basic commands (like “no,” “good kitty,” etc.).
Also, watching him, I noticed that Beau sleeps very soundly but jumps off the ceiling if you pet him abruptly. He starts giving her too much sudden tactile stimulation. So, to remedy this, I gently touch or pat whatever he’s lying on, to let him know I’m there and about to come over. This has greatly reduced the startle response.
Watching Beau in his everyday life, I also noticed that he enjoys fast-moving light and shadow. She will sit for hours, entertained by any sudden movement in the walls. So to give it a bit of play, using this knowledge, I bought a faceted crystal ball suncatcher and hung it in the window. When the sun shines, rainbows fly everywhere. Being in Florida, there are always rainbows in my living room from this ball. Beau will spend all day chasing rainbows and will come sit next to me if there aren’t any. He looks out the window, as if asking if I’ll bring back the rainbow. This suncatcher is his only toy, as Beau doesn’t find normal cat toys the least bit entertaining. It’s a great achievement for him to have something that really makes him happy and excited.
Seeing how Beau reacts happily to touching him, I made it a point to pet him often. If I walk next to him, my hand reaches out to caress him as I walk. It melts like a white, furry mass of mush whenever touched, tail wagging merrily. When he sees me take the brush out of him, he knows it’s meant to be used on him and he sits expectantly, waiting for it. Something as small as a brush is a comfort to him, as if the brushing is like his mother’s brushing of his skin long ago.
Another way I connect with Beau is to hold him and talk to his fur so he can feel the vibrations from my larynx. He purrs when I do this, delighted to know that I’m “talking” to him. When I was in college years ago, there was a school for the deaf next door. I remember how deaf and hard of hearing people still liked to go to rock concerts. When I asked a friend of mine (who is partially deaf) why she liked concerts, she told me it was because she could feel the vibrations of the music. Her experience with music was different from mine, but just as powerful. So, I use this thought when it comes to talking to Beau’s fur while holding it. She feels me speak, and while it’s not the same as speaking in words, she finds the experience positive in her own way.
One perplexing behavior Beau regularly confounds me with is his opera singing at midnight. This is my last puzzle to solve. Being deaf, he doesn’t realize that when he sings at the top of his lungs, he wakes up everyone in the house. He sometimes sits in the large windows overlooking the lake and sings loudly to the passing neighbors. It’s nice to see him trying to communicate with others, but I’m working on teaching him ways to channel his singing talents without scaring anyone away. By keeping him awake and stimulated all day, I’ve found that Beau sleeps through the night and that cuts down on moonlight serenades. It’s all a matter of adapting to each other. We are still learning about this.
Living with a deaf pet is a challenging but very rewarding experience. Beau has added variety, love and a lot of singing to our lives. He is happy, loving and very good at letting me know what he needs right now. We have developed a communication work system, and as a result, he is by my side while I work in my home office, every day. He has taught me to be more sensitive and I have taught him to come out of hiding and enjoy life. With a little teamwork, we have both grown. I highly recommend adopting a deaf pet for anyone who is patient, loving, and willing to put in the effort to understand their new family member. Every pet is different, read about other deaf animals and learn. The result is a happy, well-balanced cat that will give you endless love and devotion, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing you saved a pet from a life of utter loneliness. It’s worth the effort in the end.
