Cat Care – How to Tell if a Cat is Deaf?

A cat has a hearing range of 48 to 85 kHz, and if your cat’s hearing range is less than 20 Hz, she can be considered deaf.

So how to tell if a cat is deaf? The cat’s deafness can be caused by many reasons such as infection or a genetic disorder. If your cat has suddenly become deaf and unable to hear anything, then it is time to worry about its health.

The symptoms of deafness in cats are subtle, so most cases of cat deafness go unnoticed. If your cat is constantly mumbling or crying, he/she may be trying to tell you something.

What is the difference between deafness and hearing loss?

Hearing loss and deafness are two different things and not everyone knows how to differentiate them. They both are related to the ear, but there is a huge difference between them.

The main difference between hearing loss and deafness is that deafness is an inability to hear sounds while hearing loss is a problem in hearing sounds.

So, here are the points that you need to know about hearing loss and deafness:

Hearing loss and deafness are different conditions

Hearing loss is a condition in which the ability to hear is reduced and it can be caused by noise or damage to the ear. It may also be caused by a malfunction in the brain. It affects a person’s ability to understand speech.

Deafness is a permanent state of not being able to hear any sound at all. It occurs when the nerve endings don’t receive or transmit any kind of sound. It can be temporary or permanent.

Symptoms of deafness in cats

There are several different types of hearing problems that a cat can have.

Conductive deafness/hearing loss

The most common is a conductive hearing loss. In this case, the bones and tissues in the middle ear are damaged. This can lead to fluid buildup and a blocked ear canal.

Sensorineural deafness/hearing loss

Another common problem is sensorineural hearing loss. This is caused by the inner ear. It usually develops as a result of a viral infection or a genetic disorder.

When cats suffer from sensorineural hearing loss, they will often stop responding to sound. Sometimes their eyes will also show that they’re in pain.

Another way to tell if your cat is deaf is by looking at his/her eyes. If he/she keeps them closed most of the time, or he doesn’t like bright lights, then he probably has a sensorineural hearing loss.

 Sound is not detected 

If your cat can’t hear the sound of your voice or the sound of the vacuum cleaner, running water, or even the sound of fireworks, music, or the phone ring tone, then it means he/she is deaf. 

You see your cat tilting his head in different directions to locate the source of the sound.

Your cat does not respond to you

Cats are not born deaf, but there is a chance of them being born with hearing defects. There are many reasons why your cat can be born deaf. A very common cause of this condition is the inner ear infection or mite infestation.

Your cat shows no interest in anything 

If your cat shows no interest in anything, then he/she is deaf. When an animal is deaf, you may notice that they tend to hide away a lot.

Your cat lacks motor skills

If your cat lacks motor skills such as he/she can’t jump from one place to another, this is a symptom of deafness.

Unwillingness to play

Deaf cats have no interest in playing with other animals. So, if your cat is not willing to play with the other animals then you should take it to the vet.

Common causes of deafness/hearing loss in cats

Age related hearing loss

The most common type of hearing loss in cats happens to be age-related. The problem with this type of hearing loss is that it usually does not get better with time. Instead, the hearing loss gets worse, and your cat will eventually lose the ability to hear certain sounds. 

The best way to tell if your cat has age-related hearing loss is by looking at his ears. Cats with age-related hearing loss often have an overgrown ear canal, and they may also have a cauliflower-like appearance to their ear.

Noise induced hearing loss 

There are many factors that can cause cats to develop noise-induced hearing loss. One of the most common reasons for this type of hearing loss is exposure to loud noises. While you can’t do anything about your cat’s hearing, you can take steps to help prevent it from getting worse. This is why it’s important to know what noise your cat is exposed to. 

For example, if your cat spends a lot of time in the car, it’s important to make sure that it has proper ventilation in the back seat. And if you live in a noisy neighborhood, you should consider moving if you can.

Ear infections 

Ear infections are another common cause of hearing loss in cats. If your cat develops an ear infection, he will start to develop a discharge and his ears will look crusty. This type of hearing loss can also develop due to a condition known as otitis externa. If this happens, your cat will usually have an itchy and painful ear, and he will often rub or scratch at it.

Diseases that affect your cat’s ears 

Many diseases can affect your cat’s ears. One of the most common is feline diabetes. This disease causes your cat’s blood sugar levels to rise and fall rapidly. As a result, his ears may become sore and swollen, and they may even become infected. You can prevent this from happening by giving your cat a diabetic diet. This will help control his blood sugar levels, and it will also help him avoid other health problems.

How To Tell If Your Cat Is Deaf? Check These Signs

So, if your cat has suddenly become deaf and unable to hear anything, then it is time to worry about its health. The cat’s deafness can be caused by many reasons such as infection or a genetic disorder. Here are some tips for you to know if your cat is deaf.

Observe your cat’s behavior

If your cat is not hearing you, it’s going to stop doing some of the things that it does when it hears. For example, it will probably stop purring and will start mewling or crying.

So if you notice that your cat isn’t doing these things, you can tell that it’s not hearing you.

Your cat may also stop doing certain things if it’s deaf. This could include eating, drinking, sleeping, walking, or jumping. So if you notice that your cat has stopped doing one of these activities, it may be deaf.

The cat has an unusual head position

If your cat has an unusual head position and it can’t move in response to the sound produced by the other animals, then it may be deaf.

When your cat doesn’t react to you clapping or rattling your keys, it’s a good indication that your cat is deaf.

Disease and injury to the inner ear can also cause deafness or hearing loss. Many different diseases can affect the inner ear, including:

• An infection

• Earwax buildup

• The accumulation of excess wax in the ears

• Inflammation of the ear canal or the brain.

• An abnormal connection between the nerves in the ear and the brain.

How To Care A Deaf Cat ? Find Out How To Tell If A Cat Is Deaf?

caring for a deaf cat can be a daunting prospect, but it can also be incredibly rewarding if you currently care for a deaf cat or planning to in the future, or are learning to cope with your feline friends. Diagnosis.

Here are a few tips to make your perfectly imperfect companion’s life easier

It’s advisable to keep a deaf cat inside to help keep them safe, as they are unable to hear warning signs from cars or animals that may approach them. Indoor cats need lots of stimulation, so make sure they have plenty of toys and puzzle feeders to reduce boredom and also have all the resources they need, such as Lister trays and scratch posts.

Deaf cats can be easily startled if a large human is suddenly looming over them, and this can cause them stress to help avoid this. When approaching your cat use heavy footsteps to help them become aware of your presence if your cat is already close by and you want to get their attention, try a sharp hand, clap or stomp on the ground.

Cats with disabilities are incredibly adaptable and it is possible to train deaf cats to recognize hand, signals or the flash of a torch to alert or call them just make sure any signal you use to get their attention is distinct and is used consistently each time. So they don’t get confused if you need to wake a sleeping, deaf cat, it’s best to do this gently by touching the area around where they are sleeping rather than the cat itself. This will prevent the cat from being startled.

While some cats are born, deaf, some lose their hearing gradually it’s worth, knowing that some deafness can be treatable and reversible. Causes of deafness that are potentially treatable include polyps, tumors outer and middle ear infections, wax buildup, and ear mites to find out whether your cat’s deafness is treatable. 

Deafness in cats: Treatments and prevention

If your cat develops deafness, it may be able to hear again if you remove the cause of the problem and treat it properly. You should consult a veterinarian as soon as possible to determine the source of the problem, and to find out how to prevent it from happening again.

The most common treatments for cats with deafness/hearing loss are:

• Using a hearing aid.

• Treating ear infections.

• Treating the earwax.

• Cleaning the ears regularly.

• Monitoring for ear tumors or other illnesses.

• Treating any diseases or injuries that are causing deafness.

Conclusion 

if you are concerned about your cat’s hearing then it’s important to have them tested by an expert, preferably one who knows how to use appropriate tests. An ear infection can also be a contributing factor in their deafness. 

The best way to determine if your cat is deaf is to see if they will respond to their name being called. If they do not react in any way, then they will probably be deaf. If they do react in any way, then they are probably just suffering from an ear infection, and they may be able to recover without treatment.

Hope you have an idea now to know how to tell if a cat is deaf? If you like the article, please share it with your friends on social media! It’s a great way to show your support and help us grow. Thanks for reading!