Deafness in cats

Overview

Your pet's ears don't perk up at the sound of the can opener anymore, or she sleeps through a lot of commotion going on around her. It's not that your animal companion is ignoring you- he may be suffering from hearing loss.

Symptoms

• Doesn't respond to loud noises
• Unresponsive to surroundings
• Hard to wake up
• Confusion

Causes & prevention

Ear infections or mites can clog the ear with bacteria and debris, causing temporary hearing loss.  Ear mites are fairly common in cats, so check your cat's ears regularly. They should look pink and clean inside. Never stick anything down into the ear.  Ear infections and ear mites can also cause damage to the ear drum, causing inflammation and damage to the inner ear.  Middle ear infections can be especially damaging to hearing, espeically if they go on for a long period of time.  Severe or chronic ear infections, loud noises, injuries, or tumors can cause permanent deafness.  

Cats can be born deaf and this is usually a genetic condition.  White cats with blue eyes are almost always deaf.  If a cat has only one blue eye, she is often deaf in the ear on the same side of her head.

Treatment

If your cat has an ear infection, your veterinarian may prescribe a liquid you can use to clean and medicate the ears at home. As the ears heal, her hearing should improve. Cats are surprisingly adaptive to total or partial hearing loss, but there are several steps you can take to make it easier on them. First and foremost, never let your deaf cat outside.  A deaf cat will be unable to hear approaching danger and will be unable to reach appropriately.  If you want your cat's attention, she may be able to pick up the vibrations of footsteps, so a loud stomp may make her take notice.  A flashlight or laser penlight can be used as an attention-getter. To make sure she knows where you are, a tap on your cat's shoulder works well.  Always remember that a little love, affection, and understanding can make things a lot better for your feline companion.