There are many causes of deafness in cats, which may be caused by certain ear canal inflammation or infection, degenerative neurological changes, trauma or certain medications.
But some cats are born deaf. White cats with blue eyes are particularly prone to congenital deafness.
Deaf cats
There is evidence that a white cat with blue eyes is deaf, and behind this It has a great relationship with its cells.
Simply put:
The white cat with blue eyes is mostly related to the degeneration of the inner ear because of the white gene problem.
Black cells are very important for the development and function of the cochlear striatum vessels in the inner ear. Melanocytes are probably one of the important cells that constitute hearing. Without this type of cells, hearing loss becomes congenital deafness.
But blue eyes are not necessarily deaf, because their coats turn white and their eyes turn blue, which can be caused by Other genes cause,
Sometimes blue-eyed and white cats also have melanin genes, but they are not as strong as the white genes, so they are masked. The relationship is probably like this, that is to say:
Blue-eyed white cats are not necessarily deaf, but there is a high probability of being deaf (60-80%), but white cats with other color eyes may be congenitally deaf Sex is much smaller, below 10%.
30%-40% of pure white cats with one eye and blue eyes are congenitally deaf, and almost all of them are deaf in the ear on the side of the blue eye.
How to Diagnose Deafness
The owner can do some simple noise tests , the noise must be out of the cat’s line of sight, and do not make noise by stepping or slamming hard surfaces, because this will generate vibration, even a deaf cat can see through the sensitive soles of the feet. The pads
noticed. You can stand behind your cat and clap loudly.
Make sure your cat can’t see or feel your movements. To get accurate results, you will need to repeat the test several times.
Take the cat to the hospital for examination, and the veterinarian can further diagnose the cause of the deafness and give treatment recommendations.
Life and Communication with Totoro
Deaf cats Best to stay indoors, they can’t pay attention to traffic and the sounds of attackers.
When cats stay indoors, they will slowly adapt to the environment. Keep eating habits and feeding positions consistent without the need to hunt in the wild, where deafness can affect their ability to hunt.
The deaf cat’s pad will be more sensitive to the touch and respond to vibrations. Cats are particularly sensitive to small vibrations caused by sound, and can almost “hear the sound through the pad”.
Making them more alert will take full advantage of vision. They will use richer gestures and movements to communicate with the owner.
Stomp your feet gently to alert your cat to your presence. You can also turn the overhead lights on and off when entering the room.
Using a small flashlight or laser pointer can also attract a cat’s attention.
You can use a beam of light or a laser wand to guide the cat to you.
Friendly Tip:
Playing with cats is an important form of communication. When you have nothing to do, you can use the cat stick to tease it more.
