Hearing

jack31

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My husband and I adopted from a local shelter last Friday. We brought home a neutered male just over a year old.

He has really settled in but I've noticed he doesn't seem to respond to the noise from toys and tonight he was lying under my computer chair and I leaned over to pet his head and it scared him.

He talks alot- I don't know if that matters.

What type of things can I look for to see if his hearing is good?

He will probably visit the vet in about 6 weeks, when it's time for his 'brother' to go for his 1 year check up.

Leslie
 

kat89447

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Make sure the vet checks for ear mites and excess wax, this could be the cause of some hearing loss. He could be like one of mine that just sleeps so soundly they startle easily when touched. Even deaf, cats live perfectly long lives but usually as indoor cats.
 

mrblanche

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Just curious...he's not white with blue eyes, is he?
 
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jack31

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Thanks.

Nope Harley is black and white with green eyes.

I'll try the test with keys today.

One thing I did notice is that he wasn't fazed by the trains that have come through. The tracks are literally in the backyard. When we moved they definitely scared our resident cat.

Leslie
 

maxiecat03

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Your cats are beautiful!! If Harley is hard of hearing...that may be why he doesn't play.....but he will nonetheless be a loving, wonderful cat for many years. Playing usually involves the sound of the toys, and the sound leads to seeing it.....but don't worry...not all cats are 'players'.....my Phoebe can hear, but never did have any interest in toys....but she loves to cuddle with her 'brother'.....is otherwise a very healthy cat.

Good Luck with your kitties!
 

laureen227

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Originally Posted by Jack31

Thanks.

Nope Harley is black and white with green eyes.

I'll try the test with keys today.

One thing I did notice is that he wasn't fazed by the trains that have come through. The tracks are literally in the backyard. When we moved they definitely scared our resident cat.

Leslie
Pixel & Mouse were quite spooked for a while when we first moved - i live about 1.5 blocks from the tracks. doesn't even faze them now, tho!
 

goldenkitty45

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Bicolors with non-blue eyes can be deaf or carry the deaf gene. I found out with my rexes. Mom was an odd-eye white (hearing), Dad was a bicolor (hearing/gold eyes). Our one gold eyed white kitten was totally deaf.

Since mom was out of cats which were pointed (hence any of the blue-eyed whites were hearing cats), the deaf gene had to be carried by the bicolor - not the odd-eye white. This was explained to me by a geneticist/breeder.
 
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jack31

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Wow very interesting GoldenKitty. I will be performing the key test in a few minutes--I will update the findings

Leslie
 

robertm

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Originally Posted by Jack31

He will probably visit the vet in about 6 weeks, when it's time for his 'brother' to go for his 1 year check up.
It's always recommended to bring any newly adopted animal to the vet as soon as possible so he/she can receive a full medical evaluation. You wouldn't want your resident cat to catch anything and if treatment is necessary you'd like to get started on that right away.

I'm not certain from your post if this planned visit in 6 weeks will be his initial vet visit, or if he was already brought to the vet, and this hearing issue is simply something that you intend to bring up during the next visit. Could you please clarify?
 
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jack31

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He came from the shelter and saw a vet there every month he was in the shelter (I have his records from there)

So no, I haven't taken him to our vet, but he will be going when our other cat goes in 6 weeks.

Leslie
 

white cat lover

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My fail proof (
) test?

Bang pans together behind them while they're asleep.
 

buzbyjlc10

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If he does happen to be deaf, you can teach him sign language!


My aunt is deaf and has a deaf kitty and the kitty knows some sign (my aunt signs but also reads lips and speaks very well)... I took some ASL (American Sign Language) in college, plus what I know from my aunt, so I taught Ollie sign (even though he is hearing)... oh man is he smart - my dad will sign "cookie" to him in the morning and he'll bolt out of bed with me to get cookies from my dad lol

So if you'd be interested in some tips on teaching sign, let me know! It's very simple and kitties are very smart
just gotta be consistent
 
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jack31

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Funny you should mention sign language--I know common signs because I have used it in childcare a lot.

We have tried some tests with Harley. I still don't know whether he can hear--he seems to react to some things and not others.

How much of a response could be based on him feeling the vibration as opposed to really hearing it?

I had a friend who's dog was deaf, but if you clapped he would feel the vibration and come to you.

Leslie
 

buzbyjlc10

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Originally Posted by Jack31

Funny you should mention sign language--I know common signs because I have used it in childcare a lot.

We have tried some tests with Harley. I still don't know whether he can hear--he seems to react to some things and not others.

How much of a response could be based on him feeling the vibration as opposed to really hearing it?

I had a friend who's dog was deaf, but if you clapped he would feel the vibration and come to you.

Leslie
Well if he is deaf or hard of hearing, it would depend on how severe it is - if he has some residual hearing, he would pick up vibrations via the air, my aunt's cat is completely deaf, so you have to bang on the floor so she feels it... my aunt however is mostly deaf but does have some residual hearing, so if you are relatively close to her and very loudly say her name, she will hear it

My dog is 14 and starting to lose her hearing, but she'll still respond to loud clapping or whistling or like very high pitched noises (Like if I go "who's a pretty girl?!" and like really squeak the "girl" her head will twist around with her ears perked up lol)

My suggestion if you do start to teach him sign, the very first sign to teach would be "cookie" it's the first one I taught Ollie and he picked it up in NO TIME! He now has a pretty extensive sign vocabulary for a cat
 

mrblanche

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I do have to say, also, that being in a cage for 4 months will take the play out of many cats. Not all, of course.

Once Harley realizes he CAN play, maybe he'll take it back up. Our Punkin was a little subdued at first, but he soon became the most relentlessly playful cat we've ever seen.
 
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jack31

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Well Hubby and I are still unsure of Harley's hearing. At this point both Hubby and I agree that he does have some hearing--but definitely not all.

He sat right next to me while I blow dried my hair today and didn't flinch, and he's a skittish little guy. Jack ran to the farthest end of the house when he heard the blow dryer.

I am happy to say that he has started to play--Jack is making sure of that. It makes me so happy to know his life is forever changed being here.

Leslie
 

goldenkitty45

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Charlie's never been afraid of a hair dryer so that's not an accurate test. Did you try the keys or the banging of the pots? That will be a truer test.
 
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jack31

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Didn't react to the keys, or pots, or an extremely loud train last night (the tracks are literally in the back yard, so with the windows open the whistle is unbelievably loud.)

Does react to the front door being shut or opened, haven't tried the doorbell yet, the AC guy is coming today, so we'll see if the doorbell grabs attention or not.

Leslie
 

nekochan

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The reacting to the front door could definitely be from vibrations.

This is a list of tests you can do for dogs to determine if they are deaf, but most of these should work for cats too:

Tests You Can Do At Home

* Jangle keys, a rattle, or a can of coins
* Squeak a toy (be sure that air from the toy doesn't hit the dog - try it behind your back)
* Call your dog in a normal voice - try yelling
* Clap your hands (you should be far enough away so that he doesn't feel air movement)
* Whistle or (if you're musically challenged) blow a whistle
* Turn on a vacuum cleaner (be sure it's far enough away from the dog so that the vibrations or airflow don't reach him)
* Bang two pots together (be careful of air vibrations reaching your dog)
* Ring a bell or have someone ring your telephone or doorbell



It is also possible that he may be partially deaf or unilaterally deaf (one ear) in which case the above may be inconclusive.
My terrier mix went totally deaf after dental surgery a few years ago but after steroid treatment he regained some of his hearing. Now, he can hear some loud noises and hears high-pitched sounds better than others but if you speak in a normal volume and tone he won't hear you...if you speak in a very loud and/or high pitched voice he will often respond.
 
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