| By understanding and responding the unique needs of | | | | truly makes him happy and excited. |
| your deaf cat, the two of you will develop a closer | | | | Seeing how Beau reacts with happiness to touch, I |
| relationship and better communication skills. The | | | | have made a point to pet pet him frequently. If I walk |
| sensitive pet owner can learn from watching how his | | | | by him, my hand reaches out to stroke him as I walk |
| or her pet reacts and adapts to its surroundings. It | | | | by. He melts like a furry, white blob of mush whenever |
| takes time, persistence, and patience for both owner | | | | touched, tail flapping happily. When he sees me get his |
| and pet to know each other and learn to "speak" each | | | | brush out, he knows it is meant to use on him and sits |
| other's language. | | | | expectantly, waiting for it. Something as small as a |
| Since there is no hearing to rely on, the remaining | | | | brush is a comfort to him, as if the brushing is like the |
| senses of the deaf cat are usually heightened. For | | | | grooming of his fur by his mother long ago. |
| example, a deaf pet may rely on vibration (touch), | | | | Another way I use to connect to Beau is by holding |
| odors (smell), or lights (vision) for stimulation. My cat, | | | | him and talking into his fur so that he can feel the |
| Beau, a lovely and very rambunctious white Turkish | | | | vibrations of my voice box. He purrs when I do this, |
| Angora is profoundly deaf. He was a rescue from a | | | | delighted to know I am "talking" to him. When in college |
| shelter, and came to me at two years old, depressed | | | | years ago, next door was a school for the deaf. I |
| and withdrawn due to his inability to connect to others. | | | | remember how hard of hearing or deaf people still |
| This beautiful cat sat under my coffee table for a | | | | liked to go to rock concerts. When I asked a friend of |
| month, forlorn and in his own little world, only coming | | | | mine (who is partially deaf) why she liked concerts, she |
| out to eat, or use his cat box. In the following weeks, I | | | | told me it was because she could feel the vibrations of |
| watched his behavior and noticed that he responded | | | | the music. Her experience to music was different than |
| when anyone walked on the hardwood floors around | | | | that of mine, but still just as powerfully felt. So, I use this |
| him. He could feel the vibrations in the floor and woke | | | | thought when it comes in talking into Beau's fur as I |
| up whenever he felt movement. | | | | hold him. He feels me talk and though it isn't the same |
| To use the knowledge that he responded to vibration, I | | | | as word speaking, he finds the experience positive in |
| taught Beau to respond to my tapping on the floor, to | | | | his own way. |
| come to dinner. He learned this quickly, along with quick, | | | | One puzzling behavior Beau regularly confounds me |
| simple signs (wiggling my finger as to say "Come | | | | with is his midnight opera singing. This is my latest |
| here", for example). This was stimulating to him and his | | | | puzzle to figure out. Being deaf, he doesn't realize that |
| mood perked up with each new connection to his new | | | | when he sings at the tops of his lungs, he wakes |
| family. He wanted to connect, and by giving him the | | | | everyone up in the house. Sometimes he will sit in the |
| ability to do this lifted his mood. In time, I used this | | | | big windows overlooking the lake, and sing loudly at the |
| combination of simple visual signs and floor tapping to | | | | neighbors walking by. It is cute to see him try to |
| teach him other basic commands ( such as "no", "good | | | | communicate with others, but I am working to teach |
| kitty", etc) as well. | | | | him ways to channel his singing talents without scaring |
| Also, in observing him, I noticed that Beau sleeps very | | | | anyone. By keeping him awake and stimulated all day, I |
| soundly but jumps through the roof if petted abruptly. | | | | found that Beau sleeps through the night, and that cuts |
| Too much sudden touch stimulation is startling to him. | | | | down on the moonlight serenades. It's all about |
| So, to remedy this, I gently touch or tap whatever he is | | | | adapting to eachother. We are still learning on this one. |
| laying on, to let him know I am there and about to | | | | Living with a deaf pet is a challenging yet very |
| approach. This has cut down in the startle response | | | | rewarding experience. Beau has added variety, love |
| tremendously. | | | | and much song to our lives. He is happy, loving and |
| Watching Beau in his everyday life, I also noticed that | | | | very good at letting me know what he needs now. |
| he enjoys fast moving lights and shadows. He will sit | | | | We have developed a working system of |
| for hours, entertaining himself with any sudden | | | | communication, and as a result, he is by my side as I |
| movement on the walls. So, to give him a little play, | | | | work in my home office, daily. He has taught me to be |
| using this knowledge, I bought a faceted, crystal ball | | | | more sensitive and I have taught him to come out of |
| sun catcher and hung it in the window. When sun hits it, | | | | hiding and enjoy life. With a little teamwork, we have |
| rainbows fly everywhere. Being in Florida, there are | | | | both grown. I highly recommend adopting a deaf pet |
| always rainbows in my living room from this ball. Beau | | | | for anyone who is patient, caring and willing to put forth |
| will spend the entire day chasing rainbows and will | | | | effort in understanding their new family member. Each |
| come sit next to me if there aren't any. He looks | | | | pet is different, read about other deaf animals and |
| toward the window, as if to ask if I'll bring the rainbows | | | | learn. The result is a happy, well-adjusted cat who will |
| back. This sun catcher is his only toy, as Beau doesn't | | | | give you endless love and devotion, and the peace of |
| find normal cat toys the least bit entertaining. It is such | | | | mind in knowing that you saved a pet from a life of |
| an accomplishment for him to have something that | | | | total solitude. It is well worth the effort in the end. |