Assistance request- anyone here have experience with deaf cats?

[biophile]

I have two (hopefully) foster kittens. I say hopefully because I might end up keeping them. 😏 They are now about 6-7 weeks old. They are from a restaurant- momma cat had four kitttens in the ceiling. Staff caught two on Easter weekend but them momma moved the other two to an unknown location. They are white with grey tails and their eyes have stayed blue, so classic coloring for deafness.
My question is - are there universal hand signals for deaf cats to indicate “come”, “dinner”, “pets”, “no”? Any other tips for helping deaf cats navigate the world? These guys are young and very trainable; I’d like to do it right.

[hlthe2b]

1. I have dealt with (usually older) deaf cats and know many who have reared them from the bottle..

Honestly, I think consistency is the issue with any hand signals you choose to use. You can probably find some recommended signals on YouTube, but cats with sight intact are going to watch your body language intently, and it will not take long for your signals--whatever you choose--to be associated with a desired action and outcome. Waking them, though, needs to be with a slow, purposeful touch so as not to startle them (and thus trigger "fight or flight" )

But, as long as you institute some safety measures for those times when a lack of hearing can be problematic (e.g., outdoor encounters, if any), they will quickly learn your routines and how they can adapt to them.


I should also mention that not all blue-eyed, predominantly white cats are deaf. Many are, but some only in one ear, and some have normal hearing.

Good luck!

[biophile]

2. Thank you for that insight!

True about white blue eyed cats not all being deaf. I haven’t had the vet test them yet, but just going on my own interactions, I’d say they are both deaf in both ears. I volunteer at a cat rescue and might get them in if they can be adopted together. But it’s also possible that I will get too attached and invested 😆. I appreciate your help, thank you again!

[justaprogressive]

3. some references

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/living-with-a-deaf-cat

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/teaching-and-training-a-deaf-cat

https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/comments/xjbd1u/i_will_be_adopting_this_special_needs_kitty_soon/


HTH!

(My wife and i care for special needs kitties)

[biophile]

4. Thank you - these are great!

I’m trying to be consistent but I need to be trained, too! 😆. You are wonderful to help special kitties. I have a blind cat - he was born sighted and lost vision gradually due retina degeneration. Deafness is new to my experience though.