It’s Deaf History Month, and we’re celebrating deaf cats everywhere. Special needs cats have just as much to offer as any cat without disabilities, after all. Whether they were born deaf or became deaf later, hearing-impaired cats can still run, play, jump, and have close, rewarding relationships with their owners.

While deaf cats are just as easy to love as a hearing cat, there are a few challenges their adopters must address at home. We talked to two great women who each have their own fantastic deaf felines to get their insider knowledge and meet their cats.

Meet Liam 

Liam is a gorgeously fluffy Maine Coon who shares a home with bestie Elli (polydactyl Maine Coon), older cat Fiona, and his person Amée. Liam also happens to be white and odd-eyed – the two different eye colors are part of the genetic condition that creates white cats, and both coat color and eye color are associated with congenital deafness. “Liam is the sweetest cat,” Amée told us about her 18-month-old deaf cat. “I would not change a thing about him.”

If you would like to see more of Liam, you can follow him on Instagram.

Meet Khaleesi

Khaleesi is another beautiful white cat, and she was rescued from the streets of Los Angeles by her cat mom Dawn. She loves going out with her person so much that Dawn is training with her to become a therapy animal team to bring comfort to others. “A day in the life of a typical deaf cat… They eat, play hard, nap hard and then do it all over again. However, they are definitely much more mischievous than hearing kitties. Since they can’t hear, they have no fear and want to check out everything… even that vacuum or hair dryer a hearing kitty would normally run from.,” Dawn explained.

You can enjoy videos and photos of Khaleesi playing and enjoying life on Instagram.

Life Challenges with Deaf Cats

We asked Dawn and Amée to tell us about some of the common challenges folks with deaf cats face. Five main challenges with simply solutions emerged from our conversations.

Keep It Visual

Since your deaf kitty can’t hear you call her, it’s important to communicate with them visually. Use lights when you want their attention by deploying a laser pointer or turning the lights on and off. You can also use your body language effectively – getting on their level and extending your hand to them for “come,” making yourself bigger with raised arms to discourage undesirable behavior, and pointing to a low point for “down.”

You can take it further than body language, too. “I am trying to teach her signs,” said Dawn about her deaf cat Khaleesi, “she is my first deaf kitty and it’s definitely been a learning experience for both of us. So far we’ve gotten pretty good with ‘no’/’stop’…” The key to training your cat on signals is to keep them consistent.

Don’t Sneak Up

Deaf cats can startle easily since they can’t hear others approaching or sounds of trouble. Amée, catmom to Liam, speaks from experience: “Sneaking up on a deaf cat can send them running in the opposite direction. Approach them gently and wait until they have laid eyes on you. Be patient, learn how they communicate.”

Always get their attention before you reach them – as mentioned above, you can do this by using lights as a signal. You can also try using vibrations, by tapping your foot strongly against the floor or patting the carpeted floor nearby.

Keep Them Safe

It’s especially important for deaf cats to stay inside. They simply cannot hear and interpret sounds of danger the way a hearing cat can, making them more vulnerable to being hurt by cars and other urban dangers. A contained environment that you can keep safe is best for your deaf feline.

If you still want to give your kitty some outside time, consider training them to take walks with you or installing a catio. Dawn got help from her family for Khaleesi: Her grandpa used chicken wire to enclose her yard. “This keeps Khaleesi from wandering too far when she goes out and keeps all my animals safe from outside predators as well (coyotes are a problem where I live).”

Get Them High

High up, that is! In order for many deaf cats to feel secure, they like to get into a high position where they can see all around them. You’ll want to keep climbing surfaces clear of items they can knock off, and make sure these surfaces are securely anchored. Investing in cat trees or installing cat perches can be a great way to improve your deaf cat’s life.

For Liam, Amée says, “He always has to have his eyes on us at all times: he will find the highest point in the house to sit so he can see everything that is going on. Currently, his new obsession is hanging out on top of the refrigerator.”

Learn Their Meows

Deaf cats can’t hear themselves vocalize, so they tend to have surprisingly loud meows and other noises. This can be startling, and make most people familiar with hearing cats think that their deaf kitty is in distress or upset.

“I had no idea that I should expect a wail of a meow from her,” Dawn agrees. “She is exceptionally loud when she meows and when she plays she has these loud, low growls. The first few times I heard her, it really scared the heck out of me. Now that I’m pretty much used to them, I absolutely adore her crazy noises.”

Do you know or have a deaf kitty? We’d love to hear from you in the comments or on our Facebook page!