Don't worry too much, Laurie.  Our Tiger is deaf as a post and gets
along just fine.  She notices when we turn the lights on when getting
home and that's her cue to come demand, I mean ask politely, for
scritchies.

-Kim

Both blind and deaf cats seem to do amazingly well indoors.  Mostly it is a
matter of you remembering the extra cues he needs.

I have joked that God took away my hearing so my grandkids wouldn't drive me
crazy.  In that vein, maybe he doesn't mind not hearing Happy bark in his
ear all that much.

So purrs of course for the whole family, but I'm guessing if he could, he'd
tell you not to be too sad for him.

Jo

Lots of cats, like lots of people, lose their hearing as they age. I
understand that Felix has a condition that might be hastening that process.
But I've lived with deaf cats before and they did fine. If he's indoor
only, he shouldn't have any problems.

I had a cat who lost her hearing around age 16. She would often sleep
soundly all curled up in a circle. Sometimes I'd approach her, but of
course, she wouldn't hear me coming, so she wouldn't wake up. But then
I'd touch her gently, and suddenly, her entire body would come alive.
Her body would sort of expand, and her head would pop up. Her body would
vibrate, and at the same time she would emit a purry trill. All of these
things happening simultaneously had the effect of some kind of vibrating
machine suddenly being switched on. It was very cute.

So it could be that she was mildly startled, but she would quickly
relax and assume the position for petting. This never happened before
she lost her hearing, so I can only assume that this was her way of
reacting to being touched without having sensed that someone was coming
toward her.

Joyce

My sweet cat Molly was deaf.  It never seemed to be a handicap for her.   If
you touched her when her head was turned she would jump a little and she had
the loudest meow and purr of any cat that I've ever had.  Other than that
you'd never know she was deaf.  She was my bomb-proof cat; nothing ever
seemed to bother her.  You could hold her like a baby on her back, she would
grab your hand gently with her paws and lick it--she was so trusting.  I
know it must be a shock but from what I've heard, most cats adapt very well.

Purrs being sent to Felix and you,

Bonnie

The last few years I had my beloved white cat Blizzard (RB), she went
totally deaf. It happened so slowly, I did not even notice until her
hearing was completely gone.

I learned to 'stomp' on the floor when I entered a room, to let Blizzard
know I was there. (This was on the advice of the good people here on
RPCA, BTW.)

She would look up, just as if I had called to her. Sometimes, she would
look at the wrong door first, but she would quickly learn to check both
doors, in the few rooms that had more than one. Even though she was
really getting on in years, she learned this, and other things easily
and quickly. (Once *I* figured out what was going on, of course...).

Her deafness didn't really seem to affect her quality of life at all.
She was quite senior, but I really don't think deafness would make a big
difference to a younger cat, either.

She continued to meow to me, when she wanted something. I surmised that
she could still hear her own sounds, at least.

I think you will find that Felix will be just fine.

Please keep him indoors, of course. That's about the only real risk for
him: outdoors can be a dangerous place for cats. But especially for one
who cannot hear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Life without cats would be only marginally worth living."
-TC, and the unmercifully, relentlessly, sweet calico kitty, Kenzie.

Every day is a treasure with Kenzie; I try to treat them that way. There
will only be so many, and then there will never, ever, be any more.

How you behave towards cats here below determines your status in Heaven.
- Robert Heinlein

Purrs on the way, though it is always surprising how well cats will cope
with disabilities.

Thanks everyone, soooo much!!  I feel good in knowing that Felix will be
okay and even more so since he's an indoor kitty!!

Purrs for Felix.
Charleen
and the
cats.