I adopted a (mostly) white kitten. She's now about 10 weeks old. We
call her "Umlaut" after the grey spots on her head, though honestly, it
doesn't make any difference _what_ we say since I'm pretty sure she's
deaf (or she's had intensive training to suppress her instincts). I
took her to the vet last week, and she (the vet) looked in her (the
cat's) ears and pronounced them free of mites.
Her eyes are pea-soup green. I put a harness (ferret size) with a bell
on on her it so I can know about where she is. After all, the jangling
of the bell won't bother her. You can see her at
http://royalty.mine.nu:81/cat/ .
She's an indoor cat, so I don't have to worry about her getting hit by a
car. We have no uncaged animals, so I don't have to worry about her
getting stalked and killed by another pet. But what I wonder is, is
there any other ailment that's peculiar to (or more likely in) deaf
cats? And also, what are the chances of congenital deafness in a
non-blue-eyed cat that isn't totally white?

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> I adopted a (mostly) white kitten. She's now about 10 weeks old. We
> call her "Umlaut" after the grey spots on her head, though honestly, it
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> there any other ailment that's peculiar to (or more likely in) deaf
> cats?
Not that I know of. But there will be behavioral differences. Deaf cats
are more defensive because they're more easily startled. Some will have
a louder voice because they can't regulate their own volume; others will
be mute.
To ascertain for sure whether she's wholly deaf, click your fingernails
(don't snap your fingers; this causes a vibration that any deaf animal
might perceive) in close proximity to each ear and see if she responds.
Also, if she's easily startled if you approach her from behind and touch
her, that's another sure sign.
Some deaf cats have learned to respond to hand signals. Others will
respond to hand-clapping, because they can pick up the vibrations. Using
a flashlight is another way to get her attention safely
> And also, what are the chances of congenital deafness in a
> non-blue-eyed cat that isn't totally white?
According to http://www.messybeast.com/whitecat.htm:
"95% of the general cat population is non-white cats (i.e. not pure
white) and congenital deafness is extremely rare in non-white cats.
"5% of the general cat population is white cats (i.e. pure white).
15-40% of these pure white cats have one or two blue-eyes.
"Of those white cats with one or two blue eyes, 60-80% are deaf; 20-40%
have normal hearing; 30-40% had one blue eye and were deaf while 60-70%
had one blue eye and normal hearing.
"Of the 5% of white cats in the overall population, 60-80% had eyes of
other colors (e.g. orange, green). Of those 10- 20% were deaf and 80-90%
had normal hearing.
"Deaf white cats with one or two blue eyes account for 0.25 - 1.5 of
total cat population
"Total number of cats with white coat and blue eyes account for 0.75 -
2.0% of total cat population
"It is evident from those studies that blue eyed whites exhibit a higher
incidence of deafness than do orange/green eyed whites or non-white
cats! But not all blue eyed whites are deaf and here's why:-
"There is a known link between white coat color, blue eyes and deafness
- but since the coat and eye color can be caused by different genes it
means that only *some* blue eyed whites are deaf. There is a gene/gene
complex which causes white coat, blue eyes and deafness, but not all
cats get their white coat and blue eyes from that particular gene, so
not all white cats will be deaf.
"If the cat is a Foreign/Oriental White, it carries the gene for
'Siamese Blue Eyes' which is not linked to deafness (the gene for
Siamese Blue Eyes is linked to cross-eyes instead). Siamese blue eyes
have a reflective tapetum, but this is depigmented because the Siamese
colour is caused by albinism. This depigmentation gives the red-eye with
flash cameras. Random matings can mean that this gene sometimes appears
in non Oriental-looking cats which have colorpoint cats in their ancestry."
HTH.
Hactar - 20 May 2007 03:08 GMT
> > I adopted a (mostly) white kitten. She's now about 10 weeks old. We
> > call her "Umlaut" after the grey spots on her head, though honestly, it
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> Not that I know of. But there will be behavioral differences. Deaf cats
> are more defensive because they're more easily startled.
I'm always careful to tap on whatever she's on to announce my presence
if she can't see me. I know I'm startled if people suddenly appear
seemingly from nowhere, and my hearing is normal.
> Some will have a louder voice because they can't regulate their own
> volume; others will be mute.
She's definitely not mute...
> To ascertain for sure whether she's wholly deaf, click your fingernails
> (don't snap your fingers; this causes a vibration that any deaf animal
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> >
> According to http://www.messybeast.com/whitecat.htm:
Yes, that's the page I read.
> "95% of the general cat population is non-white cats (i.e. not pure
> white) and congenital deafness is extremely rare in non-white cats.
>
> "5% of the general cat population is white cats (i.e. pure white).
> 15-40% of these pure white cats have one or two blue-eyes.
I assume she would be "not pure white". How rare is "extremely rare"?
> "Of those white cats with one or two blue eyes, 60-80% are deaf; 20-40%
> have normal hearing; 30-40% had one blue eye and were deaf while 60-70%
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> other colors (e.g. orange, green). Of those 10- 20% were deaf and 80-90%
> had normal hearing.
If by some chance she is considered "pure white", then the chance of her
being deaf (given that she looks like she does) is 10-20%.
> "Deaf white cats with one or two blue eyes account for 0.25 - 1.5 of
> total cat population
>
> "Total number of cats with white coat and blue eyes account for 0.75 -
> 2.0% of total cat population
No blue eyes.

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Noon Cat Nick - 20 May 2007 03:39 GMT
> I assume she would be "not pure white". How rare is "extremely rare"?
From http://www.messybeast.com/whitecat.htm:
"Due to random mutation or the wide gene pool, cats of any color can be
born deaf (probably less than 1%)...."
I also found something of major significance regarding cats with
congenital deafness, from http://www.messybeast.com/twisty.htm:
"Dominant white is associated with deafness and with defects of the
tapetum lucidum (in eyes). Deaf cats are severely handicapped in their
social and behaviour and in normal expression of predatory behaviour.
Restrictions of vision, especially in semi-darkness and at night (the
normal activity times of cats), increases this handicap. This is deemed
a bodily defect that leads to permanent suffering."
FelineAdvocate@gmail.com - 24 May 2007 07:29 GMT
> > And also, what are the chances of congenital deafness in a
> > non-blue-eyed cat that isn't totally white?
You may find that the "dots" on her head disappear as she gets older.
It's quite common in the Siamese-type Whites (foreign whites) and
White Orientals to be born with what they call a "kitten cap" which
disappears when they mature. It can be an indicator of the colour the
cat is genetically, which is masked by the dominant white gene... So
she may well be pure white when she grows up... (I have a kitten like
this at home right now, who has 2 little black "smears" on the top of
her head, and green eyes (with a tiny segment of blue in one of her
eyes); but I don't think she's deaf).
> According tohttp://www.messybeast.com/whitecat.htm:
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> cats get their white coat and blue eyes from that particular gene, so
> not all white cats will be deaf.
This is a similar complex to Waardenburg syndrome in humans, in which
a person may have odd coloured eyes, deafness or mental retardation,
or combinations of all 3...
Cheers,
Catherine
>I adopted a (mostly) white kitten. She's now about 10 weeks old. We
>call her "Umlaut" after the grey spots on her head, though honestly, it
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>cats? And also, what are the chances of congenital deafness in a
>non-blue-eyed cat that isn't totally white?
I had a white cat which wasn't deaf...until she was about 15 or 16 years
old. It was gradual, I think, and of course age related. one day, I just
realized she never answered to her name anymore :-(
She was an indoor only kitty, and there were few adjustments to make. I
always stamped on the floor, hard, with my foot to let her know I was
entering the room she was in. That worked well. I tried not to startle
her. Due to her age, she wasn't skittish, but I didn't wasn't to stress
her. I always tried to enter her field of vision before I touched her.
I think because it was gradual, and she was older, it wasn't hard on
her.
If a cat is deaf from birth, they won't miss the loss of hearing, but
just as with my cat, steps should be taken to accommodate her deafness.
You can try putting cat beds where she can see the doors(s) to the room,
so she'll see you enter.
Pick a gentle method of waking her from sleep, and always do it the same
way, so she'll know it's you.
Watch for the things that startle or seem to cause stress for her, and
minimize them as much as possible.
It will be a learning experience, but I'm sure that with just a few
adjustments, she will live a long, healthy life. I hope so, anyway.
Hactar - 21 May 2007 01:08 GMT
> >I adopted a (mostly) white kitten. She's now about 10 weeks old. We
> >call her "Umlaut" after the grey spots on her head, though honestly, it
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> old. It was gradual, I think, and of course age related. one day, I just
> realized she never answered to her name anymore :-(
Sounds normal to me...
> She was an indoor only kitty, and there were few adjustments to make. I
> always stamped on the floor, hard, with my foot to let her know I was
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> You can try putting cat beds where she can see the doors(s) to the room,
> so she'll see you enter.
I would, if she'd pick mobile places and stick to them. As it is, she
sacks out under (or inside) desks, or on or under the loveseat.
> Pick a gentle method of waking her from sleep, and always do it the same
> way, so she'll know it's you.
Yeah. What I've been doing is tap on her "bed" with my fingers. That
seems to work.
> Watch for the things that startle or seem to cause stress for her, and
> minimize them as much as possible.
Noted.

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