A Deaf White Kitten Called Spot
Here's the progress of my kitten called "Spot". She's completely deaf, as are most white cats with blue eyes. This page might be of interest to you if you've discovered your kitten is deaf and are wondering about deaf cat behaviour.
How To Tell If Your Kitten Is Deaf?
To prove that a kitten or cat is deaf, see how they respond to the hoover. Spot will either completely ignore it, or if she's feeling playful, she will chase it around or climb on it. And this is a very loud hoover! Another thing to try is clapping very loudly when your kitten is asleep. (Although not closely enough that they could feel the vibration). If I clap loudly when Spot is asleep on top of the fridge she doesn't notice at all, but a very gently tap on the fridge will instantly wake her.
Noisy
Deaf cats often meow very loudly, and Spot is no exception. She doesn't shout all the time, but is very loud when she wants some food, or when announcing she's about to go to the toilet. She also lets out a very loud involuntary MARE when she's overcome with pleasure due to being scratched under the chin. Extremely loud MARES are often produced as a sign of fascination or curiosity, such as when watching the tap dripping. I'm sure this is due to her deafness.
Spot generally gets along fine with regard to her deafness. She can be startled quite often as she doesn't hear people approaching. She still tends to point her ears in the direction she wants to pick up sound from, as do normal cats. For example, if she's sitting facing away from me but still knows I'm there, she will point her ears backwards to listen to sounds behind her. Pointless!
Letting deaf cats or kittens go outside is not advised due to worries about the traffic, but it's no bother for Spot, as she has to stay indoors anyway, being in an upstairs flat.
Other Cats
Spot has recently been introduced to another cat. Generally, they get along okay, but occasionally there's a hiss and growl from the other cat. Being deaf Spot doesn't take these threats at all seriously, because she can't hear them. She also follows the other cat around a lot, and always watches what she's doing. I think this is because when other cats (or people) are out of visual range, she has no idea where they are.
Spot was born on 27th June 2008
Behaviour
Spot's really well behaved in terms of carpet and furniture scratching, but disciplining a deaf cat is almost impossible! Being completely stone deaf, she won't be startled by loud sounds, so it's very difficult to tell her not to do something. Any attempts to tap her on the nose or push her away just end it lots of purring and the start of another game of attack-the-hand. Apparently, using a water pistol or plant sprayer is a good idea to discourage the usual naughty kitten behaviour, but I haven't tried that yet. I don't fancy spraying water over my TV.
Duvet
One strange thing Spot used to do, aged 7 to 10 weeks, and suddenly stopped, is going to sleep under the duvet on my bed. Right in the middle. Every day, when coming home from work, I wouldn't be able to find her anywhere, but then found that she'd always emerge from the bed. I don't know if it's deaf kitten behaviour, but maybe she felt safer under there. Good job I didn't accidentally sit on her.
Heart Murmur
Upon her first visit to the vet's, Spot was diagnosed with a slight heart murmur. Apparently this is not uncommon, and the vet asked whether Spot is as active as she should be, as affected kittens and cats can be lacking in energy due to being out of breath. Often the murmur can gradually disappear as the kitten grows older. At Spot's "operation" at 7 months old, and there was no sign of the murmur. Hopefully it's gone away.
Ears
As a kitten, Spot had extremely long ear hair.Feet
But now, she has extremely long foot hair.Spot's Kitten Image Gallery
Click on the pictures for larger versions of each.
7 Weeks Old
8 Weeks Old
9 Weeks Old
11 Weeks Old
12 Weeks Old
14 Weeks Old
Monster Ear Hair
Spot has record breaking ear hair. It actually grows this way to help aerodynamics. The ear-hair provides additional downforce when running at maximum speed.
She especially likes it when I turn her ears inside out so she can show off her ear-hair to fullest effect.
18 Weeks Old
25 Weeks Old
8 Months Old
1 Year!
Spot is now ONE! Interestingly, the grey splodge on the top of her head is now completely gone. Spot is not normally allowed outside due to her deafness, but on occasion she likes to sit in some mud. Under supervision, of course.
Blue Eyes To Green Eyes
Spot's eyes gradually turned from blue as a kitten to a greeny yellow over her first year, as you can see in the pictures. This proves that the deafness gene doesn't always cause blue eyes.
Extremely Long Foot Hair
Now Spot is over a year old, her Monster Ear Hair seems to have retracted back into her ears and sprouted from between her toes. It's been replaced by extremely long foot hair. Not very lady-like is it?
Also notice the small tufts of fur sprouting from between the toes.
More Kitten Pictures!
There are plenty more pictures of Spot on the Pentax K-m Sample Kitten Photos page, so feel free to have a look there!
Comments
19 comments so far (post your own)She is beautiful! I am just about to adopt a deaf white kitten myself and your comments are really helpful! Thanks
Posted by suzy on Thursday, 13/08/09 @ 15:30pm | #47
Spot is so lovely and we are to thinking of getting a white kitten, i absolutely love the pictures you have shown as it gives us an idea of how she has grown up. SO SWEET!
Posted by Rach on Wednesday, 19/08/09 @ 17:07pm | #51
She's a gorgeous girl! I actually have a kitten who has ear fur to compete with hers!
Posted by Az on Friday, 21/08/09 @ 04:12am | #52
Your cat is cute! At this time im actually looking for another all white cat. I had one kinda like her! Mine was a boy & had different facial structure he even had that light grey at the top.
Posted by Nik773 on Wednesday, 2/09/09 @ 20:06pm | #67
I recently got a white kitten and after about a week I noticed she doesn't wake up unless I touch her so I tried ripping paper behind her head and some other tests and she isn't reacting. Spot looks just like my kitten Opi. I Love the fur between the toes and the mighty hair in the ears. She chases shadows and pounces on the carpet when nothing is there. Haha.
Posted by kt on Friday, 4/09/09 @ 05:34am | #71
I had a deaf cat once and he had all the characteristics of your cat. Especially the LOUD meowing. He was the greatest cat EVER!!! I'm not a cat person (more of a dog person) but when my son and I found ANGEL in the garage, I couldn't help but to keep him. I didn't find out he was deaf until after his first vet appointment (which was a couple of weeks after we found him). I was very sad to see him pass on. He lived a good 12 years before passing this May. He will be missed!
Posted by Sabrina on Friday, 18/09/09 @ 23:21pm | #78
hi i love this kitten are you selling her i live in liverpool
Posted by jayne on Friday, 11/12/09 @ 10:15am | #114
Gorgeous cat! Are her eyes turning more gold as she gets older or is does it just seem that way in the photos?
Posted by lbak on Saturday, 12/12/09 @ 02:36am | #116
Hi your cat is lovely, I also have 2 white cats and they are my babies. my little one of 5 months does the same thing goes under the duvet to hide when I get company as she is very nervous., don't know how she got their without any signs of movement, My cats are sisters but from different litters, they love each other so much, they are always kissing and cuddling up to each other, If I leave the room they both follow me cant get away from them, "but then I really love it " These are the 1st house cats I have ever had as I live in a flat, I would not part with them for a million pounds
Posted by Christine on Wednesday, 27/01/10 @ 15:53pm | #144
My cat, Keller, is identical to your beautiful Spot. He is a turkish angora with green eyes and is also deaf but doesn't make a lot of noise.
Posted by Shannon on Saturday, 6/02/10 @ 20:17pm | #146
hey thanks so much for the great page of info u have, i am looking at adopting a beautiful white boy with green eyes which we think is totally deaf, funny though it has a spot of tabby on his head like your spot!
Posted by debz on Wednesday, 17/03/10 @ 01:07am | #172
awww Spot is a cutie! I just adopted a white kitten, and she is also deaf :( . But I love her regardless, she also likes to sleep under my bed when Im not home. But my old cat used to do that, so I guess its a cat thing lol.Thanks for the info :)
Posted by yaya on Thursday, 8/04/10 @ 02:55am | #191
I think Spot is Beautiful and Specaial all animals are,,,but being he is Deaf that makes him more SPECIAL,,I adopted My Kitty Miss Lilly 10 days ago,,,I noticed after 3 days she is Deaf,,,shes 10 weeks old and is doing good she will follow me every where i couldnt imagine not to be able to Hear any thing,,, she does scratch me daily and I dont want to use the squirt gun on her,,but I decided today starting I will give it a try because Im scrathed up on my legs arms and hands took her to the vet had them trim her long nails and their already long again,,,im afraid to do them by my self,,,so Im also going to get a cat scrater carpet for her tomorrow,,,I definately dont believe in having her declawed,,,this procedure is still legal in the U.S. its so sad,,,poor kitties,,,I think you are a Great Mom for Spot you both have been Blessed!!!! Thax for spots pic. he is so cute,,,Good Luck to Both of You,,,,
Posted by char on Saturday, 17/04/10 @ 07:37am | #201
I was reading what you had to say after thinking my kitten is deaf and it came to my attantion that she is then i looked at the pictures o your kitten I kid you not my kitten looks just like yours he is only 3 months old but even has the same black spot on his head nice to see what my kitten is going to look like in the near future spot is a very nice looking cat :)
Posted by Pam on Wednesday, 19/05/10 @ 02:46am | #260
Hi my name is Darrin from Auckland New Zealand we have a 10 week old kitten named sophie and she looks exactly like Spot.Just recently figured out that she was deaf and was just reading your column.I would just like to thank you for all the information you have gathered and shared with everybody.Thanks and all the best for you and Spot.
Posted by Darrin on Thursday, 27/05/10 @ 04:52am | #294
hello all cat lovers have a white cat the same as spot female is 12 months old the vet said was dumped up near our farm think it is deaf as it meows loud not wanting a this cat am looking for a good home for her the farm is not the place for her as we have dogs on the farm, we have call it kit kat if you are looking for a white cat she is yours. PS is shorthair would make a good house cat looks pretty and small build contact by email.
Posted by garry on Sunday, 30/05/10 @ 09:11am | #299
Hi! I was wondering what kind of cat Spot is, because we got a cat for Easter, and we don't know what breed she is, and she looks almost exactly like Spot. She isn't deaf, but she has amber eyes and looks exactly like Spot in the 2nd picture you put for "8 Months Old."
If you could tell me Spot's breed, that would be very helpful.
Thanks
Posted by HKP on Wednesday, 9/06/10 @ 00:28am | #309
She's no special breed, as far as I know. Apparently the v.e.t. have her down as a British domestic short-hair or something like that. Although I wouldn't necessarily agree with the "short-hair" bit.
Spot's nothing special. :-)
Posted by Jack Frost on Wednesday, 9/06/10 @ 10:48am | #310
Hi.
I rescued a kitten (about 4-5 weeks old) from the stables this morning. His mom doesn't want to care for him and after 3 days of seeing him alone in the hay miauling like mad I decided to take him home. He's eating by himself but won't pee yet by himself. I'd like to send you a picture because he looks exactly like yours did as a wee babe, grey shading on the head and all.
Posted by Marie C. Morin on Wednesday, 23/06/10 @ 21:56pm | #343