Comforting an anxious old girl with hearing loss

[MysteriousCat]

My 15 year old girl has gone deaf. I suspect it started around a year ago as she became much more vocal but was still reactive. The vets have said as it's age related there's nothing that can be done.

She's very, very frightened. Initially she was hiding away and would only come out to eat and drink, which was what prompted the vet visit. She has started coming out now but only if I'm home alone and is still very jumpy and constantly scanning the room.

Tried feliway, made her worse. Any advice would be really appreciated as it's heartbreaking seeing her this way. Still eating, drinking and using her tray etc.

All other tests at the vets came back totally fine so it's just the hearing. She is a very, skittish, sensitive girl at the best of times as she didn't have the best start in life.

I let her hide and don't try and force her out, approach her slowly so she can sense me coming and don't startle her. She still likes playing with her Lazer, being brushed and I've been giving her lots of extra treats.

Does anyone have any experience of this? The vets weren't very helpful and just said it'll take time which I know is true but I feel so sad.

Oh this sounds really hard. I've had deaf cats, one born deaf, one from old age, and although one was sensitive neither of them were this frightened.

How long has she been hiding away for? What is she reacting skittishly too?

I think I'd look at making her environment as predictable as possible and finding non audible cues for her...

I'd want to explore using natural scents as cues - cat safe herbs that you can grow easily - and soft battery lighting perhaps. Some herbs may have a calming effect too. I'd consider placing herbs/lights in key places to indicate you were home/gone out for example. Or if you had visitors, are hoovering etc. Make them habits and she'll eventually learn that this nightlight turned on here means the hoover is on, or this plant out means there are visitors etc. You could hang your jumper or coat on the end of the bannister when you're home maybe.

Keep a regular routine, IME pets love these - nothing more judgemental that a cat or dog telling you it's bedtime!

If my deaf cat is sleeping, I let them know I'm there (or have arrived home) by placing my hand a couple of inches from their nose. The familiar scent is the gentlest way to let them kmow I'm there, and you can do this is she's hiding away too.

Give her more safe spaces - some cat shelves on the wall, a new cat cave. One tip for encouraging them to use a new bed is to sleep with the inner cushion for a couple of nights so it's smells familiar and safe.

Do you have children or other pets? Make sure she had somewhere to go where they know never to disturb her.

How and where do you feed her? Is it in a quiet space where she has good visibility of who is around her or does she feel vulnerable from behind?

My dog went deaf and I used to try and tread heavily as I approached her so she might feel a vibration. It was so difficult not to startle her.

It must be so difficult for a timid cat though, I hope she gets used to it soon.

I have a happy kitty blanket which my cat loves, might be worth a try

https://happy-kitty-blankets.sumupstore.com/

@DuckDuckG00se thanks that's all really helpful. She has always been an indoor cat I should have mentioned that, the rescue specified that she needed to be as she really is that sensitive. She's a gorgeous loving girl though and I've had her since she was 8 months old.

It is just me and my OH at home, I work from home and he works long days out the house. I think because I'm here more often and have been sitting near her spot on the floor working, that's why shes been coming out for me. She will come to him at the entrance to her spots but won't venture out when he's here yet...

She was initially hiding in a storage cupboard where the boiler is....this isn't totally new as shes always liked this spot. She wouldn't use her usual bed, so I bought a small children's tent (my partner said I was crazy but I was desperate) filled it with her favourite blankets and toys and she loves it in there. I feed her near there.

Her trays are in a different area of the house and she will use those on her own usually, but will sometimes yell at me and I'll bring them to her and she'll use them. I know that's probably not advised but I hate seeing her look so worried and she's always been very particular about her litter trays.

I think she's skittish of everything really...she's used to relying on her hearing and now she can't I think she's very confused. She's obviously not spooked by sounds now, but seems frightened of her own shadow.

This started about a fortnight ago now. In the recent storm we had a tree battering roof tiles off, so I thought that was why she was hiding initially as it was very loud. Once the storm stopped and she still stayed the same I took her to the vet who confirmed it.

I had noticed her meows were louder in the last few months, but it's complicated by the fact we recently lost her brother who she's grown up with so I stupidly thought it was related to that...

She has lots of cat trees, shelves etc but seems to want to be able to scan her surroundings at all times at the moment. I think she can still hear some things as she does react occasionally. I feel really sad, she used to love me singing her little songs to her and it breaks my heart she can't hear them now, but I still keep singing them.

@washongdis thank you! Unfortunately it's sold out or I would have bought one .

Cat tax of my beautiful girl ❤️

Oh wow! Just beautiful, does not look anywhere near 15😁

She is so beautiful! I hope some of the things you're trying help her out. I have a nervous wee rescue too, I know how much we want to help them feel comfortable and happy ❤

Its worth getting an igloo cat bed if she likes the tent. Also, have you tried Lick-e-lix to coax her?

Just sent her a message asking when she will be back in stock for you. She follows my cats FB page (long story!) so that’s how I know about them

It may be worth trying Zylkene to calm her down. Doesn't work with all cats, but my vets have recommended it in the past for times like firework night & NYE, busy times like Christmas etc. Worked well with mine.

Comes in little capsules which you can open & sprinkle the contents on wet food. Mine actually like the taste, and I've been known to leave it on top of the food rather than mixing it in as they like it so much.

She says back in stock in the next few days

DD's cat is deaf and can definitely sense sounds through the floor, by vibration, and through air currents. She seems to cope with her deafness well, but isn't allowed outside at all as it wouldn't be safe for her.

Agree with a pp about giving your cat additional sensory enrichment with things that smell pleasant to cats. By the same token, try to avoid using strong-smelling chemicals, perfume, deodorant etc. If her nose has gone into overdrive in order to compensate for the loss of another sense, then strong smells could be distressing for her. Maybe try varying her diet as well, so she can experience different tastes and textures.

We once had a cat who went blind over a short period of time, and she learned to adapt relatively quickly.

A fortnight is no time at all, poor thing. She will settle, but she's been through a lot in a short space of time. How long ago did you lose your other cat?

Consistency and patience are key. Definitely look at visual and scent markers to give her cues to learn for when certain things are happening, or for whether you're in the house or not - your OH will need fully sign up to this too.

By the same token, try to avoid using strong-smelling chemicals, perfume, deodorant etc
This is a good point too.

No judgement either for taking her litter trays to her - sounds exactly the right thing to me, she asked for help and you gave it, it's the best way to build trust and confidence!

See if you can identify whether she can still hear low or high tones. Soothing classical music is great for nervy cats, so if you work it out you might be able to find a piece she can hear a little.

People do sign to their animals too. Maybe look up some simple makaton signs and start using them where once you used words. "Dinner", "play", "brush" "come here" "love you" etc

Thanks everyone, I'm taking notes. @washongdis I'll keep an eye on the website.
@Allergictoironing I will look into that, but she's such a fussy girl I doubt I'd even be able to sneak it in, but definitely worth a try!

@DuckDuckG00se I know it's a short time but I just hate seeing her like this, her big frightened eyes and jumping at every movement.

Today has been a mixed bag I was very happy to see she was out in the open and very affectionate, until I realized she had pooped and peed in her hiding spot so that's probably why she left it.... despite there being a tray nearby and another in its usual spot. She got very upset when I had to remove all her things to clean and scrub everything, so has been hiding again once I put it all back but is still coming out to eat and I carried her to her tray and she used it.

We lost her brother in April. The feliway seems to be the thing that's caused her to be so spooked as the area around that plug is where she is most frightened of...I assume it smells like another cat in her territory?

I've been using a little torch and flashing it a few times until she comes out.

It's difficult to identify what she can hear and what she can feel, for example she reacts to loud cars passing by but that could just be the vibrations. She doesn't react to any noises I make, as she knows it's me making them and I'm safe.

Tobias is incredibly fussy about his food, and even he gobbles it up when there's Zylkene mixed in. Actually he does when I add Cobalaplex too (Vit B12 supplement), but anything else added and he gives me THAT look and slithers away accusing me of poisoning him.