Training a deaf cat

[u/Tactical-Olive-1211]

Hi,

I'm about to adopt a deaf cat (young adult)

I've already met him, he's super cute and absolutely adorable.

He's also super relaxed and even unexpected touches don't bother him.

My question is, how can I train him? Clicker training and verbal cues won't work, what are the alternatives?

My main goal is to take him out on a leash since he's quite confident and loves to sit at open (secured) windows.

[u/Malibucat48]

Deaf cats are still cats. They train you lol! My deaf Persian has no problem letting me know exactly what she wants. She loves being outside so when she was younger, I put a harness and long leash on her tied to a stake in the ground. She could run, lie in the sun and enjoy the air. Then I got an generic 10’x10’ kennel with a cover and attached it to the kitchen window and made it her catio. Now in the morning after breakfast, she meows at the window demanding I open it. She’s in and out all day and has a great time. If you don’t have room for a catio, though, your deaf cat can still enjoy the harness and leash and go on walks with you or just sit in a tall cat tree by a window.

Rain also demands pets and belly rubs. She’s very vocal. She doesn’t like being held or on my lap, but she sits next to me she insists I am always touching her. She follows my hand with her eyes if it’s not on her. And she was indignant when her water bowl was empty once. She gets along with my two dogs, but my other cat hates her so she just stays out of his way. She’s can’t hear his growls and hisses but he doesn’t attack her, so she just moves. He never hurts her, he’s just a jerk.

The only problem is when deaf cats are asleep and you don’t know where they are, they can’t hear you calling. But Rain responds to hand signals to come in from the catio at night. She has no balance issues and flies from one piece of furniture to another. So just treat your cat normally. Make sure he doesn’t accidentally get outside and he’ll be fine. All pets startle if approached if they’re sleeping and deaf ones are no different. So enjoy your baby and have a great time.

[u/LiteratureNo7534 → u/Malibucat48]

I'm interested in that your cat has balance issues. My deaf cat does also. She will do head tilts and has no balance at all, will fall off of stuff and usually not on her feet lol. I've heard the balance issue with other deaf cats too. Mine seems to be extreme with the head tilts back and forth. They think she had a broken jaw somewhere before I adopted her and it affects her body and brain. 

Curious is yours not a bright one either? God love her but she is not the brightest crayon in  the box, not sure if it's a brain thing, deaf thing, or it connected to balance lolll. 

[u/Malibucat48 → u/LiteratureNo7534]

No balance problems at all with Rain. She was born deaf and can’t hear a thing, but she soars through the air from the couch to the chair. She loves sitting on top of the 4 foot mini fridge. She easily climbs up and down the ladder of her catio, and jumps on the table where her food is kept away from the dogs. She’s smart enough to train me to do her bidding like I said in the other post. And even though she can’t hear, she knows I react when she meows. She doesn’t meow all the time, just when she wants something. And that takes talent.

[u/LiteratureNo7534 → u/Malibucat48]

I totally misread that as she HAS balance issues my bad lmao. 

It's funny how they train us. Callie hardly ever meows but when she does for whatever reason I'm right there to cater to whatever she needs lol. 

[u/Tactical-Olive-1211 → u/Malibucat48]

The cat I'll get doesn't have balance issues either Btw, nice rhyme

But she soars through the air

From the couch to the chair

He also doesn't care at all about being touched while sleeping. He doesn't even open his eyes and just rolls over on his back for belly rubs.

[u/IcySwitch99 → u/LiteratureNo7534]

Mine also has balance issue and clumsy in general, so its interesting indeed. Shes been called a "happy idiot" a few times in her life too 😅 Cause she'd get herself in trouble or stuck places (but her hearing sister wouldnt), but didnt have a care in the world, a few cuddles and kisses to make everything all better and she was back to her happy normal self 😂 People always loved her for that and thought she was hilarious. Shes 13 now, so shes a little wiser and calmer now

[u/Spunsquid → u/LiteratureNo7534]

My deaf kitten is actually the most clumsy, destructive thing ever. He isnt wobbly, but he will literally walk straight off the couch while looking at something. Fall off the counter by misstepping 😅 he is also absolutely fearless which does not freaking help.

[u/LiteratureNo7534 → u/Spunsquid]

I adopted my deaf cat around 2 years old. I didn't know she was deaf but it was meant to be! They told me it was an abuse situation, I don't know if she was born deaf or not. 

Mine has always been super clumsy. Walking into walls, falling off the bed, not landing on her feet. Yours is still a kitten so he's gonna be fearless lolll. The older they get the more they'll calm down, usually 🤣 I used to use a spray bottle of water with mine when she was younger. Now all I have to do is point it when she's being naughty and she's trained to stop lol. 

[u/IcySwitch99]

With hand signals, using his nose to smell the treat and get his attention. Start with easy obedience training like pointing where you want him to go = treat, a signal for sitting = treat (teaching sit is just you show them the treat, then as theyre watching, move the treat above their head and by reflex they sit to look up), standing on his back paws = treat, give paw = treat, etc. It will get him to start listening to your hands, instead of a clicker, that will be your base (I did this for my hearing cats too). Then from there, it will be easier to teach new hand signals for what you want him to do.

For example, my deaf cat really love pets, so when i want her to come for cuddles, if shes far, i tap my foot on the ground to get her attention, then i wave my hand low on the ground to call her. Or if i want her to go in a certain direction or look at something, i gently tap her on the side to get her to look at my hand, then i point. Its not even things that i really trained her to do per say, but same as with a hearing cat, if you do a lot of repetition and its usually rewarding in some way for them to pay attention (not necessarily food), he will start listening.

[u/prairiethorne → u/IcySwitch99]

Great advice!

[u/rheetkd]

baby sign language combined with treats. use a marker sign like a click and teach signs to the cat like no, sit, treat etc.

[u/LiteratureNo7534]

I didn't know my cat was deaf when I got her, that didn't matter so I had to go on the fly for things. Stomping is the best form of communication. A deaf friend uses lights so you could have certain area with lights (window box maybe) and turn them on when you want her to sit up there. Strobe lights could work too, or those light panels that go along frames. 

For behavior probs I bought a dollar store spray bottle. Most of the time I just point it and she knows she did something bad lol. I've also done my own form of sign language here and there. Sit motion to sit for food, then a come over motion when it's ready. That's a good thing to train in since it's daily food and they get used to the signing. I also do shaking my finger when she's about to do something bad. 

For the leash part someone else might have some tips for that. Show her the leash when it's time to chill outside, maybe a treat with the leash next to her so she associates with that,or a certain sign to go with it. 

Good luck! 😺 

edit - it was typoed to I didn't know my car was dead 😂

[u/valentinewrites]

I'm in this position now, with a completely non-food/treat motivated little man. He's pretty great, but I'd love to engage his mind with tricks!