Cleo's story

I wanted to share a bit about Cleo for those who haven't read her story. She is a 10-year-old calico who lost her hearing over the last two years. It was a gradual process, but now she doesn't respond to the doorbell or my voice at all. She is very sweet but can be easily startled by sudden movements since she can't hear them coming. I have to be very deliberate with my approach.

We also have Mimi, a 10-year-old black cat who is blind. They get along fine, but the house requires different adaptations for each of them. I know this is a specific niche, but I hope sharing my setup helps others in similar situations.

Oh wow, two seniors with sensory issues? That must be a lot of work. I feel so sorry you have to manage all that while raising a baby too. How do you keep them from getting confused? Do you use specific signals for Cleo since she can't hear you? I read a thread about deaf cat routines and thought it might apply, but I'm not sure how to adapt it for two cats with different needs.

Thank you for the kind words. It is a balancing act, especially with the baby on the way. For Cleo, I use a gentle tap on her shoulder to get her attention before I move her. I avoid sudden loud noises like dropping things, which used to be fine but now startle her. For Mimi, I keep her water and food bowls in the exact same spot every day. I found that the thread on navigating with a blind cat was very helpful for Mimi, especially the advice about using textured rugs to guide her.

At 10, they are definitely in the senior category. Cognitive decline can mimic sensory loss or worsen it. Have you checked for senior cognitive changes? Sometimes a cat that is deaf will also start to have disorientation. As a vet tech, I see this often. It’s not just about the hearing or sight, but how their brain processes the environment.

I appreciate the input, Eric. We did have them checked recently and their bloodwork was normal, so I don't think it's cognitive decline yet. But I will keep an eye out for the signs you mentioned. The main challenge right now is grooming. Cleo hates being brushed because she can't hear me coming, and she thinks it's an ambush. I saw a post about grooming deaf cats that suggested using a vibration tool, but I'm worried that might startle her even more.

The vibration idea might be tricky. I have Nala who is very vocal and reactive, and even small vibrations annoy her. For Mimi, I found that the navigating with a blind cat thread had good tips on using scent markers. Maybe you could use a consistent scent on the brush for Cleo? That way she associates the smell with the grooming process rather than the surprise of the touch. It’s a small change but it helps my cats feel more secure.

This is so touching. Bella is 8 and has kidney issues, so I am very sensitive to any changes in routine. I read your earlier thread about feeding cats with sensory issues and it really helped me with Bella. It’s hard when you can’t just call your cat over. I hope you find a grooming solution that works for Cleo. It must be exhausting managing all of this.

Thank you, Kelly. I will try the scent marker idea. It makes sense to give her a cue she can detect. I think the next step is to look at how to manage their interactions, since Cleo is deaf and Mimi is blind, they can't rely on each other's cues. I might start a new thread about caring for blind and deaf cats together to ask for more specific advice on that.