Deaf Pet Awareness Week

As you know, our own Maxwell (the handsome cat on the right hand side of our header) came to us completely deaf.

So of course, we couldn't let this week pass without acknowledging that this is Deaf Pet Awareness week.

We were actually a bit surprised to learn from Petfinder that some people think deaf pets are less intelligent than hearing animals.

Or that they need some kind of hearing companion to function.

In fact, we've found Maxwell to be the most inquisitive of all our cats. He was the first to discover how to open drawers and cabinet doors (and promptly teach Faraday how to do it too!).

He's always right there when Marty has some kind of home project going on - the more mechanical (or in the image below, electrical!) the better.

(electricity was OFF, and Max gave out lots of advice!)

As Petfinder says, "deaf pets are just as intelligent as hearing pets. They make great only pets or do well with other animals in the home..."

We could not agree more - and we find it saddening that people might avoid adopting these special animals because of a misconception like this.

We thank Petfinder for bringing the "less adoptable" nature of deaf animals to the forefront this week.


Another thing we'd like to point out is Petfinder's warning: "The only real caveat in adopting a deaf pet is that it should never be allowed to roam freely outdoors unless it is in a securely fenced enclosure, since they cannot hear cars or other dangers approaching."

We can't emphasize this point enough. Maxwell never ever goes out. And if you need a visual aid as to why, just take a look at how Maxie reacts to the "danger" of an oncoming vacuum cleaner in the video below.

Notice he doesn't react to it at all - until he sees it out of the corner of his eye. Had he been outside, and that been a car - he would not have made it.

Petfinder also debunked the myth that a deaf pet "needs" a hearing companion to function successfully.

"Deaf animals bark, meow, whinny, and make all the regular sounds their hearing counterparts make," Petfinder writes. "They can be taught sign language commands and are fully trainable."

We can attest to that. Maxie functions just fine inside the home, thank you very much!

And he has the very cutest little "meep". True, it's highly unusual sound for such a vocal breed as Siamese. But it's too darned cute!

And yes, they can be taught sign language. Though we must warn you...in teaching a deaf cat sign language, be prepared for him to ignore you when you say "no" - just like all hearing cats do!

White cats, Star Trek, and deafness

We've fallen into the habit of using Monday's posts to talk about health, medical and safety issues - and even interesting science topics. Lately, we've been looking into the genetics of cat coloring.

You can read about why a Siamese is pointed...
What causes the striking look of a tuxedo kitty...
Even why some cats have blue eyes!

Today is a continuation of the topic from three weeks ago: White Cats

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A truly solid white cat has the White Masking, or "W" gene to thank for its striking coat.  But that's not all a kitty gets from that "W" gene.

photo: Wikimedia Commons

Because that gene is responsible for masking all color everywhere, that means pigment is masked or blocked in the eyes as well.

If you read our post in July about what happens when pigment is blocked in the eye, then you won't be surprised to hear that these "W" kitties have gorgeous blue eyes.

(If you'd like to read a bit more on the science behind why this takes place, click here .)

Interestingly enough, this phenomenon causes white cats who have this "W" gene to be deaf.

But not all blue-eyed white cats are deaf, you say. Most are, but not all. 

Correct!  

For those white cats that are not deaf, there is a different gene at play - the Spotting gene. You can read all about the difference between a White Masking gene and a Spotting gene in the post on Monday, August 6.

So, what makes a white cat with the "W" gene deaf?  Star Trek.
Um. Come again?


Star Trek: the reason
white cats are deaf

Okay, well, maybe we're stretching the truth a little bit. Here's what's going on:

There is a spiral-shaped cavity in the inner ear called the cochlea. This is where sound waves are converted to electrical signals and sent to the brain for processing. In order for those electrical signals to be transmitted upstream to the brain, ion balance needs to be maintained.

(Sounds like some kind of warp drive, doesn't it? Like I said, Star Trek. I rest my case. ;-)

odd-eyed cats are often deaf in only one ear

We have no idea what ion balance is, and if you figure it out please let us know, because we're weird like that and love to get our geek on.

Bottom line here is, the thing responsible for maintaining this mysterious ion balance is a thin layer of pigment called melanin that coats the inside of the cochlea.

Can you see where we're going with this?

If the White Masking gene blocks the production of all pigment in a cat's body...then that melanin isn't going to be there.

No melanin means no ion balance. No ion balance means no sound transmission. No sound transmission means complete deafness.




Oh by the way, our Maxwell’s deafness isn’t caused by that. He’s got plenty of melanin in his ears!  His blue eyes are caused by the albino gene, and while that does turn off pigment in select areas of the coat and eyes, it leaves the melanin in the ears untouched.

(If you’d like to find out what caused Maxie’s deafness, you can read about it in last year’s Less Adoptable series post on deaf cats here.)

So there you have it: Star Trek - the reason white cats are deaf.

We sincerely apologize for our Mommy. She is SUCH a geek.


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sources:
Washington State University Animal Sciences' paper on melanin and ion balance

Pleiotropy: University of Richmond

Less Adoptable: Cats with Feline Leukemia (FeLV)

This post is #14 in a series. You can read post #13 at Sebastian The Sensitive Soul's blog.
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Where do I begin? With Cloudy, I think. As much as this post is about Feline Leukemia (FeLV), it's also about her. Because, truth be told, I fell in love when I saw her.

This is Cloudy.

Cloudy
photo courtesy Mary Montgomery

Cloudy was found in a very busy (dangerous!) part of Kansas City back in June. She was about a month and a half old at the time. Not long after she arrived at Wayside Waifs one of the foster volunteers, Mary Montgomery, saw her… and like me, it was love at first sight. 

Cloudy went home with Mary, and as the days progressed, Mary began to notice that she might be deaf – no surprise, as most blue-eyed white cats (over 70%) are deaf.  So Mary began teaching Cloudy to understand basic sign language, things like "come," "eat," and "no" (how's that last one coming along, Mary? *wink*).  If you'd like to know what it's like to adopt a deaf cat, you can read about it here.

photo courtesy Mary Montgomery

Mary was told when she took Cloudy that she had tested with a "weak positive" for feline leukemia.  But since many kittens receive these antibodies from their mother while nursing, it's hoped that a well-cared for, healthy kitten might be able to clear the virus from her body.

What is feline leukemia, and does it make a cat less adoptable? The answer to the second question is a resounding YES.  FeLV is contagious, so if you are already a cat owner, a FeLV kitty is not for you. Cats can transfer the virus to other cats through bites, mutual grooming and sometimes by sharing litter boxes or feeding dishes. But only to cats; dogs and humans can't catch FeLV.

Feline leukemia is the most common cause of cancer in cats and it can lead to severe immune deficiency, suppressing a cat's ability to fight off an infection on her own.

It's impossible to predict the life expectancy of a FeLV-infected kitty, but most don't live more than two or three years before they come down with an illness they just can't throw off.

The best thing you can do is stack the deck in their favor:  Feed them the absolute best diet you can. Avoid giving them uncooked food or unpasteurized dairy to eliminate food-borne bacterial or parasitic infections. Schedule exams at least twice a year, and make sure your vet pays special attention to gums, eyes, skin and lymph nodes. Watch her weight! Weight loss is often the first sign of illness.

photo courtesy Mary Montgomery

It's going to take a very special person to adopt Cloudy. Because, you see, she was retested. And she was unable to fight off the FeLV infection. So her time on this earth is limited. 

Mary and I can't take her because we have cats of our own and it would be criminally irresponsible to expose them to this disease. But there has to be someone out there – someone with a big heart and a lot of love to give. Someone who will do as Mary and I have, take one look at Cloudy and fall madly in love.

When Mary shared Cloudy's story with me, something she said struck home: with cats like these, it's the quality of life not the quantity that counts. Because Cloudy has FeLV, people will pass her by. And they will miss out on an incredible opportunity: to give the priceless gift of love, and understanding, and a home.

The gratification they'll experience, and the love she'll give them in return – beyond measure.

Signing off now. My heart is breaking. Oh please…someone give our precious girl a home so she can die knowing she was loved….

 If not adopt, then would you consider fostering? To give Cloudy the very best possible chance of survival, we're looking for a home with no pets at all...to decrease the chances of Cloudy catching anything from another animal. 

(And if you can't foster or adopt, please...pass the word along! Share it on Facebook, retweet her story, email your friends!)
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Update: you can now contact us at aTonksTail.com 
So if you have any questions about Cloudy or any of the other special needs kitties, or are interesting in adopting...feel free to send us an email! 

Did we mention how clever Cloudy is? Here is her latest trick:

Less Adoptable: Deaf Cats

This post is #6 in a series. To read post #5, go to Sebastian's blog, www. seabasscat.com. 

I'm sometimes asked "what's it like to live with a deaf cat?" My favorite answer comes from another deaf cat owner, who replied, "It's no different, really. I yell 'no!' and he ignores me just like the others do."

We noticed Maxwell was deaf on his first day with us when he failed to react in any way to the vacuum cleaner. As a test, my husband slowly advanced the machine right up to his nose, where he curiously sniffed it and turned away. The vet confirmed it the next day.

Those first months were especially hard on me, as I had to be the 'bad guy,' administering those hated ear drops - two different meds - twice a day. I was also the one who took him to countless vet visits, and ultimately his surgery. I worried this would affect our ability to bond and that he'd associate me with nothing but unpleasantness (I'm so glad that didn't happen!). 

Deaf cats fall squarely under “less adoptable.” But why?

I think in part it's a concern over excessive medical bills. But deafness isn't a disease; it's a physiological condition and, unless complicated by infection, should not require medical care. In Maxie's case, one ear is malformed and his eardrum is hanging partially attached and as thin as tissue paper. Nothing we can do about it – he was born that way.

Another reason might be fear of the unknown or discomfort around an animal that is 'different.' Perhaps they fear such a pet would be less responsive, but that's not the case. With the loss of one sense, the others become more highly developed. 

Max doesn't really have a meow - he never could hear to develop one. But he is exceptionally perceptive, the first to notice you when you come in the room. And he's very tactile as well, the only cat of our three who uses his paws to open, lift or carry (he'll venture down into the basement to choose a trinket off my husband's workbench, carry it in his mouth up to our bathtub, and then drop it, just for the joy of watching it careen off the sides!)

How does one treat a deaf cat? The answer: same as any other – with a few very important exceptions.

First and foremost, a deaf cat should never be let outside. With one of their most important defense mechanisms gone, deaf cats are at greater risk.

Second, a deaf cat is easily startled. So when you approach – especially when sleeping – be sure to create a vibration by tapping on a surface or create motion by sitting a short distance away on a sofa or bed. Such movement will give him fair warning that someone is near. 

Third, never hit a deaf cat (not even a light bop on the nose in reprimand). Since they can't hear, they can't distinguish between a stern tone of voice and a loving one. All they will come to know is that human hands hit cats, so they'll associate them with painful, unpleasant things. Instead, use hand signals or facial expressions to reinforce your training.

One thing I noticed almost immediately with Maxwell was that he was a bit clumsy. Perhaps it was due to ear infection but his balance was not good, so he didn't exhibit the natural grace we associate with a cat. (Nor did he leap up onto counters or seek high places!)

Max is exceptionally trusting and innocent, and I'm more protective of him than I am our other two. He is such a joy, has so much love to give, that I cannot imagine life without him.

Blog Carnival: Our 'Gotcha' Day, Part 1

(This post is my entry into the BlogPaws Blog Carnival Contest sponsored by BISSELL Homecare, Inc.)

Since I'm oldest, I get to go first. (Before the Brats slime all over the keyboard.)

dramatic pause 

I chose Mother and Daddy out of simply tons of potential families --

 *HAAAACK*KOFF*  excuuuuuse me, TONS?   *CHOKE*KOFF*

*disdainful sniff* 

Ignore the Furry Slimeball!! (grabs camera with pink toenails) I'm over HERE... (pats fur, smiles at camera)

There, that's better, now where was I...

oh yes! ...out of simply tons of potential adoring families, when they arrived at my Alma Mater, Wayside Waifs.

You see, Mother wanted to find out if they were participating in this wonderful promotion that Hallmark, Petfinder and CBS had created in conjunction with their 2009 Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, called "Foster a Lonely Pet for the Holidays."

Of course, the hope was that if they got people to foster a pet, it would become love at first sight, and the fostering would become permanent....

(BRILLIANT, simply BRILLIANT! Okay, so Mother works for Hallmark and I might be a teensy bit prejudiced... *giggle!*) But I digress.

So there I was, wandering the aisles, sizing up potential humans, when they walked in. Mother was nice and all, but I immediately realized Daddy was The Perfect Candidate for my pink-nailed manipula-- err, that is to say, I could see immediately that I would be his Daddy's Girl. (was I right or what?)

They signed up for the Foster a Lonely Pet program, but I knew I had this family in the bag.

And the rest, as they say, is history.... *dreamy eyes*

uhhhhhh.... My turn? *taps microphone with paw* is this thing on?

*eyeroll* MAXIE! Just talk!

 uh, yeah, well... 

Um, I found Momma a few weeks after she lost Ryker. Papa told her one day that she had been crying herself to sleep for too many nights and her arms were empty. She needed a baby boy again. 

That very next day, a nice lady from Siamese Rescue called her an' told her they had the perfect boy for her. (That'd be me, just in case you were wondering.) 

Momma didn't think she was ready and told the lady she had her doubts but she'd come out the next day anyways.

Here's the picture they took the first time she met me. She just started crying and crying. (I got kinda wet cuz she's a sloppy cryer yanno)

That first night, I slept right next to her, exactly like Ryker used to do. And I've never slept there since. (I had to let her know I could feel her pain, and that was my way of telling her...)

The next day they had to take me to the emergency vet cuz I had kennel cough. They found out I was totally deaf, but that was okay they said, cuz they were gonna love me no matter what. (of course, I had to lip-read at the time...)

Five months of ear treatments and a surgery later and I can hear - sorta. 

Enough to hear Momma tell me she loves her baby boy. 

*sigh* That's music to my ears....

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Mommy sez we'll tell Ryker's and my "gotcha" stories next time - 

it'll be the Tonk-a-thon Post! Woooo