What this means
Cats hear very well but do not always obey what they hear, so ignoring your voice means little by itself. It is more telling whether your cat startles or turns at a loud sound it cannot see, such as a tin being opened or a door banging in another room, whether it wakes at noise, and whether its ears swivel towards sounds.
A cat that cannot hear sometimes meows unusually loudly because it cannot hear its own voice. It may startle when touched unexpectedly because it did not notice anyone coming. Hearing loss can be present from birth, in which case it shows in a kitten, or it can appear later. Some hearing loss is inherited and is seen in some white cats, especially blue-eyed ones. Whether a cat is deaf or merely ignoring you cannot be told from its coat colour: a vet decides.
A deaf cat can live well: it feels vibrations through the floor and sees movement well. Approach it from the front and let it notice you gently before touching it. Outdoors it will not hear an approaching car or dog, so it is safest at home or in an enclosed space. A long-lasting or sudden ear problem should always be examined by a vet.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your cat.
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Inherited deafness present from birth
The inner ear may form improperly or stop working in the first weeks of life. It can affect one or both ears, and the kitten does not react to sounds.
About the condition: Hereditary deafness -
Hearing that fades with age
In older cats hearing can slowly decline. They no longer wake to noise and stop reacting to familiar sounds.
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Inflammation or blockage of the ear canal
When the ear canal is inflamed or blocked by discharge, wax or a foreign object, sound reaches the ear less well. Discharge, redness or an unpleasant smell are often seen.
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Disease of the middle or inner ear
When inflammation or another disease reaches the deeper parts of the ear, hearing and balance can suffer. A cat may tilt its head or walk in circles.
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An injury to the head or ear
A blow to the head or ear can damage parts of the ear. The change in hearing may appear at once or after a few days.
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Something toxic or damage after an illness
If something toxic has got into the body, or after a serious illness, hearing can be harmed. A vet will judge whether this could have happened.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Whether your cat startles or turns at a loud sound behind its back
- Whether it wakes at noise
- Whether its ears swivel towards sounds
- Whether it has started meowing unusually loudly
- Whether it startles when touched unexpectedly
- Whether the ears show discharge, smell or redness, or your cat shakes its head
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if you suspect your kitten or cat cannot hear, so a vet can examine its ears and check its hearing. If hearing was lost suddenly or balance is affected, see a vet the same day.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
Body systems: Ears and hearing