What?s Your Deaf-Cat IQ?

Test your knowledge about the needs of these special kitties.

Owners of deaf cats need to put in a little extra time and provide some special care for their feline companions. Take this quiz to find out how much you know about deaf cats, and the simple ways that help you and kitty adjust to the handicap.

1. When approaching a deaf cat, you should:
     a. Sneak up behind her
     b. Pat her lightly
     c. Approach her from the front
     d. Run toward her

2. Cats most prone to deafness are:
     a. Tabbies with green eyes
    b. Black and white with yellow eyes
      c. Persians with blue eyes
      d. White with blue eyes

3.  The best way to keep track of a deaf cat is by:
      a. Keeping her on a leash
      b. Confining her to one room
    c. Putting a bell on her collar
    d. Following her wherever she goes

4.  The most effective way to train a deaf cat is by using:
      a. Toys
    b. Affection
    c. Treats
      d. Anger

5.  When playing with a deaf cat, the best toys are:
      a. Feathers
      b. Laser pointers
    c. String
    d. Balls

6.  Deaf cats use which one of their senses the most?
      a. Smell
      b. Taste
      c. Touch
      d. Sight

7.   What type of test would have to be conducted to see whether a cat is deaf or not?
      a. FIV
      b. ELISA test
      c. BAER test
      d. FeLV

8.   When introducing a deaf cat to children you should:
      a. Allow the children to grab the cat roughly
      b. Inform the children of the cat’s situation
      c. Leave the children alone with the cat
      d. Let the children tease the cat

9.   A deaf cat that is suddenly awakened may:
       a. Purr
       b. Lick your hand
       c. Meow
       d. Bite or hiss

10. Cats who are deaf:
       a. Should be put to sleep
       b. Lead miserable lives
       c. Can lead happy, healthy, normal lives
       d. Are mistreated

11. The best way to awaken a deaf cat that is sleeping is by:
       a. Tapping a wall or stomping your feet
       b. Petting her
       c.  Blowing on her fur
       d. Picking her up

12. When interacting with other animals, a deaf cat should:
       a. Be left unsupervised
       b. Not be allowed to interact with other animals
       c.  Be supervised
       d.  Interact only with other cats

13. A deaf cat should:
       a. Be allowed to live outdoors
       b. Be kept indoors at all times
       c. Be confined to one room
       d. Be allowed to roam wherever they please

14. What emotion is often mistaken for aggression in deaf cats?
       a. Fear
       b. Jealousy
       c. Stress
       d. Guilt

15. Training a deaf cat is:
       a. Impossible
       b. Difficult
       c. Possible depending on the circumstances
       d. Simple with a little dedication and repetition

16. Separation anxiety is higher in deaf cats.
       a. Maybe
       b. It depends on the cat
       c. Not at all
       d. Absolutely

17. Informal sign language:
       a. Can be learned by deaf cats
       b. Is only useful to deaf humans
       c. Can’t be learned by deaf cats
       d. Doesn’t work for cats

18. Working with a deaf cat is:
       a. Easy
       b. Challenging
       c. In-between
       d. Hard

19. Deafness:
       a. Only occurs in white cats with blue eyes
       b. Can happen to any cat at any age
       c. Is caused by old age
       d. Only occurs in female cats

20. Deaf cats are:
       a. Louder than hearing cats
       b. Quieter than hearing cats
       c. Completely silent
       d. More talkative than hearing cats

Answer Key
1. C
2. D
3. C
4. C
5. B
6. A
7. C
8. B
9. D
10. C
11. A
12. C
13. B
14. A
15. D
16. C
17. A
18. B
19. B
20. A

If you scored:

1-5 Points - Good job. Keep on studying. Don’t despair, simply pick up a few books and fill your mind with every deaf-cat fact you can find!

5-10 Points - Congrats! You’re almost there!

11-15 Points - Give yourself a pat on the back – You’re on your way to becoming a deaf-cat expert.

16-20 Points - You’re the cats meow! There’s no question about it, when it comes to deaf cats, you know it all!

Erika Sorocco is a freelance writer living in Southern California . Her work has appeared in numerous publications both nationally and internationally.

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What?s Your Deaf-Cat IQ?

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Reader Comments

Alexa Minneapolis, MN

6/26/2009 9:17:34 PM

I have a boy deaf kitten and I'm working on to have my other kitten to get along with him. She's very aggressive toward the deaf kitten because he couldn't hear her hissing/growling so she thought he's changelling her. It's very difficult but I'm trying! He's so wonderful and is the sweetest cat I've ever seen. I'm so lucky to have him and I am deaf too.

Marty Birch Bay, WA

6/26/2009 12:50:24 PM

i found her "abandoned" in the backyard when i moved there;took time to win her affection and learned she is deaf just like me. yes i am deaf and hard of hearing;my God works in mysterious ways! She is a soft white hair/blue-eyed named "fencetop" right where i found her. On top of a fence. I am lucky.

Jan Lady Lake, FL

6/14/2009 5:34:46 PM

Very helpful. I have just realized my 6 week old
kitten is deaf. I have alot of work ahead of me.
This quiz was benificial. He is doing very well
with an older cat and a lab dog. He was born
deaf and very independent. I have to learn how
to keep track of him. He is very talkative and makes me understand when he is hungry.

Cheryl Fairview, NC

3/31/2009 2:52:23 PM

Interesting article. I have white blue eyed deaf cat who is very aggressive with other cats. He does best witht he other white cats but not with dark color cats. He is challenging but we love him and will always keep him.