Cat’s have a heightened sensitivity to sounds, so it’s important to help keep their ears protected!
Animals, and in this case cats, have heightened senses compared to their human counterparts. Cats have a remarkable sense of hearing that is a similar range to humans, but cats can hear many higher-pitched sounds that go undetected by humans. At the end of the day, cats can hear more on both ends of the spectrum than humans, and even have a wider range than dogs.
Are you protecting your cat’s ears? The Vet Set in Carroll Gardens understands that healthy cats have healthy hearing. Learn more about your cat’s hearing in today’s post.
Hearing Concerns For Cats
Cats have perky little ears that have evolved for them to hear a wide variety of noises. Their ears are uniquely shaped to catch sounds straight into the ear canal to better hunt a mouse that’s stirring in bushes or for high pitched noises that can alert them to danger.
In the wild, cats didn’t necessarily have to worry about their hearing because they adapted to the different sounds, but now domesticated cats are subjected to a myriad of human-made sounds that may compromise their hearing.
We know that repeated exposure to high-pitch sounds causes hearing loss in humans, and it’s possible that cats too can lose hearing and become deaf from the same source.
What Are The Symptoms Of Hearing Loss In Cats?
While recognizing that your cat may have hearing loss may be a no-brainer, yet sometimes it can be hard to tell if they’re beginning to lose their sense of hearing.
Unresponsiveness – If you’ve noticed that your cat is unresponsive to your presence unless they’re touched or to loud noises, they may be losing their hearing.
Reddened ear canals – Chronically red ear canals can be related to hearing loss and may signify other health issues related to their ears.
Discharge – If your cat has a yellow or black discharge from their ears, this could also implicate hearing loss and/or an infection.
The most obvious signs to a cat owner is a change of behavior in their cat such as disorientation or even loud cries because they don’t know if anyone is around them or in the same room.
How To Protect Your Cat’s Hearing
The best thing you can do as a cat owner is to read your cat’s body language. If there is loud music or loud outdoor noise and your cat looks physically distressed, take that as a clue to turn down the volume or to close a window or door.
And while loud noises may be out of your control, you can always talk to your vet about safe earplugs for cats or if Mutt Muffs would be a good option for those who are regularly exposed to loud noises.
Get A Hearing Assessment From The Vet Set
Are you wondering about your cat’s hearing? Know for sure if they have hearing loss or if they’re going deaf with a wellness appointment at The Vet Set.
Connect with our Carroll Gardens vet clinic today!