Adopt a Less Adoptable Pet Week with Al

 

Al here today to talk about adopting less adoptable pets. I should know something about this cuz I am deaf. Most white blue eyed cats like me are deaf. Or if they have one blue eye and one other color eye - the blue side is deaf. It's a genetic thing. Mom knew that as soon as she set eyes on me, sitting by the road as a tiny kitten. She thinks someone threw me out of a car cuz I was all scratched up and bruised. One look at me and she knew I was deaf.

I am like any other cat but you have to be aware of my special needs. I can't go outdoors - it would be too dangerous since I can't hear cars, dogs and other things that could hurt me. Mom calls me by stomping her foot on the floor - I feel the vibrations. Or she waves to get my attention and tells me to come with hand signals. When I sleep she very gently wakes me up by blowing on my fur. Otherwise I get defensive when I wake up suddenly cuz I can't hear you coming. My Mom is hearing impaired so she understands me.

I do have some problems but they are particular to me. I like to be with my humans but not with other cats. Mom thinks I was taken from my cat mom too soon and never learned how to behave with other cats. I am very smart too and can figure things out easily. When Mom hides treats for me to find, my hearing cat brothers and sisters run all over and don't find them. I sniff the treats out and find them all! More for me I say!

I want to tell you about another less adoptable cat who needs a home or even a foster home. Her name is Cobbie and she is a tiny black and white kitten living at a vet in SC. She has FIV and no one wants her even tho she can live a long healthy life. One of my cat sisters is FIV and is 13 years old - read her story here.

Cobbie must find a place to go soon as the vet can't keep her. He needs room for sick and injured animals and has no place for Cobbie long term. We are trying to save her from being put to sleep so do consider taking her in, helping us find a no-kill shelter or foster home or at least passing the word to others. Isn't she adorable? Leave Mom a comment or email her if you have some ideas!

Cobbie on her bed!

Now it is time for me to get back to my nap! Have a super weekend! And remember - adopt less adoptable pets and you both win!

Camera Critters

Albert on Wordless Wednesday

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Albert's 5th Gotcha Day!

Welcome one and all to Al's 5th Gotcha Day celebration! We have quite a spread for ya'll - pizza, ham, tiny sandwiches, plus lots of cake and ice cream for dessert! Dig in and have fun!! 

It has been five, sometimes long years, since Mom found Al by the side of the road when he was a tiny kitten. (Read Al's life story.) Life with a deaf cat can be challenging to say the least. Al is a very sweet, cuddly, mischievous and endearing with people but with other cats he can be unpredictable and sometimes mean. Mostly we think the bullying is just him not knowing what is being said when we growl or talk to him. He just doesn't get our verbal messages and plows right in where most cats would head for cover!








He was a tiny guy five years ago that somehow managed to get himself into the darnedest places to nap. Now he is a large handsome mancat with stunning blue eyes. We are very happy to have him in our cat family - Pop especially has a soft spot for big Al. Make sure you scroll down to the end of the post ---Mom is giving away a neat gift for cat lovers!




Take this quizz and find out how much you know about deaf cats......

What’s Your Deaf-Cat IQ?
Test your knowledge about the needs of these special kitties.
By Erika Sorocco of the Cat Channel

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.




Give - away!

To celebrate Albert's special day, Mom is giving away a free year's subscription to Cat Fancy Magazine - all you have to do is so leave a comment telling us that you are interested in the magazine and on Monday October 26 she will randomly pick a winner. Good luck everyone and thanks for stopping by!

Kitten Memories of Al on Caturday

Mom was looking through some old photos and found these of Albert. Al (our soon to be five, blue-eyed deaf cat)has always been very funny about the spots he likes to nap in and finds the most quirky eclectic places to hang out. We had a shop and soup take out restaurant with a full commercial kitchen when he was a kitten. When we were closed he was allowed into the kitchen and we never knew where we would find him - usually sound asleep!









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Al on Caturday

My beloved deaf cat Al - sleeping like an angel. He is usually into all sorts of mischief and commotion but when he sleeps it is precious to behold.

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White Wednesday -- Al's Story

Time for another cat story..this time about Albert, our long hair, white, deaf, blue eyed cat who is 5 this year.

Mom was driving to the hospital to visit an elderly friend when a bit of white caught her eye by the side of the road. She turned around and saw it was a tiny kitten just sitting next to the road. Worrying that he might run out if she approached him, she went home to get her friend Peel (who has lots of cats too). Peel covered one side while Mom came from the other. Little Al just sat there looking curious. Mom scooped him up and carried him to safety.



He was bruised and cut but otherwise OK. She asked all the people nearby if they knew who he was. No one did so she figured with his handicap (Mom is hard of hearing too) he belonged to us. We had just lost two other cats, Big Guy and Clarence, and Mom was very sad. Al helped her be happy again.

We named him Albert after Albert Einstein cuz his fur was all sticking up around his head. Looks like a mad scientist sometimes!



He was a handful inside with the other cats..getting into all sorts of trouble. It was hard to train him since he didn't hear. She tried squirting him with water but he never felt it with his thick coat. She tried distracting him but it didn't deter him much. She even tried time outs in a small dog kennel. He didn't like that but never learned...as soon as he got out he was back doing something naughty.

He loves to knock things off the shelves and counters and watch them fall. Cuz he can't hear, it doesn't scare him when there is a loud crash! He loves to find all sorts of unusual places to sleep. I don't think he spent much time with his brothers and sisters when he was real little cuz he doesn't seem to know how to play and relate to other kitties.



It was all cute when he was small but when he got bigger (all 13 pounds) he became a bully to all the black cats. Mom had to make two separate living quarters for the white cats and then the black ones. Al lives with the white cats and two tabbies. Sometimes he picks on the tabbies now. Mom tried homeopathy and flower remedies to help his aggression but nothing worked. We have tried to find info on living with deaf cats but no luck. If anyone has any insight...please tell Mom.

Mom and Dad love him dearly. Al is Dad's favorite buddy so we will always keep him...unless the perfect home was offered. He really needs to be the only pet in a house I think. But he seems to be happy now except for a bit of bullying every now and then.