Loving and Living With Hearing-Impaired Cats-A Guest Blog By Heather Kalinowski of Trupanion Insurance

Heather Kalinowski is a pet lover and new mom who spends her days helping other pet owners protect their pets with dog and cat insurance. Trupanion offers 90% coverage for diagnostic tests, surgeries, and medications if a pet becomes sick or injured.

Just like people or other pets, cats can be born deaf or can lose their hearing due to chronic ear infections, ear mites, injuries, or from genetics. Deafness due to aging is called presbycusis and is the most common type of hearing loss in cats.   While hearing loss due to aging or genetics cannot be prevented, there are opportunities to lesson your cat’s chance of losing their hearing from other causes.

Manny, a deaf cat who lives at The Family Pet Hospital in 
Ashland, MA. 

It’s important to keep an eye on your cat’s ears for any signs of an issue -  black ear canals, reddened ear canals or yellow discharge are big warning signs. The inside of the ear should always be a pinkish color. Get regular checkups by a veterinarian to make sure infection and ear mites aren’t hanging around and stay away from “self-help” products as they could lead to more damage to the ear if administered inappropriately.

Trying to decipher true hearing loss can be tough because animals sometimes sense you’re there even if they cannot hear you. Owners should take notice after their cats do not respond to outside noises, become disoriented, or aren’t aware of your presence until you physically interact with them. It can also be a warning sign if the pet is difficult to wake up or has an “unbalanced” walk.

If you are concerned your pet may be deaf, it’s important to take them to a veterinarian to find out the extent of the problem and if the problem is caused by an underlying issue that needs to be treated. But if you find out that your cat is deaf, and will live out the rest of his life in silence, his life can still be as amazing and fulfilling as it would have been without hearing loss. It just takes a little extra effort to keep them safe and sound.

Manny, a deaf cat who lives at The Family Pet Hospital in 
Ashland, MA. 

Keeping a deaf cat inside is the best way to protect them. Hearing-impaired cats will not be able to hear outside predators or oncoming traffic. Keeping a bell attached to their collar is also helpful so if your pet does venture outside the home, you can hear where they are at all times. And be sure to always make vibrations when approaching your cat. Startling them could ruin the relationship and cause anxiety.

Deafness cannot be treated, but your cats will be able to adapt and compensate for their life’s change. With a few extra precautions and understanding, living with a deaf pet can be just as – or even more! – rewarding than living with a hearing pet. Read real stories about living with deaf cats here.

Do you have experience with a deaf pet? What is your best tip on interacting with a deaf animal?

Lyme Disease And Cats-Guest Blog By Heather Reynolds Of Trupanion

 Heather Reynolds is a pet lover and internet journalist at Trupanion, North America’s fastest growing pet insurance company. Trupanion offers a simple, customizable pet insurance policy with no payout limits and 90% coverage of veterinary bills. Enrolled pets receive lifetime coverage for diagnostic tests, surgeries, and medications if they get sick or are injured, with no incident, annual or lifetime limit.

April is Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month and while it’s true that Lyme disease affects dogs more than cats, it certainly does not mean that cats are immune. It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease in cats so you can do your best to prevent or treat it in your beloved feline.

Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of an infected deer tick. These ticks are more commonly found in the spring and summer months, so now is the perfect time to get educated, especially if you have a cat that spends time outdoors.

The most common signs and symptoms of Lyme disease in cats include:

• ·         Walking stiffly, possibly with an arched back
• ·         Sensitivity to touch
• ·         Difficulty breathing
• ·         Fever
• ·         Lack of appetite
• ·         Depression
• ·         Swollen lymph nodes

An infected tick must be attached to the pet for at least 18 hours before transmission of the disease occurs. So, as long as ticks are found immediately and disposed of, the cat should be in no danger. However, cats are notorious for not showing symptoms, even if they are infected. If you know your cat has been bitten by a tick and you suspect the tick was there for quite a while, it’s beneficial to take your cat to the veterinarian regardless of symptoms.

When it comes to Lyme disease, prevention is key. Here are a few tips:

• ·         Administer tick preventative regularly. Products such as the Preventic collar, Advantix, Frontline, and Revolution will either kill the tick or cause it to drop off the pet before it causes damage.
• ·         Cut or mow grassy or overgrown areas regularly to prevent an infestation.
• ·         Closely examine your cat after he or she has spend time outdoors to detect embedded ticks.
• ·         Safely remove ticks if found. Place fine-point tweezers around the tick as close to the pet’s skin as possible, and gently pull until the tick detaches. Disinfect the bite site and the tweezers after removal. Place the tick into a small container for later examination by a professional.

Treatment for Lyme disease can be quite expensive, depending on the severity of the case. Trupanion covers this treatment as long as all preventative care advised by the cat’s veterinarian was followed and the first signs and symptoms did not appear prior to the cat’s full policy coverage.