Deaf cat; how to reassure at night?

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Elizabeth and Bertie

Elizabeth and Bertie

Member Since 2010
My deaf foster kitty, Elliot, has started crying a lot at night, and I'm really not sure how to help him feel more settled. I think this is a behaviour problem rather than a physical health problem.

When Elliot first arrived here in early November he was put in our little spare room. He was weak and emaciated, and he hardly moved except to stagger from his basket to the water bowl and litter tray (he has CRF and drinks/pees a lot). But he's much stronger and more mobile now so he's been given access to the rest of the house during the day. However he is still shut in his room at night. That's because I only let him share space with the other cats if I can keep an eye on them all (there have been a few squabbles...) And I think it's fair that the resident cats have their own space back for some of the time.

Initially Elliot didn't mind being shut in his room at night. But recently, he's started crying at night. He seems to want company. I'm concerned for him (because he seems unhappy), but it's also making it hard for me to sleep because my bed is on the other side of the wall...

At first he just had one episode of crying during the night, usually around 4am. And I'd get up and spend a little time with him and give him some fresh food: And he seemed reassured by that and settled down again.
But in the last few nights he's had around 4 -5 episodes of crying and scratching at the door. I'm still only getting up once to spend time with him. I can't have him expect that I will come running every time he cries...

There is a soft low light on in the room so it's not completely dark. And there are toys for him, but he tends not to play on his own. There is a Feliway plug-in in the room. And I've just started him on Zylkene (calming capsules). The door to the room is glass so he can see out.

DH says I should just ignore Elliot's cries, and that he will "get used to being in there". But DH is a very sound sleeper, and I'm not. And anyway I don't want Elliot to be unhappy...

Does anyone have any suggestions....?

Thanks,

Eliz
 
Mullet did that in the last few months, and the thinking was "night howls" - a symptom of hyper-T. Usually just hollering his name caused him to stop. It was like just knowing he was heard was enough to stop it. That wouldn't work in your case if he is deaf.

Radical idea, but since you are right "next door".... If it is because he's lonely, maybe a " pet door" between your room and his, so he could patrol a larger area and see that "the beans are still here"?
 
Carl & Polly & Bob (GA) said:
If it is because he's lonely, maybe a " pet door" between your room and his, so he could patrol a larger area and see that "the beans are still here"?
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Interesting idea, Carl; I'm liking the lateral thinking there!
But access to where the beans sleep would mean access to the rest of the house, since the kitties have free rein...

Thanks, though :)
 
Larry and Kitties said:
Deaj cats can still "hear" vibrations. DO y have an device that would emit vibrations that Elliot can "hear"?
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You're right, Larry, Elliot certainly does seem to 'hear' certain vibrations. When he's upstairs he can 'feel' if the front door (downstairs) opens or closes, but he can't hear a thing if you clap your hands next to his head....

Before I knew he was deaf I had a radio in the room for him so he could hear human voices (and soothing classical music...).
What sort of thing do you think would emit vibrations that he might be able to 'hear'?
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Rule out medical issues 1st, like the Hyperthyroidism and Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (kitty Alzheimers).
You might try 15-20 minutes of very active play an hour or two before bed to see if fatigue results in less crying.
After you rule out medical issues, remember that positive reinforcement encourages behavior ... so getting up and spending time is rewarding the behavior.
Intermittent positive reinforcement, where you respond some of the time, results in the most difficult behavior to stop.
When/if you stop responding, you can expect an increase in the behavior for a period before it begins to calm down.
 
you might look around for products like a heartbeat pillow.... http://www.amazon.com/Snuggle-Pet-P...d=1424625061&sr=8-4&keywords=heartbeat+pillow

I don't know if they make one that continues all night.....
you'll have to hunt....

most are sounds, not vibrations.....

you might also try giving him some of your pajamas' ( after you've worn them) , or if he likes one of your other pets, something they have slept on.....
that might make him feel less alone.....


and thirdly, how about a kitty heating pad ( bed) , maybe the warmth would keep him on it......
 
Could he sleep in with you with the door closed? Remi is almost deaf and he marches around the house shouting to find out where we are, as soon as he realises which room we are in he comes and settles with us.
 
Thanks so much for your thoughtful suggestions, folks :bighug:

BJ, Elliot had a geriatric blood panel done in mid November and his thyroid was normal at that point. As to CDS, I guess it’s possible, but his behaviour is only like this at night; through the rest of the day there are no signs of CDS. He actually seems much brighter in himself now (was really ‘spaced out’ for the first couple of months; a symptom that the vets couldn't explain).

Rhiannon, I’m really interested in that clock idea… We have a clock in the attic that came from an aunt’s house; it’s the old fashioned mechanical/wind-up type and almost certainly has a vibration to it…. Am going to search for that.
Elliot does have a heat mat in the room, but chooses not to use it for some reason….

Sarah, thanks for the suggestion, and it would be fine for Elliot to sleep in the room……if there weren’t already three other kitties on the bed! The three resident geriatrics, Bertie, Jones and Sophie sleep on the bed every night. There’s almost no room to move (but fortunately DH is going away on a business trip soon. Woohoo! There’ll be room to stretch out for a few days! :joyful:)

Thanks again, folks. Much appreciated. Your ideas have really got me thinking....:)
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well ....

you could always get him a kitten......


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Do you have a heat/air unit that comes on more often during the night that might be waking him? Anything that touches the floor and makes any noise will cause a vibration. Being deaf, his world is vibrations and sight. He can feel the music if you attach a speaker to the radio and turn it face down on the floor. He's likely getting more comfortable with the whole situation and now starting to be himself more...and feels comfortable letting his 'wishes' be known. :)
 
Squeaky and KT said:
He's likely getting more comfortable with the whole situation and now starting to be himself more...and feels comfortable letting his 'wishes' be known. :)
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Lyresa, I think you are absolutely right that this could be what is happening.
He was such a shy creature when he was new here and was feeling poorly, but now he's stronger and more confident his personality is beginning to express itself more.

Regarding noises/vibrations in the room during the night, I can't think of anything that would cause that (that is, unless DH has had a hot curry the evening before, in which case even our neighbours may wonder why their houses are shaking in the wee small hours... :woot: )
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rhiannon and shadow said:
well ....

you could always get him a kitten......
smiley_floorLaugh-2.gif
Click to expand...
Actually, Rhiannon.... You might have something there....

After I'd stopped laughing at your suggestion I did wonder whether it might actually be possible to put Elliot in the living room at night with the two 8-month old kittens.... And I've been watching him and them today and trying to work out whether they'd be OK left alone together....
The kittens have each other to play with so they don't bother the oldies much. And Elliot isn't as stroppy with the kittens as he is with the oldies, he doesn't seem to see them as a threat. And maybe he wouldn't feel so alone with them around.... Will have to give it a bit more thought but it could be a distinct possiblity, methinks....;)
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So glad you have had some helpful responses, Eliz... i do hope one of them might be the solution. I'm far from an expert but it may be that Elliott just needs reassurance and company - let's hope it is as straightforward as that and you can work out a way to give him that. You've done so phenomenally well with him thus far.

As for Chris going away soon - let me know when and I'll pop over!

Big reassuring/encouraging hugs, as ever
Diana x x
 
I had a roommate a few years back who had a cat that would do this nonsense... He worked nights so the cat would sit outside my door yelling and pawing at the door ALL NIGHT LONG. I eventually had to lock him in the basement to keep him away from my room so I could sleep! Interested to hear what works for you on this...
 
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