| Mammary tumors are fairly common in older female | | | | because if your cat does not hear someone |
| cats, especially those who have experienced one or | | | | approaching, she may be startled and respond |
| more heat cycles or who have had kittens. Some | | | | reflexively with a swat or bite. Give her the benefit of |
| feline mammary tumors are benign, but unfortunately, | | | | the doubt, especially if the nasty behavior is new. |
| the majority of tumors are cancerous. | | | | Try to determine whether she can hear, or talk to your |
| Surgical removal, sometimes followed by additional | | | | vet. Hearing loss due to aging is usually permanent. |
| therapy, is successful in certain cases. If your cat is | | | | You cannot but your cat a hearing aid, but you can do |
| female and has not been spayed, or if she was | | | | a few simple things to make life easier for both of you. |
| spayed after coming into heat or bearing kittens, your | | | | Even if she cannot hear voices or the whir of the can |
| vet should examine her mammary glands as part of | | | | opener, she may hear sharp sounds or sense |
| her regular checkup. | | | | vibrations. Try clapping your hands, stomping on the |
| Many older cats lose some or all of their hearing, but if | | | | floor, or tapping gently on the chair where she is |
| you have other pets, your hard of hearing cat may | | | | lounging. |
| fool you by using visual clues from the rest of the | | | | Visual signals are also effective with many deaf cats. |
| family. Our cat Mary was completely deaf before we | | | | Try moving into her field of vision or flashing a light to |
| realized that she has lost her hearing; I discovered it | | | | get her attention. Lack of hearing puts your cat at |
| when we were in a room alone without the other | | | | serious risk outdoors, so keep her inside where she is |
| animals. | | | | safe. |
| Loss of hearing also may be mistaken for aggression, | | | | |