I think my cat has gone deaf

[nona suomy]

He's about 17 so I know it's probably his age but is this common and is it serious?

[sft42]

At 17 he's had a VERY good innings as i believe from a freind who used to breed them that 12 to 14 is the average, and she also said that deafness in older cats isn't uncommon and if your puss isn't in any distress over it and as long as it has been gradual and not a very sudden thing then not to be greatly worried.

[treaclefight]

i'm not a vet, but practical experience of one of my cats losing his hearing (aged 8) taught me that it seriously affects their judgement, particularly when it comes to crossing roads (dont worry my cat didnt get run over, someone came to the house to tell me my cat had taken to sleeping on nice warm tarmac and he was causing traffic jams) and we were forever falling over him because he lost his ability to know when he should get out of the way. in many ways he was a happier cat, it was like everything he'd ever worried about was invisible all of a sudden, he lived to ripe old age, but then we didnt let him leave the house on his own because he would have got run over. so in answer to your question, it is quite common and although it's serious because you have to take account of his lack of awareness for him, he can still live a very happy life and will cope very well with all the eating and sleeping business that cats want to do. :-)

[docklands77]

so, you've got a deaf pussy? that could be serious....

[nona suomy]

Yep, can't hear a dickie but it's purring nicely... This has gone very awry!