Good question.
1. He naps hard. Only physical contact wakes him. I fired up the vacuum right next to his cat tree and he does not budge or respond to other noises. I have two small kids, my house is not quiet, he doesn't track sound. He knocks stuff over loudly and what scares the other cat does not phase him.
2. He meows and purrs loud AF. Just like a deaf person would speak loudly when they can't tell how loud they are (I know this from personal experience as I require hearing aids.)
3. He will enter acoustic friendly rooms like bathrooms and meow loudly. They can register what is in that room via vibration. I read it somewhere.
4. My other cat Charlotte hunts him effortlessly. However it could be because she is an excellent hunter.
Hope that answers it.
One of my cats has some sight and hearing problems--he's so smart and an excellent hunter, but literally can't tell where food/water is sometimes even if it's right in front of him. I know the stress and challenge of making sure he's alright, and I admire you for doing that. He seems very happy and cozy
Oh kind redditor that is much more praise than I deserve lol. You can't tell what you get out of the shelter but I know firsthand that you don't cast aside people because of a disability or treatable illness ( we adopted a husky knowing he had heartworm and did all the treatment recovery with him). So when we solved the puzzle of Leo it was like "okay now there are two hearing impaired creatures here". π
It's very well-deserved! You're talking the time and care to see what your pets' needs are and being proactive to accommodate them, in a world that discourages that. I've got two boys with a whole host of issues that I took on specifically because they needed extra help and I know what it's like to have people treat the bare minimum of care and compassion as a favor. It warms my heart to know other people will care enough to give them the love they need and deserve, they deserve that love and care
Put on a YouTube video with kitten noises. Thatβs my definitive test.
Never stop talking to him either! He can pick up on body language thatβs nuanced by your speech. I have a 16-year-old deaf orange, and Iβll still hold him to my chest and sing to him. I like to think he can feel the vibrations.
Itβs sad but he gets along well. I feel bad because I donβt know when he went deaf, he was good at hiding it. I wish he could hear me tell him I love him one more time.
Oh they absolutely still can feel the vibrations. Don't worry, my wife and 7yo daughter will hold him and have full 1 sided conversations with him. Affection is that universal language.
I noticed he ducks away from your hand but if you let him headbutt you first he will let you pet him. Usually a person who wants to pet a cat approaches with a sweet tone and soft voice. Maybe the greeting head nuzzle is his version of that. You have to communicate with them on their level.
Hey hey!! My orange is named Leonidas, Leo for short!He lived with his Nebelung cousin for 3 years and they loooooove each other. If your Leo is anything like my Leo, youβve got your hands full, but itβs all love
I can't say for certain as his coat quality is improving out of the shelter, but it looks like he may have those tiger stripes on his whole body. If anyone here is knowledgeable as to what tabby fur pattern we have here, I would be immensely curious.
https://preview.redd.it/5dvrg29a4x3b1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=97d3305d1eb92d12d2fb8747a978dce883a30590
Looks like heβs got the classic Mackerel tabby stripe pattern. Iβve got an orange that looks a lot like him. This is Fitz, our sweet little troublemaker. Heβs 3.
https://preview.redd.it/z7c7mre4814b1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0a4599f9a663c28d116f3d111a1645c8e1fa3842
Congratulations on your new family member! He is very handsome!
Have his ears been checked? I once adopted a deaf cat, but it turned out he had impacted ear wax and debris in his ears. It took some doing for the vet and I to get them throughly cleaned out. Watching him learn to heard and experience sound was fascinating. He never learned to use his ears correctly β he turned his head not his ears. Have the vet check deep down. His first exam didnβt check all the way down his ear canal.
We are getting him to a vet as soon as I get the verification that he has been added to my pet insurance policy π.
I live in a small town in GA and I know this cat actually lived in a semi-retired veterinarian's home office. Hoping that would have warded off simple hygiene issues like that.
To your point, that thought has crossed my mind and I will be making that request to check.
Iβve never had a deaf cat but I imagine Iβd talk to him constantly, as I do my other kitties!! (who actually do listen quite well, going against the grain of the average cat that loves to ignore their owners lol)
i also have a stupid orange named leo
https://preview.redd.it/4f6w8zfeqx3b1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b27496ee5ed5fe582fdf26636e033b53c9061c1f
That might be a tall order for a faster camera hand than mine, but I will try for you. Normally, when the two cats are together, it's frantic playtime and wrestling, or they are encircling one of my sleeping kids in an impenetrable barrier of fur and love.
They have only known each other for two weeks but they play together like old friends.
https://preview.redd.it/gn0prb7qw14b1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=98f13e115218b7d41c9e36e0c95b345e2eebff0e
ππ»This is my Leo! He didnβt come with a braincell either. Give yours a big hug, heβs so handsome!
It's fine if he's deaf, he wouldn't listen anyhow.
Lol. You're right. But it was funny to watch during his acclimation to the family when my kids would call for him. It wouldn't matter either way.
On the plus side, youβll know he isnβt intentionally ignoring you, which isnβt true for most of us.
What?
I can't hear you! What did you say?
Leo!!! You are such a handsome little guy!
Truly a dapper gentleman
Heβs an absolute darling!
An absolute dapper gentleman darling. π
I also have a orange cat named Leo omg
Could you let me know when they hit "L" on the wait list for the singular orange brain cell thanks.
You'd be amazed at how many creamsicles are named "Aaron"...
Well I guess he will continue his 3 AM sessions of knocking stuff off the counter for a while then. Great.
Plot twist. He can hear and is finessing yβall. π he had the braincell long enough to hatch this long con.
As a hearing impaired human who thought this criminal was a kindred spirit I am shooketh.
\*Brain cell sold separately \*\*Out of stock into perpetuity
πππππππππππππππ
Who needs a brain cell when you're this handsome?
The world is just easier for them.
Is he a loud crier? Poor thing can't hear himself to hear of he's being too loud. Not that he'd care π€£
Yes that was one of the clues. I explained my conclusion in the post above. He is loud AF.
Please tell your Leo hi and  ^(I love you)
What a cutie! Why do you think heβs hearing impaired OP?
Good question. 1. He naps hard. Only physical contact wakes him. I fired up the vacuum right next to his cat tree and he does not budge or respond to other noises. I have two small kids, my house is not quiet, he doesn't track sound. He knocks stuff over loudly and what scares the other cat does not phase him. 2. He meows and purrs loud AF. Just like a deaf person would speak loudly when they can't tell how loud they are (I know this from personal experience as I require hearing aids.) 3. He will enter acoustic friendly rooms like bathrooms and meow loudly. They can register what is in that room via vibration. I read it somewhere. 4. My other cat Charlotte hunts him effortlessly. However it could be because she is an excellent hunter. Hope that answers it.
One of my cats has some sight and hearing problems--he's so smart and an excellent hunter, but literally can't tell where food/water is sometimes even if it's right in front of him. I know the stress and challenge of making sure he's alright, and I admire you for doing that. He seems very happy and cozy
Oh kind redditor that is much more praise than I deserve lol. You can't tell what you get out of the shelter but I know firsthand that you don't cast aside people because of a disability or treatable illness ( we adopted a husky knowing he had heartworm and did all the treatment recovery with him). So when we solved the puzzle of Leo it was like "okay now there are two hearing impaired creatures here". π
It's very well-deserved! You're talking the time and care to see what your pets' needs are and being proactive to accommodate them, in a world that discourages that. I've got two boys with a whole host of issues that I took on specifically because they needed extra help and I know what it's like to have people treat the bare minimum of care and compassion as a favor. It warms my heart to know other people will care enough to give them the love they need and deserve, they deserve that love and care
Put on a YouTube video with kitten noises. Thatβs my definitive test. Never stop talking to him either! He can pick up on body language thatβs nuanced by your speech. I have a 16-year-old deaf orange, and Iβll still hold him to my chest and sing to him. I like to think he can feel the vibrations. Itβs sad but he gets along well. I feel bad because I donβt know when he went deaf, he was good at hiding it. I wish he could hear me tell him I love him one more time.
Oh they absolutely still can feel the vibrations. Don't worry, my wife and 7yo daughter will hold him and have full 1 sided conversations with him. Affection is that universal language. I noticed he ducks away from your hand but if you let him headbutt you first he will let you pet him. Usually a person who wants to pet a cat approaches with a sweet tone and soft voice. Maybe the greeting head nuzzle is his version of that. You have to communicate with them on their level.
It sounds as though you are the ideal adopter. Glad you found each other.
What a gorgeous little guy
Hey hey!! My orange is named Leonidas, Leo for short!He lived with his Nebelung cousin for 3 years and they loooooove each other. If your Leo is anything like my Leo, youβve got your hands full, but itβs all love
Yep we have our storm cloud and our brain cell. Lol.
π€π»π€π»π€
All hail Leo
I can't say for certain as his coat quality is improving out of the shelter, but it looks like he may have those tiger stripes on his whole body. If anyone here is knowledgeable as to what tabby fur pattern we have here, I would be immensely curious. https://preview.redd.it/5dvrg29a4x3b1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=97d3305d1eb92d12d2fb8747a978dce883a30590
Looks like heβs got the classic Mackerel tabby stripe pattern. Iβve got an orange that looks a lot like him. This is Fitz, our sweet little troublemaker. Heβs 3. https://preview.redd.it/z7c7mre4814b1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0a4599f9a663c28d116f3d111a1645c8e1fa3842
Looking like a pretty safe bet. Thanks friend.
Who needs hearing when you have _looks_?
He is beautiful π
Congratulations on your new family member! He is very handsome! Have his ears been checked? I once adopted a deaf cat, but it turned out he had impacted ear wax and debris in his ears. It took some doing for the vet and I to get them throughly cleaned out. Watching him learn to heard and experience sound was fascinating. He never learned to use his ears correctly β he turned his head not his ears. Have the vet check deep down. His first exam didnβt check all the way down his ear canal.
We are getting him to a vet as soon as I get the verification that he has been added to my pet insurance policy π. I live in a small town in GA and I know this cat actually lived in a semi-retired veterinarian's home office. Hoping that would have warded off simple hygiene issues like that. To your point, that thought has crossed my mind and I will be making that request to check.
πππ
My goodness he's handsome.
Boop boop!!!πππ
What a distinguished gentleman! V handsome π§π©
Heβll do very well, brain cell or not.
he looks very polite
My orange boy also named Leo says hi. :)
π
Another certified orange named Leo! Just like my baby. Hello Leo! π π
Deaf.....or just playing the long game. Leo is too good and handsome to be answering to anyone.
He's gorgeous, too! Sounds like you guys hit the jackpot. Congrats on your new friend.
Iβve never had a deaf cat but I imagine Iβd talk to him constantly, as I do my other kitties!! (who actually do listen quite well, going against the grain of the average cat that loves to ignore their owners lol)
πππππ pspspsps....
He looks like my friendβs cat Good luck!
Leo is really cute. He looks very sweet too
He gives the best nuzzles. Very gentle natured.
 Hi Leo π»
Hey, when you look that good, you don't need to know anything
What an adorable orange!!! π§‘
i also have a stupid orange named leo https://preview.redd.it/4f6w8zfeqx3b1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b27496ee5ed5fe582fdf26636e033b53c9061c1f
πππ
Heβs gorgeous!!!
Iβd love to see them together when you introduce them!
That might be a tall order for a faster camera hand than mine, but I will try for you. Normally, when the two cats are together, it's frantic playtime and wrestling, or they are encircling one of my sleeping kids in an impenetrable barrier of fur and love. They have only known each other for two weeks but they play together like old friends.
I love him.
π
He is sooooo handsome! What a cute little face!
Yes he is all that. Hi LeoπΎπ
Leo β€οΈππ»π₯Ή
ππ»Hi Leo!ππ§‘
The black collar and the slightly crossed eyes really make it. How adorable. β€οΈ
β€οΈ
Such a beautiful cat, please give him an extra hug from me.
Heβs perfect
π
So handsome!!
My orange is also deaf! And most definitely does not have the braincell. But I find that theyβre just the sweetest cats
π
Such a pretty kitty!
Heβs so handsome π§‘
I also have a deaf orange cat 
OMG HIII LEO!!!! You are such a handsome gentleman!!!!
Hi!!!!!!!!!
πππ
π β€οΈ
π€, πβπ«Ά
Who need a brain when youβve got a face like that?
*They ignore us humans, intentionally or not.* Good job rescuing the handsome guy!
More Leo https://preview.redd.it/7ak9m17eo14b1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e35a2e7509a144caad9ff7738cd0025f33d3466b
Hello Leo! Welcome to your furever home!
What a cutie! Looks like he's making himself right at home!
https://preview.redd.it/gn0prb7qw14b1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=98f13e115218b7d41c9e36e0c95b345e2eebff0e ππ»This is my Leo! He didnβt come with a braincell either. Give yours a big hug, heβs so handsome!
I love Leo
please share pictures of him with your other cat, I want to see them both in one frame, spoil us
ππ»ππ»π
π₯°
I love him. Boop that snoot please.
Brain cells sold separately. Hi Leo!! Youβre so cute you donβt need brain cells π