Deaf Cat Realizes His Mom Is Home, and the Sound He Makes Is Melting Hearts

In a lot of ways, raising a deaf cat is similar to raising any other cat... with a few adjustments, of course. You can't call for them to come, but they can still meow at you to let you know they're happy - and don't think they're going to forget about meal time, either. They'll show up next to that bowl regardless.

Being deaf also means that they can't hear their humans' footsteps when they're approaching, so they might be a little surprised when their mom or dad enters the room. But where Otter the black cat is concerned, that's the most pleasant surprise ever.

@iamgooseontheloose

otter's genuine excitement when he sees me will forever be one of my favorite things #catsoftiktok#tiktokcats#rescuecats#deafcat#fyp

original sound - goose, otter & lettuce

Since he's deaf, Otter had no clue that his mom was around... but as soon as he saw her, he wasted no time giving her the cutest, most joyful meow.

"Soulmated so hard that this is my deaf cat's reaction when he isn't expecting me to walk in the room," she wrote in the video, adding how much she adores his "genuine excitement" in her caption.

Side note: After I read several comments that other people's cats came running when they heard Otter's trill, I played the video again, but louder, and in fact did manage to summon both of my cats who were very curious about the friend living inside my computer.

Otter is just spreading the joy to cats everywhere!

Related: Deaf Cat's Adorable 'Pokémon Greeting Ritual' for Mom Is Melting Hearts

How Deaf Pets Communicate With Humans

Deafness is certainly a unique challenge for pets like Otter and their humans, but just like he did, they all do find a way to communicate with each other.

Since giving a deaf pet a verbal cue (obviously) isn't going to work, what do these parents do? According to Best Friends Animal Society, the best way to communicate with the pet will vary a bit between dogs and cats.

If the pet in question is a dog who is deaf, some are able to learn American Sign Language (ASL) since dogs are good at reading body language and hand signals to begin with. If you're trying to get their attention, you'd want to stomp your foot on the floor or do something else that would create vibrations that would reach them or even use a flashlight to signal to them.

Creating vibrations and using items like flashlights and even overhead lights can also be used to signal to a deaf cat, but you'll just need to make sure you're consistent in your communication so they understand what you're trying to tell them. And of course, I've never met any cat who would say no to extra gentle pets.

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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 1:34 PM.