A cat owner has an interesting theory about her feline’s behavior when she’s not wearing her hearing aids. Abigail Vogeler, a recent college grad living in the Fargo-Moorhead area, shared her insights on TikTok, where her video has garnered over 195,000 views.
In the clip, Abigail explains how her cat, Gunther, seems to recognize when she is deaf. “I think he knows when I’m not wearing my hearing aids because he stops meowing and starts using his paws instead,” she said. After taking out her hearing aids for the night, Gunther’s behavior shifts dramatically; he stops vocalizing and gets physical to catch her attention.
@abigailvogeler/TikTok
Abigail noted that Gunther’s actions differ throughout the day: “By night, when my devices are off, he becomes very clingy and climbs onto me, while during the day, he’s more vocal, meowing frequently since I can hear him.” This adaptability isn’t surprising, as cats have developed their meowing behavior primarily for human communication, not among themselves.
Gunther’s clever adjustments have sparked delight online, prompting an array of responses from viewers. One user suggested, “You should have a friend over and take off your hearing aids to test if he meows!” Another commenter humorously stated, “He’s signing,” while others marveled at the intelligence of pets.
As a disability advocate, Vogeler was thrilled to see the engagement with her video. “I shared this experience on TikTok because it’s unique; I don’t know many deaf pet owners. I find it fun and fascinating to see how our pets adapt, and it’s great to read the comments from others with similar experiences,” she shared.