Silent Kitten

Question
Hi Ali!  My husband and I have been fostering kittens for our local humane society.  We are fostering our second set: a mother and six kittens.  We've had them since they were one week old and now they are eight weeks old, healthy, and will be going up for adoption.  I have a question regarding one of the kittens.  He has not made a single sound in all of the time he has been with us.  He doesn't meow, purr, or make any playful sounds like the other kittens.  In fact, this afternoon, when I was closing the refrigerator, I didn't see him, and he was hit by the door (He's fine!), but he didn't make a sound.  He just ran to the other side of the room. He is just as active as the other kittens and we call him our Ninja because he has some pretty fancy moves.   Is it unusual for a kitten to be totally silent?

Answer
Karen,

So long as this silent issue has been brought to the attention of veterinary staff and they haven't found any reason for this little one to be so quiet (growths, infections, etc) then I seen no need to worry. I can't help but wondering if your little Ninja might be deaf...That would certainly explain the silence on his part, because it is logical that a kitten who can't hear cat sounds wouldn't make any. I would recommend that you speak with veterinary staff to see if they are prepared to take the time to test Ninja's hearing. It is worthwhile noting in his adoption information that he may be deaf as deaf cats can be more reactive than hearing cats if they are startled. Other than the health issues that I have mentioned I don't have much of an explanation. It may be a simple quirk as cats vary in personality just like humans do, it is possible that this little guy is fully capable of making sounds, but he may be choosing to be quiet. Who knows? It could be that Ninja has his quirks and is stealth and silent just like his name would imply! It is nice to talk to a fellow cat lover who is trying to make a difference. Keep up the good work and even though I say it every chance I get, keep educating folks about the importance of spaying and neutering. Hopefully some day we won't have to wave our arms and shout so loudly about the benefits of spaying and neutering or the need to prevent unwanted litters. Ultimately while my hopes for the future include winning the lottery and opening a no kill shelter I sincerely hope that someday the nightmare of pet overpopulation and the sad endings that often result will be over...I do hope that you have found this information helpful and reassuring. Any time that you have questions about your foster kitties feel free to contact me again, I will do the best that I can to get an answer for you.