Exactly one year ago today, RSPCA South Australia shelter officer Emma welcomed a very special cat into her life. Pure white and fond of sleeping in the weirdest places (like the dishwasher!) Zephyr is also completely deaf.

To celebrate Zephyr’s one year ‘adoptaversary’, Emma has shared the following words and a heap of gorgeous photos to give you an insight into the daily hilarity of living with quirky 2-year-old Zephyr…

“I actually heard Zephyr before I saw her. I heard these loud meows and when I went to investigate, there was little Zephyr, playing with her litter mates,” Emma told us.

“See, Zephyr is deaf, which means she can’t regulate her volume. Her little face looked up as she meowed at me and I knew I was about to become a crazy cat lady and adopt my third cat.

“From the moment I brought her home, she instantly bonded with my partner Eric. She loves snuggling up on his chest and covering his face in kisses! (I’m only a little bit jealous…)

Besties with Archie the dog

“She also has an inseparable bond with our dog Archie. Zephyr has picked up many canine qualities since hanging out with her BFF.

“She loves playing tug of war with her toys and she loves car rides to the beach, watching the waves and dogs running up and down the beach. She’s even stolen a whole steak off our dinner plate and tried to run away with it, with help from Archie, of course!

“Our other two cats are very accepting of Zephyr, sharing their toys and beds. Zephyr is also an amazing foster carer to our RSPCA foster kittens, grooming, playing and cuddling them like they were her own.

Creative ways to ‘talk’ with a deaf cat

“Living with a cat with special needs can have its challenges, but what relationship doesn’t? We communicate with Zephyr in different ways.

“We use vibrations, stamping our feet so she knows we are approaching, flicking the light on and off to get her attention, or just the good old “wave frantically until she notices me” technique.

“Because I can’t call out to her, I play a constant game of hide and seek, seeking out what odd place she has decided to nap in – the laundry basket, a shoebox, the bathroom sink and a colander, to name a few.

Indulging Zephyr’s awesome other senses

“Since Zephyr can’t hear, she relies more on her other senses. Zephyr has amazing eyesight and loves things that move. She enjoys watching bird videos on the iPad, playing interactive toys, or even just knocking countless objects off bench tops.

“Zephyr has brought so much joy into our lives. She is definitely one of kind. Not a day goes by where Zephyr hasn’t made us laugh with her quirky personality. Although she will never hear us tell her we love her, we make sure she feels loved every single day.

“We’re so thankful to the RSPCA for looking after Zephyr until we found her. I can assure you, Zephyr has found her loving forever home and we can’t wait to see where Zephyr naps next. Thank you, RSPCA South Australia.”

Isn’t Emma a champion for giving this special kitty such a fabulous second chance at life? If you’re considering opening your heart and home to a rescued animal, head over here to see all our animals currently available for adoption.