Owner In LA Thought Rescue Cat Was Deaf Until The Truth Came Out
Sometimes, what starts as a simple adoption story turns into pure internet gold , and that’s exactly what happened with Cinnamon Martini, a six-year-old cat whose selective hearing has captivated thousands online.
Owner Jeisen-Simone Tucker adopted Cinnamon after being told that the shelter believed her new feline friend was deaf.
But as it often turns out with cats, things weren’t quite as they seemed. Cinnamon wasn’t deaf at all, she was simply a master of selective hearing.
The viral moment began when Tucker shared a TikTok video on her account, @jeisensimone.
In the clip, she repeatedly calls out, “hey,” and Cinnamon responds with a perfectly timed meow every single time. It’s a short, hilarious, and utterly charming interaction that perfectly showcases her unique personality.
Tucker shared her theory in an interview about why the shelter might have thought Cinnamon was deaf:
“I think that she might’ve just disliked being in the shelter or the people that worked there, so she purposely ignored them.”
And honestly, it’s easy to believe. Cats, after all, are masters of ignoring people they don’t particularly trust or like.
Cinnamon had simply shut down after a month in the shelter, conserving her energy and picking when, and to whom, she would respond.
It didn’t take long for Tucker to discover Cinnamon’s true voice. Once she was home, Cinnamon quickly became vocal. Tucker explained:
“Once I adopted her, I started talking to her like any other cat. I even told her that I was changing her name from Fluffy to Cinnamon Martini so she would know. I never expected her to respond, but it didn’t feel right just completely not talking to her, so I continued.”
Over the next few weeks, Cinnamon grew bolder and more communicative.
“Over the first two to three weeks after adopting her, she began talking more and more. Now she’s having full-on conversations and knows her name!”
Cinnamon isn’t just tuned into Tucker’s voice, she reacts to certain sounds she dislikes, like the doorbell or the rustle of plastic bags.
In those cases, her responses are swift and unmistakable. It’s clear that, once comfortable in her environment, Cinnamon has no problem making her presence known, selectively, of course.
In her home, Cinnamon has blossomed into a sweet, loud, and talkative cat. But she still has two modes: with guests, she hides away, keeping to herself, while with Tucker, she follows her around, meowing and interacting constantly.
Tucker describes it as living with “two different cats” depending on who is around.
The TikTok clip, captioned “Cinnamon Martini was not messin with them people,” has earned nearly 700 comments from delighted viewers.
While Cinnamon is happily enjoying her selective listening skills, some commenters suggested checking for ear mites, as she can be seen scratching at the start of the video.
Ear mites, according to the Cornell Feline Health Center, can cause permanent hearing damage if left untreated. Fortunately, Cinnamon’s health appears excellent, and her selective hearing seems purely intentional.
Now, in her loving Los Angeles home, Cinnamon Martini has the freedom to meow when and how she pleases, primarily to Tucker, and occasionally for the enjoyment of TikTok viewers worldwide.
She may have fooled the shelter at first, but in her forever home, she’s free to be exactly who she is: a vocal, sassy, and unforgettable cat.
