We were on vacation, certainly not a good time to adopt an animal, so my husband dismissed the idea for the day. It was then I started crying, my poor husband thought I lost it! I told him, I felt that no one woud adopt her because she wasn’t perfect. We didn’t know anything about CH, but as we walked into the nearby store, I couldn’t stop looking at this sweet little kitten, and the kitten couldn’t stop watching us. That was when the workers said that the kitten had CH. Everytime a car drove by she would shake and jump, which I commented that she must be scared. I was immediately drawn to her and her beautiful gold eyes. We saw a little kitten shaking in one of the cages. Two and a half years ago, we went on vacation and came across a pet shelter outside a pet store that had several pets for adoption. If you have a medical question, please contact your vet. Please understand that I cannot provide medical advice.Care to share about your CH cat? You can tell us about your CH cat here.If you’re trying to find a home for a CH cat, please read this post.If you’d like to adopt a CH cat in your area, please check out this list of adoptable cats with cerebellar hypoplasia.While it’s not an extraordinarily common condition, cats with this condition do require a special owner who’s devoted to providing the best care possible for the cat. Since many people are still learning about this condition - and because some shelters don’t adopt out special needs animals, many kitties with CH are needlessly euthanized every year. And if you’re not convinced, here are 10 reasons why you should adopt a CH cat. They’ll say their CH kitties are some of the sweetest cats you’ll ever meet, and what they lack in coordination they make up in personality. There isn’t a treatment for this condition however, many owners will tell you that there doesn’t need to be one. You can find more topic-specific help here.Ĭlick this video to watch a fantastic video about a CH cat named Charley. Consequently, CH cat owners may find ways to help their cat become more capable. For example, some CH cats don’t have the coordination to jump – so instead they become great climbers. Even though they may think they’re normal, depending on the severity of their CH, they may be somewhat limited in ability and learn how to do things differently. One of the great things about CH cats is that they don’t seem to know that they’re any different from other cats. Yet it is important to understand there are some diseases and conditions that may mimic CH. Since the condition is non-progressive, it will never get worse - and in some cases, owners say that their cat became more capable over time.Ī CT scan or MRI is the only way to officially diagnose cerebellar hypoplasia however, many vets are familiar with the symptom’s characteristics so those tests are often not necessary. Unless a CH cat has other health issues, her life expectancy is the same as a cat’s without CH. If you think this is an issue with your cat, speak to your vet.) (Consequently, some think CH cats may have vision issues. Again, some cats may experience mild cases, others may be more severe. It’s important to remember that the cat isn’t sick, weak or hurt she’s simply uncoordinated.ĬH cats may also experience head tremors, the uncontrollable shaking of the cat’s head when she’s trying to focus. While some cats may only have a slightly impacted gait, others may have significant trouble getting around, if they’re able to walk at all. The severity of a kitten’s CH can vary greatly - even among litter mates. CH cats are known for their “drunken sailor” walk, which is why they’re known endearingly as “wobbly cats.” Thank you!įeline cerebellar hypoplasia is a non-progressive, non-contagious neurological condition that results in walking and balance problems.Ī kitten is born with “CH” when her cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls fine motor skills and coordination, is underdeveloped at birth.Ī cerebellum’s growth can be stunted by a number of factors, most commonly if the mother contracted the feline panleukopenia virus while pregnant or if there was some sort of trauma to the kittens while they were in the womb.Ĭonsequently, an underdeveloped cerebellum can result in underdeveloped or complicated mobility. Prior to commenting, please read the bulleted notes at the end of this post - they may help answer questions. Thanks so much for visiting this blog! I hope you find it useful.
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