But Kathy knew that wasn’t the right choice. Today, Oatie, a deaf CH Manx, is now 14-years-old, and Kathy says few people even notice that there’s anything different about him.

How severe is his CH?

His CH is less severe than it was as a kitten, when the vet recommended he be put down because he felt he would never function. I’d say he went from severe as a kitten to mild as an adult.

How did you adopt Oatie? What is his story?

I met him at our shelter when I began volunteering there. He was a stray kitten in very sad shape. He was adopted out to a questionable adopter by the lady who ran the shelter. Several of us had grave concerns because the woman adopter had a lot of animals already, and we felt he was going from one shelter to another, but we had NO say in the matter.

One year later he came back sick and with his ears plugged with ear mites. I begged my husband to allow me to bring this sweet “floor” cat home as he could not get up onto the bed and was bound to the dirty floor where all the litter boxes were. Once I had him home it was apparent that the severe ear mites had damaged his ear drums to the point he was totally deaf. I then decided he was never leaving my home as I never wanted him to be adopted to a bad home again.

What is he able to do? What are his limitations?

He can do most anything!  His hearing is his handicap. He is a messy eater, he gets confused when startled, and he does not like to be picked up — but he LOVES to snooze on your lap.

Do you have any funny stories about him (related to CH)? Or perhaps a story about how he figured out how to do something CH cats “can’t” do?

I sure DO! We obtained an 8 ft Angelica cat tree. When it was unloaded in my living room, my most agile Orientals Shorthairs could not figure out HOW to get to the top — they ran across the room jumping and hanging on the branches and then would let go and fall to the floor.

Oatie zig-zagged his way across the living room to the tree and stood at the bottom looking up and proceeded to climb to the first branch and then around the tree hitting each branch and finally reaching the top, where he settled into the top nest. I stood there with my mouth open as even I did not see that the limbs were placed in a circle around the tree to allow the cats to climb in that manner to reach the top!

Has he ever hurt himself because of his CH?

He bumped into a not-so-nice foster cat once who attacked him. Oatie was so confused he just stood there allowing him to beat him up. By the time I intervened the cat had swatted him in the eye and caused damage to his one eye. He did not lose his sight, but his eye is odd looking now.

Every animal is special in his or her own way. How is he special? 

He is the sweetest natured cat in the world, he is loving, he is a constant companion, and he is funny and playful even at his age.

Once he likes and trusts you he wants lots of attention and gives wobbly headbutts. He loves to be rubbed and pet. He will grab your leg when you leave if he wants you to stay with him.

Have you found ways to help him with his condition?

He actually does very well. We do hand signals for his deafness, and he has a ”special” food dish to help him keep his food in the dish and off the floor.

He can get over stimulated by too much petting (rubbing seems to be better for him) and will at times become afraid and grab your hand and hiss. I am keeping his nails trimmed short for this reason. With my own 2 CH kitties I did not trim nails as they needed them for balance. Mac does not.

What do you think people need to know about CH?

They need to know that these are very special and nice natured cats who can live a normal, fulfilling life if cared for properly, vetted regularly and loved!

What is your favorite and least favorite thing about his having CH?

My favorite: Their sweetness is what draws me to them.

Least favorite: They are messy.

Do you have any words of wisdom for other CH parents?

Protect them and love them.

Click here to read about other readers’ CH pets  or tell us about your CH pet!

Cuddles

“Brighton Michigan!!!! Another Cerebellar Hypoplasia Kitten where the vet thinks it should be put down!!!”

The plea was for a precious CH kitten named Cuddles. After her guardian, who was looking for a home for Cuddles, took her to the vet, the vet said that “usually they just put them down.”

That’s the type of thinking that we need to change among shelters, vets and the public. Unfortunately, I don’t think that reaction is entirely uncommon.  It certainly wasn’t several years ago, when very few people knew about the condition and most CH cats were euthanized.

Back then, and even today, when most people see a CH cat for the first time, they immediately think that it’s sick or injured. They don’t know enough to realize that the cat is neither, and the condition shouldn’t be a death sentence.

Consequently, dozens, if not hundreds, of people have worked to spread the word about cerebellar hypoplasia cats. Yes, they have special needs. No, they should not face death because of those differences. They make wonderful pets. They should not be euthanized.

Now, I’m not trying to be heartless.

I understand that some vets have limited (if any) knowledge about cerebellar hypoplasia. If they see a CH cat, they may worry about its quality of life or if it has other health issues.

Photo courtesy sj_sanders

(Granted, if cerebellar hypoplasia is one of many complications the kitten has, that’s another story. At that point, I would say the cat’s quality of life would have to be measured along with the efforts (and cost of those efforts) to save the cat.)

Plus, many shelters simply don’t have the capacity to take on special needs kittens, whether at the shelter itself or in a foster home. Even then it’s a risk to take them in — special needs cats are considered less adoptable.

But that’s no reason to end a cerebellar hypoplasia cat’s life. There are options. There always are.

Reach out to other shelters — do they know anything about this condition? Do they have the resources to help these kittens? Do research — today there are several blogs and online communities you can connect with. Are there organizations out there trying to inform people and help?

I realized these can be big steps to take for a little cat. Some may wonder, is it worth it?

Yes.

Here are just 10 of many reasons why someone should consider adopting a CH cat. Need more proof? Just read the stories of these 25+ readers (more coming!) who have adopted CH cats.

Ellie and CG

Need even MORE proof? This blog — it’s a testament to these special cats. My life’s an example of how these cats can change us in amazing ways, and I’m not the only one. Just take a look at Lizzie, founder of the CH Kitty Club Yahoo Group and CH Kitty Club website; Deb, who has devoted her life to helping CH cats find homes; Elise who has helped with all of these endeavors and created these wonderful education materials – and so many more.

There has to be some reason why we’re so devoted to these special cats. And I think it’s clear: They’re worth it.

So the next time you hear that a healthy cerebellar hypoplasia kitten may be put to sleep, please be a voice for the voiceless and explain why these cats make some of the best pets.

Want to learn more about these special cats and their condition? Start here.

Photo courtesy TimOve

No matter if you’re a forever home or a foster home, you’ll need to take some precautions to make sure that your home is safe for your pet. Cats and kittens can be very curious, and, depending on their abilities, can jump to, climb on, and squeeze into some of the strangest places.

While foster cats may be contained to one room, it may still be a good idea to pet-proof your entire home, just in case.

Think like a cat

Take a moment and crouch down to a cat’s level. Look around for things that may be in reach, or may intrigue the cat or kitten such as:

• Small and dangerous objects like paper clips, nails, staples, thread, pins/needles, rubber bands, tacks — basically anything that has fallen on the floor that shouldn’t be there.
• Intriguing things like plants, electrical cords, drapes, the pulls/cords on blinds, other cords.
• Also consider if there are any objects (furniture/decorations) that could fall over if knocked-into, or if something could fall of the furniture.
• Don’t forget to check your window screens — they should fit securely and should not give way in case your cat leans against them.

Bedrooms

• Close closet doors and make sure you keep your room tidy. That means keeping laundry and shoes (consider shoelaces and loose buttons) in your closet or behind other closed doors.
• Remove plants, if necessary.
• Move all wires so they’re out of your pet’s reach.
• Take a look at what you have on night stands, dressers, etc. If necessary, move the items into a drawer or cabinet.
• Close all drawers entirely. You never know when a cat will crawl in.
• Check your bed’s box spring. Cats and kittens are known to find their ways into them.
• Be mindful of closed doors — make sure your cat isn’t in your closet or bathroom before closing the door.

Photo courtesy dmansouri

Kitchens, Bathrooms, Utility Rooms

• Purchase trash cans that your pets can’t get in to (like those with lids), or hide your trash can in a cabinet. Don’t forget about small wastebaskets in the bathroom — cats can easily turn them over and rummage through the contents.
• Use childproof latches to keep cabinet doors from being pulled open. (This is usually the case with cabinets that don’t have latches to keep them shut in the first place.)
• Place all medications, cleaners, and chemicals on high shelves or in childproofed cabinets. Similarly, keep insecticides, rodent poisons and dryer sheets out of reach.
• Look for small spaces your pets can squeeze into — behind appliances, between an appliance and the wall, etc. — and find ways to seal them.
• Always keep the doors to your washer and dryer closed. Before doing each load of laundry get a visual on every furry member of your household.
• Always put down the toilet seat lid. Cats can easily fall in and drown.

Living Room

• Again, look for small spaces your pets can squeeze into — under your couch, holes in furniture, etc. — and find ways to seal them.
• Move wires and cords from lamps, entertainment systems and phones so your cat can’t access them. Petfinder.com suggests running the cords through PVC pipes to prevent pets from chewing on them. You can also purchase sprays that give the wires a bad taste, or run them under heavy rugs and carpets.
• Watch your cat carefully when opening a front or back door.

Photo courtesy Shana Lee

After facing our own tummy troubles with Ellie and hearing from a number of readers, I couldn’t help but wonder if cerebellar hypoplasia cats are more prone to digestive/GI tract issues than “normal” cats.

To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if this were the case due to a few factors:

• The severity of the cat’s CH: Perhaps the constant falls, tumbles and flops contribute to issues.
• How much water the cat drinks: The amount of water a cat ingests — from either the water bowl or from wet cat food — may contribute to stool issues.
• How the cat goes to the bathroom: CH cats who go to the bathroom on their side may have more issues than those who can squat.
• How much the cat exercises: A cat with a sedentary lifestyle may have more issues than one who runs around; again this could be tied to the CH severity.

So I wanted to reach out to the CH cat community to see what your experiences have been like.

Photo courtesy Malingering

After hearing from a number of you, I was quite surprised at your responses. It seems dietary/digestive issues may not have as much to do with whether or not your cat has CH (although that may be a factor), as much as the *type* of food your cat can handle. Here’s what some of you shared:

Percy, Jacquie’s severe CH cat, had GI issues early on. Once he was put on a non-corn based food, his loose stool issues cleared up.

Nanako, Elise’s moderate CH cat, is prone to digestive issues; however, she eats grain-free food, which helps. She also lies on her side in the litter box.

Hippa, Elise’s mild CH cat, doesn’t have any digestive issues.

Martha, Tanja’s CH cat, eats raw meat and canned fish (tuna and salmon, 100% fish). She doesn’t eat any dry food, and doesn’t have any problems in the litter box.

Photo courtesy elycefeliz

Boris, Valerie’s CH cat, lays on his side in the litter box without an issue; however, he will have loose stools if his diet is varied.

Daisy, Valerie’s other cat, poops regularly without issues and can eat anything.

Jewel, Barbie’s CH cat, also lays on her side in the litter box.

Shakey, Deb’s CH cat, goes every day, eats wet cat food and dry Instinct Chicken Formula with baby food and water mixed in. She used to have stomach issues as a kitten with less expensive cat food.

Anzo, Cody’s mild CH cat, takes a digestive supplement for hairballs, but goes to the bathroom just fine.

Melissa’s Otter, who was severe, had a number of digestive problems, but she’s found that her newest additions, Lovey and Effie do not. Melissa also mentioned that Otter had seizures, unlike her girls, which may have contributed to the digestive issues.

Lastly, Tam says her CH cat has fewer issues than their “normal” cats! “If they were all like her we’d be so so happy,” Tam says.

So there we have it — nothing 100% conclusive, but it may ease your mind to know that CH cats can have just as varied issues (and lack of issues) as “normies.”

Did I leave anyone out? Do you have any other thoughts? Please share in the comments!

“I totally advocate having an animal that has a disability. It doesn’t seem to bother them as much as it bothers us. Animals have a better way of adapting — amazing ways — to maladies that we whine about.”

Perhaps that’s also why Allison fell in love with her CH kitty, Goobie Girl, when she was only 5-days-old. Born with CH and a head-tilt (which was later fixed by a chiropractor), Goobie was originally adopted by one of Allison’s friends, who ultimately could not keep her because the other cats bullied her. So at 5-months,  Allison took Goobie home.

Since then, they’ve developed a special bond. So special that Allison calls her 14-year-old mild CH kitty her “heart and soul.” Read more:

Does she have certain limitations?

Some trouble negotiating walking — she can be a little wobbly. She is not able to jump high, most of the time she has to claw the sheets to get up the bed.

How does she manage the litter box? Eating and drinking? Do you do anything special to help?

What’s one funny story about her (related to CH)? Or share a story about how she figured out how to do something CH cats “can’t” do.

She manages the litter box fine, although she does not cover it up. She will lay down to drink water and will often put the left side of her face in the bowl. She lays down to eat dry food, and gets it scattered. She does stand up to eat wet food.

It’s funny and sad to watch her clean herself and at times, miss where she is licking. It’s also funny to watch her drink water when the whole left side of her face goes in the dish. She is very entertaining in her unique way of doing cat things.

Has she ever hurt herself because of her CH?

Yes — when she was younger, she tumbled down the stairs — they were open steps — in the basement. Stairs that have open steps are very dangerous to cats of this nature. She has to go back and forth to get down closed steps.

Each animal is special in her own way. How is she special?

She has the biggest eyes of any cat I’ve ever seen. She was born with her head tipped to one side, and outgrew that. She “talks” to me, and she runs to me when I call her name. When I say “Goobie” she answers me with a meow. I am her person — I am the only one in the universe she will allow to hold her. She is a little wobbly when she walks. She has a black splotch on her nose that reminds me of Charlie Chaplin. Her calico colors are bold and beautiful. Her tail is unusually thick.

Have you found ways to help her with CH? How?

I just keep spaces open for her to get around. I’m fortunate that she does not have to to the degree that some CH cats do.

What do you think people need to know about CH?

These cats are wonderful and unique and should not be dismissed. They should be embraced!

What is your favorite and least favorite thing about her having CH?

It makes her more endearing and unique. I don’t have a least favorite thing.

Anything else you’d like to add?

She’s my child and my heart and soul. I hate that she is getting older and showing signs of her age now.

Click here to read about other readers’ CH pets  or tell us about your CH pet!

Denitsa, a reader from Bulgaria, emailed me the other day and said she needs help finding her CH foster and his kitty friend, Gaby, a home. While I know most of you are in the U.S., I also know that many of you know folks in Europe — and of course, I can’t forget Martha and Tanya!

Anyway, here’s their story and a bit more about them:

Denitsa has been fostering Jack, a lovely male CH cat, for three years, and she loves him dearly. Unfortunately, he bullies one of her cats to the point that Denitsa decided it’s time to find Jack’s forever home. While Jack may act out with Denitsa’s cat, he’s befriended another one of her fosters, Gaby. Denitsa would like them to be adopted together since they’re so bonded.

A while back, Jack and Gaby were transfered to another foster home in Austria; however, the other foster family had four dogs and their own foster cat bully, which resulted in Jack and Gaby living in a bathroom.

Now the two are back with Denitsa, and she wants to find them a forever home in Europe. Here’s how Denista described them:

Jack: 4-years-old, very active, playful, extremely affectionate to people. He comes like a dog when called, and it does not matter what he is doing at the moment — when you call him by name, he comes immediately. He has a great affection for people. That is his greatest advantage. I am not exaggerating. The most important thing for him is really the person. He is castrated, vaccinated.

Towards other cats his behavior cannot be predicted. He is not aggressive, but tends to be bossy. Also, he likes to play with other cats, but his play is very, very rough, and other cats refuse to play with him. When that happens, he gets musical — he roams the room and sings.

He is a cat that needs intellectual entertainment all the time. I have 3 more cats and Jack has issues only with one of them. His CH is mild; he can jump on the sofa, but cannot climb on the cupboard. He uses his box without any problem, but he eats mainly by taking his meal on the floor or just lying beside it.

Gaby: 2-years-old. She has a permanent limp in her back foot. She was found in a hole in the ground, where she stayed for several days. She had a trauma and the limping will be forever.

The problem with her is she is not social with people. She prefers to keep a distance from people. She is never aggressive, never! This is the strangest thing with her. She sleeps next to me, but does not allow me to touch her. When I pick her up in my arms, she just waits for me to finish. No one wants such a cat, but she loves Jack and imitates him. They are very funny.

If you’re interested in these two beauties, please let me know and I’ll put you in touch with Denitsa. Thanks!

CG playing with the pocket pond app.

Every time I visit a pet store, I’m always impressed with the wide selection of cat toys available. You can buy everything from those gray mice and plastic balls with bells inside them to developmental toys for cats. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that cat toys are showing up in other places, too.

Like on tablets and smartphones. According to a recent poll, about 11% of Americans own a tablet of some sort, and at least 35% of Americans own a smartphone. Apple’s app store offers 500,000 apps for download — and a few of those have actually been created for our pets’ entertainment.

And some cats love them. Try searching “cat iPad” on YouTube, and you’ll find some videos of cats who really love their iPad apps. Yet, other cats couldn’t care less. So should you give them a shot?

It shouldn’t be a surprise that my husband and I have actually downloaded a few of those apps to see how CG and Ellie like them. Here’s a quick round-up on what we discovered.

Cat Toy (Free): Creative name, right? This one features four toys: a mouse, spider, laser pointer dot and butterfly. The goal is for your cat to tap the object; when your cat makes contact, each reacts in a certain way (for example, the mouse squeaks). It’s best used on the iPad (bigger screen = more space to play), but CG likes the mouse on the iPhone just fine. In fact, when I hold up the iPhone and call his name, he comes running! He likes the mouse and he’ll watch the spider, but the laser pointer dot and butterfly don’t hold his attention at all. I think it has to do with which ones make sounds — I think that’s why he likes the mouse best (it makes scratching noises when it’s off-screen).

Friskies Apps (Free): We’ve tried Party Mix-Up, Tasty Treasures Hunt, and Cat Fishing. I just discovered that Friskies has since come out with several others (Jitter Bug, Cat Fishing 2 and You vs Cat), which we haven’t tried yet, but will. The cats enjoy these games (the first three, at least), but I can’t help but think that if there was a noise involved, they would be more engaged. Ellie particularly likes Party Mix-Up, but the only times she scores points (by batting at the treats) seems to be when she falls over! Nonetheless, since these apps are free, they’re worth a shot.

Pocket (Koi) Pond (Free): I’m pretty sure this app is meant to be soothing and relaxing for humans, but cats and fish equal a classic combination. There’s a lot going on with this app (sounds, lots of color and movement), so at first I wondered if the cats would even find it interesting. However, both like to sit near it and just watch. I don’t know if CG recognized the fish as fish (I don’t even think he’s ever seen a real fish), but he liked the movement and batted at the sides of the iPad to get the fish. He also touched his nose to the screen a few times, and was surprised by the “plop” water noise and ripples he made. I don’t think he thinks it’s terribly interesting, but he’ll put up with it — for my sake.

Expensive Cat Toy ($0.99): While I’m more a fan of free apps, we decided to pop for this $0.99 app. We should have known from the low rating that we shouldn’t have bothered. This app didn’t do anything new, and we all were board of it within a few seconds.

Overall, these apps are amusing for us and our cats. However, nothing truly compares to interacting with them one-on-one, and honestly, that’s one of the joys of being a cat parent. So, while we do turn on these apps from time-to-time, they certainly aren’t a replacement for real interaction and playtime.

Have you tried any apps with your cats? What have you found? Please share in the comments!

Photo courtesy reallyboring

Several issues can come to mind: Does my cat have a behavioral issue? Health problem? Even if it’s an accident, it can cause some serious damage to your carpet or hardwood floors.

Since litter box accidents can be somewhat common with CH kitties, it’s best to be prepared for all scenarios. So what should you do if your cat misses and pees on the hardwood? Here are some suggestions.

The moment you’ve noticed there was an accident, follow these steps. Clean up any excrement and then blot the entire area with paper towels. Wash the area with white vinegar, rinse with warm water, then blot dry.

If a smell remains, you can try a few things. You may want to give Nature’s Miracle (or a similar product) a try; however, the packaging notes that it may not be as effective once you’ve cleaned the area with another product. Another option is to apply baking soda to the area.

The baking soda soaks up the moisture, and will clump up with the urine residue. You may have to do this several times — one account I read said that the floor was so badly damaged by urine that they had to apply baking soda to the floor a dozen times(!!). In the end, the writer said they simply had the floor boards replaced, as that was the only solution for removing the smell.

Another option that I’ve read about on the CH Kitty Club’s Yahoo page is peroxide. The peroxide should bleach the area a bit, which may help with any stains. You can do this by soaking a small towel with peroxide, then leaving it on the stain for a while. If you try this, first test it in an out-of-the-way area to see how your floors will react color-wise.

Remember, just because you can’t see the damage doesn’t mean it isn’t there. If you’ve had a significant problem on the carpet, there may be an issue with the hardwood underneath. If you’ve tried cleaning your carpet, but the smell remains, you may have an issue with the flooring. Try pulling up the carpet to determine if there’s any damage.

Photo courtesy jcbonbon

If you have a significant flooring issue, you have several options.

Some folks have been able to simply sand the floor and have it refinished. This can be a messy project, but if you do it yourself, you can save a great deal of money. Others have had luck by sanding the area, then trying the baking soda and peroxide method before varnishing and sealing the wood.

If doing this yourself isn’t an option, call around to your local flooring stores to get estimates. Or, perhaps a handy neighbor can help you out.

Have you had hardwood trouble in the past? How did you get the smell and stain out? Any other tips and best practices? Please share in the comments!

Donna first contacted me about a year ago. She said her cat had been diagnosed with FVS (feline vestibular syndrome), but given the diagnosis was made three years prior, and FVS is supposed to be short-term, she was thinking he may be a CH cat. There’s obviously more to it than that, but I’ll let Donna tell you. Here’s their story:

Back in 2005, I went to a local crowded no-kill shelter just to take a look — yeah, right. I already had cats, but there’s always room for one more.

While walking up an aisle, I noticed a pathetic looking gray kitty in a full walk-in cage. It was obvious he was supposed to be longhaired, but he had very little hair, just nubs and scabs and a rat tail. When I went in the cage, he walked over and told me he loved me. I took him home.

I called him Ack as he was hacking, sneezing, funny looking — but I knew he had the potential to be as beautiful outside as he was inside. I was right, and though it took time, he settled in and stopped pulling out his own hair. He always had a strangeness to him; he walked a little funny and had a strange head tilt. His head wobbled when he got excited, and he’d get a little more jerky. He was treated for an inner ear infection but he never got better.

Three years ago Ackie was chasing a moth that had gotten into the house, and he had some kind of seizure. It was short but afterward he was worse. This is when I took him to the vet and he was diagnosed with feline vestibular syndrome.

He is back to what is normal for him, but I watch him and try not to let him get excited. I believe Ackie has a mild form of CH as he can jump (just not high), uses the litter box fine (but is a little messy) and eats very well (and he’s a LOT messy!!!). He runs but sometimes can’t control where he’s going and zig zags.

I think he may be deaf too as he doesn’t respond to sounds. He loves to play with a catnip mouse or laser pointer, but I try to get him to take it easy in fear he may have another one of those seizures.

He has a best friend he play fights with, and they groom each other. When he gets tense, for example, if he gets into a room and can’t figure out how to get out, he meows VERY loudly. He also circles and screeches every morning (no need for an alarm clock!) but stops as soon as he gets his canned food.

Ack’s a vocal cat and chirrups and talks with me whenever he’s awake. Just touching him when he’s sleeping awakens the symphony in him.

Ackie is very loving and has the loudest purr I’ve ever heard. He’s a great-hearted cat, and I’m so glad he chose me that day!

Click here to read about other readers’ CH cats or tell us about your CH cat!

Now Caden’s story could really be any cerebellar hypoplasia cat’s story.

He was rescued when he was 12-weeks-old, and it was soon discovered that he had Panleukopenia (distemper), which can cause CH. Caden became very sick, but he eventually pulled through and grew into a lovely adult with his share of wobbles and head tremors. But like Maddie, there’s one thing about Caden that makes him different.

Unfortunately, this is not Caden -- all of Caden's photos are copyrighted. Please visit his story to see the gorgeous boy! Photo courtesy harlequeen.

He’s a cougar.

I was stunned when I read his story because I rarely hear about other animals having cerebellar hypoplasia. From Caden’s story, which you can read here, it sounds like many wild animals don’t survive Panleukopenia, which is why we don’t hear about them. Fortunately Caden was brought into a safe environment where he was treated and raised.

In 2010, the WildCat Haven celebrated Caden’s birthday, and it sounds like he’s doing well. He’s still wobbly and unsteady, but is living a happy, healthy life with his two cougar buddies! In November, WildCat Haven tweeted a gorgeous photo of Caden, which you can see here.