Cerebellar hypoplasia (video of Amy)

[cassiesmom]

Phesina, Laura, LVPets2002 and anyone else acquainted with feline cerebellar hypoplasia ... just one question ... how common is it? I understand mumpkees' post about it (I'm a nurse) and after reading about LVPets2002's Butterscotch and reading through this thread, I wonder how often it occurs. Bless you all, bless you enormously for caring about cats with disabilities!

[lvpets2002]

Well I know here in Texas not common.. However I have noticed that up on the East Coast {New York} & surrounding areas it is very common.. Now ButterScotch was in a litter of three & he was the only one with CH..

Phesina, Laura, LVPets2002 and anyone else acquainted with feline cerebellar hypoplasia ... just one question ... how common is it? I understand mumpkees' post about it (I'm a nurse) and after reading about LVPets2002's Butterscotch and reading through this thread, I wonder how often it occurs. Bless you all, bless you enormously for caring about cats with disabilities!

[Medusa]

I've got two w/it; one actually has vestibular hypoplasia which affects the hearing and caused Creamsicle to go deaf. She's the worst case. You'd never know Coco Puff has it now. He just goes into a sort of daze like seizure every once in a while. As for how common it is, I have no idea. My old vet thought that it can be caused by the feline herpes virus. I didn't even know what it was called until I became a member of PT, which is why I like it here so much. We learn and teach, we comfort and are comforted.

[critters]

As disabilities go, it's pretty common, and it can happen to dogs, too. I don't know that anybody can give you a "x out of 1000 births" guesstimate on it, though. Ari is quite severe.

[smokey the elder]

I've personally observed 3 cats with it, out of about 2,000 or so that I have seen, so maybe 1 in a thousand? (I think diabetes is more common than CH.)

[mumpkees]

Sadly, the reason it seems 'more common' in the northeast is because Texas and other southern states still have far too many vets, shelter personnel and others that do not recognize a possible CH kitten when they see one.

When confronted with a kitten who has CH many vets diagnose rabies, brain tumor, neurological disorder, toxoplasmosis. The prevailing opinion of these vets is that a kitten will be doomed to a life of misery or that the prognosis is 'poor'. Kittens w/ CH turned into shelters are euth'd without a second thought. Kittens taken to personal vets often suffer the same fate when client is told of the 'poor prognosis and much suffering'.

Case in point - Teeter and Totter were found in a carrier in front of a petco w/ vet services. The vet there was sure that they were 'rabid', however, thankfully, that day a friend of mine who does adoptions happened to be there and see these two tiny 5 wk old black kittens and said 'hold on - I think that may be CH - let me call a friend'. Sure enough, both are mild CH. Totter turned out to be totally blind and suffer grand mal epileptic seizures (controlled by medication) and a skin condition that totally defied our vets. We kept that under 'control' with mediation also. His sister is also blind and deaf. We lost Totter this past July from a severe reaction to a vaccination. His sister however is doing fine.

I raised my first CH kitten from a rescued stray mother over 35 years ago. I was in a small Alabama town and the vet didn't have a clue what Soaper had. There was little information available in written form but I found a short article in a book describing Soaper to a T. Now some 35 years later, there still is not much information available and still far too many vets that have no idea what cerebellar hypoplasia is. I think the reason that it seems like there are more CH kitties in the northeast and California is because vets there seem to be more ready to 'think outside the box' when confronted with something out of the norm. Their first reaction doesn't seem to be pts, put out of its misery. Thanks to the internet, handicapped pet forums, special needs and most specifically the CH kitty yahoo groups, awareness of this condition is becoming more known. Cat parents when confronted with a kitten w/ CH are refusing to put an adorably sweet kitten full of life who just happens to topple over or shake to sleep. They take their kitten back home and start to do their own research, find groups like this to post their kitten's symptoms and discover their kitten has CH. And just like Lay's potato chips, you can't just have one......... LOL ....... it is so easy to fall in love with their adorable spirits and fierce determination!

[Medusa]

it is so easy to fall in love with their adorable spirits and fierce determination!

Boy, you got that right! When my little Creamsicle first came to me, she could only walk in circles, that's when she could walk at all w/out falling over. Her head swung violently from side to side like a pendulum and it was nearly impossible for her to eat. I had to do my best to hold her head still while trying to get some food into her. My old vet who has since retired stayed up night after night searching the internet but didn't come up w/CH diagnosis. He said that she had a neurological disorder. But before he saw her, one of his associates took a look at her because my vet was out of town and he recommended having her PTS. The thought of her living her life w/out even being able to eat w/out my help was more than I thought she should have to endure and I almost, ALMOST, considered it until he said that because she was so tiny at 6 weeks old, he would have to insert the needle directly into her heart and that it would be painful. Now, I was at work when he told me this over the phone and I said "DO NOT TOUCH HER! I'm leaving work right now to come and get her." I kept the vet's office on my cell phone for the entire drive, insisting that they not hang up on me or I would immediately call them back. I kept saying "DO NOT TOUCH HER." They said "Ok, we understand! We won't touch her." When my vet came back into town, I told him what happened and he hung his head and said "I'm sorry you had to go through that. I think we can save her." Well, long story short, she's a happy 6 year old who does the salamandar walk and is deaf but she's the most lovable, sweet natured kitty kat you'd ever want to see. (Except when I put her in the carrier to go to the vet's office. My new vet, that is. ) It's scary to think that there are still vets out there who so easily say "Put him/her to sleep" w/out even trying to figure out what's wrong. I'm so glad I waited for my vet to come back into town. This little girl came to me at a time in my life when I was ready to give up and I truly feel that she saved my life. CH babies deserve a chance and I'm so happy that there are so many PTers that agree w/me.

[Medusa]

Sadly, the reason it seems 'more common' in the northeast is because Texas and other southern states still have far too many vets, shelter personnel and others that do not recognize a possible CH kitten when they see one.

When confronted with a kitten who has CH many vets diagnose rabies, brain tumor, neurological disorder, toxoplasmosis. The prevailing opinion of these vets is that a kitten will be doomed to a life of misery or that the prognosis is 'poor'. Kittens w/ CH turned into shelters are euth'd without a second thought. Kittens taken to personal vets often suffer the same fate when client is told of the 'poor prognosis and much suffering'.

I heartily second this opinion! When I first found Creamsicle sick inside one of the outdoor shelters that I had set up, I thought she was dead. She was 6 weeks old and when I shook her, she didn't move. I shook her again and startled her. She struggled to get up and immediately fell over. My vet was out of town and one of his associates took her case and, while I was at work, he called to tell me that he thought she might have rabies and should be PTS. When I asked how it would be done, he said that her veins were too tiny to inject a needle and that he would have to directly inject her heart. I said "Don't touch her! I'm leaving work right now to come and get her." He said that he wouldn't treat her at all but I didn't trust him, so I called back on my cell phone and stayed on the line until I got to the animal hospital. I waited until my vet came back into town, meanwhile taking care of Creamsicle as best I could, keeping her isolated in case she could transmit whatever it was that she had to my other cats. When my vet saw her, he admitted to being baffled but he wasn't one to just write an animal off. He stayed up all night researching her symptoms and he told me that she had a herpes virus that caused the symptoms. With good vet treatment and a lot of love, she now is the happiest cat you'd ever want to see. At times, she can even be a bully w/my other cats! When she gets excited or scared, she reverts to walking frantically in circles and then, of course, she becomes even more spastic and falls a lot. I can't keep her from getting excited because feeding time gets her all worked up. But I can keep her from getting scared and I make sure that she feels as secure as possible. Yes, sometimes she tries to jump up onto the sofa or chair and she misses and she never lands on her feet. She's taken some lumps, that's for sure. But her determination and her sweet, sweet personality are unmatched by any of my other cats before or since adding her to my Fur Posse. Her deafness also means that she needs more stimulation than the other cats do and she loves to reach up and touch your face. I couldn't bear the thought of her doing that while she was being PTS. I couldn't have lived w/myself. She's also partially blind; she has no peripheral vision, so I'm thinking that she may have something other than CH but I don't know for sure. I also don't know for sure if it is indeed caused by a herpes virus. What I do know is that she is the most wonderful, loving, determined, spoiled little cat that I've ever had the pleasure of living with. (Well, she isn't so little any more. She's on Prednisolone for a skin allergy and she's chubbed up.) And she came in to my life at a time when I needed to be saved, too. We saved each other. If you have an opportunity to adopt a CH baby, I encourage you to do so. CH babies need more love than the average cat and they give it back to you a hundred times over.

[Medusa]

Sadly, the reason it seems 'more common' in the northeast is because Texas and other southern states still have far too many vets, shelter personnel and others that do not recognize a possible CH kitten when they see one.

When confronted with a kitten who has CH many vets diagnose rabies, brain tumor, neurological disorder, toxoplasmosis. The prevailing opinion of these vets is that a kitten will be doomed to a life of misery or that the prognosis is 'poor'. Kittens w/ CH turned into shelters are euth'd without a second thought. Kittens taken to personal vets often suffer the same fate when client is told of the 'poor prognosis and much suffering'.

I heartily second this opinion! When I first found Creamsicle sick inside one of the outdoor shelters that I had set up, I thought she was dead. She was 6 weeks old and when I shook her, she didn't move. I shook her again and startled her. She struggled to get up and immediately fell over. My vet was out of town and one of his associates took her case and, while I was at work, he called to tell me that he thought she might have rabies and should be PTS. When I asked how it would be done, he said that her veins were too tiny to inject a needle and that he would have to directly inject her heart. I said "Don't touch her! I'm leaving work right now to come and get her." He said that he wouldn't treat her at all but I didn't trust him, so I called back on my cell phone and stayed on the line until I got to the animal hospital. I waited until my vet came back into town, meanwhile taking care of Creamsicle as best I could, keeping her isolated in case she could transmit whatever it was that she had to my other cats. When my vet saw her, he admitted to being baffled but he wasn't one to just write an animal off. He stayed up all night researching her symptoms and he told me that she had a herpes virus that caused the symptoms. With good vet treatment and a lot of love, she now is the happiest cat you'd ever want to see.

At times, she can even be a bully w/my other cats! When she gets excited or scared, she reverts to walking frantically in circles and then, of course, she becomes even more spastic and falls a lot. I can't keep her from getting excited because feeding time gets her all worked up. But I can keep her from getting scared and I make sure that she feels as secure as possible. Yes, sometimes she tries to jump up onto the sofa or chair and she misses and she never lands on her feet. She's taken some lumps, that's for sure. But her determination and her sweet, sweet personality are unmatched by any of my other cats before or since adding her to my Fur Posse.

Her deafness also means that she needs more stimulation than the other cats do and she loves to reach up and touch your face. I couldn't bear the thought of her doing that while she was being PTS. I couldn't have lived w/myself. She's also partially blind; she has no peripheral vision, so I'm thinking that she may have something other than CH but I don't know for sure. I also don't know for sure if it is indeed caused by a herpes virus. What I do know is that she is the most wonderful, loving, determined, spoiled little cat that I've ever had the pleasure of living with. (Well, she isn't so little any more. She's on Prednisolone for a skin allergy and she's chubbed up.) And she came in to my life at a time when I needed to be saved, too. We saved each other. If you have an opportunity to adopt a CH baby, I encourage you to do so. CH babies need more love than the average cat and they give it back to you a hundred times over.

[Emeraldgreen]

That is an amazing story about Creamsicle! Thank God you didn't give up on her and that you were both there for each other.

Yes, sometimes she tries to jump up onto the sofa or chair and she misses and she never lands on her feet. She's taken some lumps, that's for sure.

Stinky is the world's worst jumper. She often 'misses' when she attempts to jump up on stuff but the second try usually gets the job done. Maybe it's all connected! She is very agile though and even though she is an indoor cat, last night she caught a mouse on our enclosed deck! I was sad for the mouse but very impressed with her hunting skills that I had no idea she had! She was very angry with me that I took the mouse away from her. Rightly so I guess!

[kb2yjx]

A bit slow here.. just saw the video!! Our cats can teach us so much!!! Amy is precious and you are so special to care for her!!!

[Medusa]

Sadly, the reason it seems 'more common' in the northeast is because Texas and other southern states still have far too many vets, shelter personnel and others that do not recognize a possible CH kitten when they see one.

When confronted with a kitten who has CH many vets diagnose rabies, brain tumor, neurological disorder, toxoplasmosis. The prevailing opinion of these vets is that a kitten will be doomed to a life of misery or that the prognosis is 'poor'. Kittens w/ CH turned into shelters are euth'd without a second thought. Kittens taken to personal vets often suffer the same fate when client is told of the 'poor prognosis and much suffering'.

I heartily second this opinion! When I first found Creamsicle, sick inside one of the outdoor shelters that I had set up, I thought she was dead. She was 6 weeks old and when I shook her, she didn't move. I shook her again and startled her. She struggled to get up and immediately fell over. My vet was out of town and one of his associates took her case and, while I was at work, he called to tell me that he thought she might have rabies and should be PTS. When I asked how it would be done, he said that her veins were too tiny to inject a needle and that he would have to directly inject her heart. I said "Don't touch her! I'm leaving work right now to come and get her." He said that he wouldn't treat her at all but I didn't trust him, so I called back on my cell phone and stayed on the line until I got to the animal hospital. I waited until my vet came back into town, meanwhile taking care of Creamsicle as best I could, keeping her isolated in case she could transmit whatever it was that she had to my other cats. When my vet saw her, he admitted to being baffled but he wasn't one to just write an animal off. He stayed up all night researching her symptoms and he told me that she had a herpes virus that caused the symptoms. With good vet treatment and a lot of love, she now is the happiest cat you'd ever want to see.

At times, she can even be a bully w/my other cats! When she gets excited or scared, she reverts to walking frantically in circles and then, of course, she becomes even more spastic and falls a lot. I can't keep her from getting excited because feeding time gets her all worked up. But I can keep her from getting scared and I make sure that she feels as secure as possible. Yes, sometimes she tries to jump up onto the sofa or chair and she misses and she never lands on her feet. She's taken some lumps, that's for sure. But her determination and her sweet, sweet personality are unmatched by any of my other cats before or since adding her to my Fur Posse.

Her deafness also means that she needs more stimulation than the other cats do and she loves to reach up and touch your face. I couldn't bear the thought of her doing that while she was being PTS. I couldn't have lived w/myself. She's also partially blind; she has no peripheral vision, so I'm thinking that she may have something other than CH but I don't know for sure. I also don't know for sure if it is indeed caused by a herpes virus. What I do know is that she is the most wonderful, loving, determined, spoiled little cat that I've ever had the pleasure of living with. (Well, she isn't so little any more. She's on Prednisolone for a skin allergy and she's chubbed up.) And she came in to my life at a time when I needed to be saved, too. We saved each other. If you have an opportunity to adopt a CH baby, I encourage you to do so. CH babies need more love than the average cat and they give it back to you a hundred times over.