How much do you protect your CH cat?

**catnapper** · 08-07-2009, 07:39 PM

Boy this thread is making me want Wobbles more..... Humane League of Lancaster County has a 2 month old orange tabby CH kitten named Wobbles. I was talking to the rescue today about him, and the head already put in a request for him!

Hubby's answer was an immediate NO! but his heart would say yes if he got to meet him.

Here's what they said about him

Take a moment to watch Wobbles walk and you will definitely realize the meaning behind his name. This tiny, 2 month old kitten walks as if he sipped one too many cocktails! Wobbles has what is known as cerebellar hypoplasia, which is a disorder that affects part of a cat or dog's brain. The disorder causes jerky movements and uncontrolled motion and it can be difficult to pinpoint the cause of the disorder.

Despite his disability, Wobbles is a happy kitten who loves to cuddle. He cannot go up or down stairs or jump up on furniture because he is not coordinated enough. Just like any other kitten, however, he likes to play with other cats and explore his environment. Wobbles is litterbox trained, up to date on his vaccinations, and will be neutered as part of his adoption process.

Because he already has some difficulty getting around, Wobbles cannot be declawed. He would probably benefit from going to a home with another cat or kitten who could act as his buddy and inspire him to be as normal of a cat as possible. The main requirement for Wobbles' adoption is that his new family will love him just the way he is! If you would like to adopt Wobbles, come meet him at the Humane League's main facility on Lincoln Highway! Visit our website for hours and directions.

http://origin.ih.constantcontact.com...=1102662715691

**phesina** · 08-07-2009, 08:23 PM

Elmer and Bob go wherever they want and do whatever they want to do.. but my place is just 2 rooms with wall-to-wall carpeting plus a very small bathroom and kitchenette.

Neither of them goes to much trouble to climb or jump. Bob hauls himself up to the top of his 2-story cat condo. Elmer jumps up onto my bed.. or rather, kind of hurls himself into the air to land on it wherever.

**emily_the_spoiled** · 08-09-2009, 12:53 PM

As the newet PT members to get a CH kitty I have not done anything special for her. I already had 4 blind cats, so the house is designed so that they can climb up on what I want them to (because they can not see to jump up). So this has worked well for the newest addition. But I watch her and wonder how she doesn't end up full of bruises (I know I would

). But she loves to play with the other cats and run around the house. (She is only 3 months old so she is not quite big enough to learn how to do stairs yet but I am sure it will come with time and my heart attack

)

**lvpets2002** · 08-09-2009, 04:39 PM

I will admitt I have steps & chairs in diff spots for the babies to be able to get on the bed & couchs.. Most of the time they will pull themselves onto furniture.. So I also leave their nails longer than the others so they can climb & pull.. Other than that I just let them be themselves & do what they want.. Now I do watch very close if they are wanting to climb the cat trees.. I dont like them falling off.. Yes Great Thread so we can Adore & talk about our Special Babies.. Thanks

**Lizzie** · 08-10-2009, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by emily_the_spoiled

(She is only 3 months old so she is not quite big enough to learn how to do stairs yet but I am sure it will come with time and my heart attack

)

The advice I would give when she decides to do stairs is not to try to help her, not to move forward towards her or make her hesitate at all in her movements. The one time I started forward with horror when I saw my Miss Z. climbing the stairs in a lurch, rear back to almost falling, throw herself forward and grab method, she froze and then almost fell completely backwards. I was too far away to help her and I almost caused her to break her neck. I can't put anything soft at the bottom of the stairs because she would pee on it.

Those of you with litter box trained CH cats are lucky. No matter what method I've tried from advice from various sources, Miss Z. has never used even the lowest litter boxes even those with strong side supports. She mostly pees on newspaper in the bathrooms, or at least on the linoleum floor (I have to put the lights on full if I have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, a horrible thing to do to my eyes but better than stepping in pee or poop.) She's always used whatever soft stuff she can find on the floor. I had to rip out all my carpets, can't have rugs, and can't even leave a cloth on the floor when I've had plates of wet food down. Most annoying of all, in spite of having two bathrooms, one litter room downstairs, and a corner of the living room cordoned off just for her with a square of linoleum and newspaper, if she finds her preferred place is at all dirty, she won't find another, she will simply poop or pee on the hall or bedroom floor. I've always sworn that if I gave her a forty acre field as her litter area, she would poop just inside the field and then refuse to use it again if the poop was still there when she returned. It is, of course, based on her desire not to soil herself since she almost always falls over when she pees and poops.

I also leave Miss Z's claws alone, she's always wearing them down anyway with her climbing.

After reading other responses on this thread, I'm inclined to think my Miss Z's fear factor is higher than usual. It really is extreme.

It can be amazing watching these cats get where they want to go. Like other CH cats, Miss Z. does claw and scramble her way onto sofas and beds, etc. There are times recently, however, when she almost seems to levitate herself onto the sofa. I see her jump upwards, don't see her move forwards, and all of a sudden she is on the couch on all fours.

**Medusa** · 08-10-2009, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by Lizzie

The advice I would give when she decides to do stairs is not to try to help her, not to move forward towards her or make her hesitate at all in her movements. The one time I started forward with horror when I saw my Miss Z. climbing the stairs in a lurch, rear back to almost falling, throw herself forward and grab method, she froze and then almost fell completely backwards. I was too far away to help her and I almost caused her to break her neck. I can't put anything soft at the bottom of the stairs because she would pee on it.

Those of you with litter box trained CH cats are lucky. No matter what method I've tried from advice from various sources, Miss Z. has never used even the lowest litter boxes even those with strong side supports. She mostly pees on newspaper in the bathrooms, or at least on the linoleum floor (I have to put the lights on full if I have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, a horrible thing to do to my eyes but better than stepping in pee or poop.) She's always used whatever soft stuff she can find on the floor. I had to rip out all my carpets, can't have rugs, and can't even leave a cloth on the floor when I've had plates of wet food down. Most annoying of all, in spite of having two bathrooms, one litter room downstairs, and a corner of the living room cordoned off just for her with a square of linoleum and newspaper, if she finds her preferred place is at all dirty, she won't find another, she will simply poop or pee on the hall or bedroom floor. I've always sworn that if I gave her a forty acre field as her litter area, she would poop just inside the field and then refuse to use it again if the poop was still there when she returned. It is, of course, based on her desire not to soil herself since she almost always falls over when she pees and poops.

I also leave Miss Z's claws alone, she's always wearing them down anyway with her climbing.

After reading other responses on this thread, I'm inclined to think my Miss Z's fear factor is higher than usual. It really is extreme.

It can be amazing watching these cats get where they want to go. Like other CH cats, Miss Z. does claw and scramble her way onto sofas and beds, etc. There are times recently, however, when she almost seems to levitate herself onto the sofa. I see her jump upwards, don't see her move forwards, and all of a sudden she is on the couch on all fours.

When Creamsicle first came to me, her CH was so bad that she couldn't stand. She just simply fell over and flopped like a fish out of water. When she could finally stand, believe it or not, she became litter trained in the birdseed that fell from the feeder. From there to the litterbox was a natural progression. Perhaps give that a try?

**lvpets2002** · 08-10-2009, 01:11 PM

I will say with my four of watching them from kitten to full grown is they learn on their own of their abilities & or not.. They learn how to handle climbing & potting in the litter box & just getting around in general.. Now I know with my Taccoa & Zolene their litter box has taller sides than the others.. Due to both babies use the sides to lean on for support..

**emily_the_spoiled** · 08-10-2009, 02:01 PM

So far the primary litter box issue we have is that sometimes she doesn't make it in time because she is asleep and doesn't wake up in time

Needless to say I have been washing my sheets/blankets much more frequently...

**freckledimple** · 08-10-2009, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Lizzie

Those of you with litter box trained CH cats are lucky. No matter what method I've tried from advice from various sources, Miss Z. has never used even the lowest litter boxes even those with strong side supports.

Have you tried ferret or rabbit litter boxes? They have a very low front and high sides. They are also made out of very sturdy plastic(resists bunny teeth

) and come in a variety of sizes.

My CH baby Phoebe, fortunately, has a mild case. She moves kittenish even though she is full grown. Her balance is a little off, her movements are exagerated, she snarfs wet food, and eats dry food wierd. When she plays with a favorite toy, she'll play until she is exhausted. Thanks to previous posters, I now know why she uses her claws more often and why she sometimes jumps when I reach out to pet her. Unfortunately, she has to be kept from the other kitties, because she has kitty herpes. So, until we can get the other's tested($42 dollars a pop) and vaccinated, she has the garden room all to herself.

PS. Are all CH kitties super skinny?

**Medusa** · 08-10-2009, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by freckledimple

Are all CH kitties super skinny?

My Creamsicle eats anything that doesn't eat her first. No, I'm kidding. She's fat because she's on Prednisolone. Actually, she's a finicky eater.

**blue** · 08-10-2009, 10:49 PM

Excuse my ignorance, but what is CH?

**Medusa** · 08-09-2009, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by catnapper

Boy this thread is making me want Wobbles more..... Humane League of Lancaster County has a 2 month old orange tabby CH kitten named Wobbles. I was talking to the rescue today about him, and the head already put in a request for him!

Hubby's answer was an immediate NO! but his heart would say yes if he got to meet him.

Here's what they said about him

Take a moment to watch Wobbles walk and you will definitely realize the meaning behind his name. This tiny, 2 month old kitten walks as if he sipped one too many cocktails! Wobbles has what is known as cerebellar hypoplasia, which is a disorder that affects part of a cat or dog's brain. The disorder causes jerky movements and uncontrolled motion and it can be difficult to pinpoint the cause of the disorder.

Despite his disability, Wobbles is a happy kitten who loves to cuddle. He cannot go up or down stairs or jump up on furniture because he is not coordinated enough. Just like any other kitten, however, he likes to play with other cats and explore his environment. Wobbles is litterbox trained, up to date on his vaccinations, and will be neutered as part of his adoption process.

Because he already has some difficulty getting around, Wobbles cannot be declawed. He would probably benefit from going to a home with another cat or kitten who could act as his buddy and inspire him to be as normal of a cat as possible. The main requirement for Wobbles' adoption is that his new family will love him just the way he is! If you would like to adopt Wobbles, come meet him at the Humane League's main facility on Lincoln Highway! Visit our website for hours and directions.

http://origin.ih.constantcontact.com...=1102662715691

You'll never regret taking in a CH cat. My Creamsicle is the most lovable cat ever. Even people who aren't particularly cat lovers can't resist her. Every worker that I've had in my home doing handiwork or construction, etc. has fallen in love w/her. They're just so special in so many ways.