How much do you protect your CH cat?

[Lizzie]

After looking at Medusa's thread about her CH cat, I started wondering how much other PTer's protect their CH cats, or don't.

I corresponded once with someone online who also had a CH cat and she had wrapped padding around all table and chair legs, padded all corners in her home, etc. and was horrified that I had not. I can't imagine padding all corners in my family size house nor constantly removing and cleaning all the padding from furniture, I would never have the time. I've let my Miss Z. (moderately severe CH) run as wild as she wants, even allowing her to race up and down stairs now that she is fully grown - I just don't watch when she does it because it terrifies me.

I hear thuds and bangs all the time as she slams into walls, corners and furniture while racing with the others, quite often chasing the others. I cringe each and every time and imagine the bruises accumulating on her body. But what can one do in those circumstances? She loves, absolutely loves her freedom to race around and is passionately fond of catching even the largest cats unawares and then chasing them into a corner. In that way she is fearless. However, like all CH cats her fear factor is way, way higher than normal. The worst thing I can do when she is racing around is interrupt because she will panic and slam into whatever is nearest far harder than when she is playing. That's the worst, when I accidentally make her panic and she hurts herself. Although she always runs right off and doesn't look hurt.

The other night I noticed her racing around really frantically, shaking her head, whirling around and then hiding, and then I noticed a wasp in the large low window where I know she likes to sit. Immediately I'm thinking of a wasp bite in her mouth, swelling, shock, etc. and I know I have to check her out. Of course, I have to approach her very, very slowly and casually, looking as though I'm walking right past her, and then scoop as fast as possible. She panicked, of course (and I have the marks down my arm to prove it), and I had to scruff and then wrap her to calm her down. No swelling in her mouth, thank goodness, or anywhere else. Perhaps she started to grab it with her mouth but it buzzed and moved and she panicked.

How much do you protect your CH cat? Do they go into panic mode very easily such as when you reach out to pet them, try to check them out physically, walk past them sometimes?

[Laura's Babies]

I am not nearly as protective of Amy as I use to be... or hover over her every move like I use to. She has taught me to just leave her alone and I do. The only thing I have done it to put my box springs and matress on the floor so she can join us there and get down without hurting herself so bad, even then, there is sometimes a hard Ker-THUNK when she gets off the bed. I cringe everytime I hear it.

I have one chair in my livingroom that is HERS. It is high up off the floor and she gets in and out of it by herself (thank you! LEAVE ME ALONE!) and I have a cushion on the floor so it she falls hard out of it, she has a easy landing. She manages the sofa just fine. I do use blankets and rugs to protect the furniture from her nails that she has to use to pull herself up on those things.

A long time ago, she gave up getting on high places like counter tops and tables.. PHEW! I'd about have a heart attack when I'd see her up that high and run get her down. I do have the storage container for her litter boxes and the big pads down in case she don't make it into the box in time.

Other than that, I don't do anything odd or unusual anymore.. She still uses her feeding station we made her every day also. She is a regular little "Miss Do It Yourselfer!"

[lvpets2002]

Well I have 4 CH Babies now & they go & do their thing.. I do watch out for them & if they need help then I assist.. Now I did make sure to have everything carpeted..

[Medusa]

Obviously, after having read my thread, you all can see that I don't go out of my way to protect Creamsicle. I'll admit I was sick to my stomach when she fell this last time because she fell quite a distance and she hit hard. I was here to see it but what about when I'm not? She loves everyone and she's deaf besides so to isolate her in any way is out of the question and, like Lizzie, I can't see padding furniture, etc. Her CH is mild in comparison to when I first rescued her and most people don't even know that she has CH until they try to pick her up or unless they see her endlessly walking in circles. When I first took her in, I considered building ramps for her so that she could get up on the sofa or look out the window w/out my help but as she improved, I realized that she wouldn't need those things.

I think CH cats are rather like toddlers; they're made of rubber and cement. They're tough. I do cat proof the house because of a cat's curious nature and their inability to resist string, tassels, ribbons, etc. and I would never allow Cgirl or any of my cats to come into harm's way. I guess maybe it depends on the severity of the CH and the personality of the cat. If I try to restrict Creamsicle in any way, she'll become more stressed and her CH will become more pronounced.

I'm protective but not over protective. I sometimes feel bad as it is about keeping them indoors so to restrict a CH cat or any cat for that matter doesn't seem fair to me. I was concerned that Cgirl would never be independent and that I would need to hand feed her and put her in the litterbox each time because when she first came to me, her CH was that bad. Well, my prayers for her independence and happiness have been answered and I won't stifle that in any way. If she gets banged up, she'll hopefully learn from experience.

I forgot to answer Lizzie's question about how easily Cgirl goes into panic mode: if I accidentally step on her paw, she'll panic and hide from me. The first time I did that she hadn't been admitted into my house yet because I was waiting for her test results, so she lived in the garage. She ran under my car and stayed there for hours. If I'd get close, she'd run to the other side. I ended up sleeping in the garage that night because I felt so bad and I had to wait for her to come to me, which she eventually did, but her CH was awful! She naturally loves everyone, doesn't seem to fear strangers at all, but if she thinks you're headed in her direction w/medicine, the CH kicks in full bore. I dread the day that I may have to administer subQ's to her if she should ever develop CRF as a couple other of my cats have. Good grief.

[Laura's Babies]

This is a great thread and I have enjoyed reading everyone responses so far, sounds like we are all on the same page with letting them be themselves and not treating them handicapped.

Lizzie- Thanks for thinking of starting this thread. I will watch it still, interested in what everyone else says.

[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