The other day Misty came to me with a concern. I feel like several of you have experienced similar situations before, so I wanted to share her story in hopes that we can all offer advice, thoughts, stories and, perhaps, solutions.
Photo courtesy drymate.com
From Misty:
“Winnie is a little over a year old, has a mild case of CH and has no problem getting in and out of any type of litter box. We have a multiple cat household so we have 2 litter boxes and one litter robot for a total of 3. One is located upstairs and the other two are downstairs right next to each other. We’ve seen her use all of them. The problem is that sometimes she doesn’t.
She’ll go behind the litter box on the floor, or at times in front. It’s not a constant problem, but it’s been happening more and more and we don’t know how to correct the behavior. The boxes are always cleaned out and in a few cases were completely void of urine or feces. Sometimes she’ll go into the litter box, then come out and go behind it on the floor. Is there something we can do or some product we can use to discourage her from doing this?”
When a cat goes to the bathroom outside of the litter box, even if just an accident, it can be a frustrating situation to deal with — especially if there isn’t an obvious solution. And if not corrected, this can become a regular habit.
While Winnie’s behavior is still a mystery (perhaps someone can shine some light on it!), here are some things to consider if your cat is peeing outside of the box:
Meet Oatie
When the vet first met Oatie, he thought it would be best to put the kitten to sleep.
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. Read more…
Like this:
Cerebellar Hypoplasia Cats Should Not Be Euthanized
The other morning I woke up to this announcement:
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.
Like this:
How to Cat-Proof Your Home
If you’ve decided you’re bringing home your first cat, congratulations! It can be one of the most wonderful and rewarding experiences.
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.
Like this:
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. Read more…
Meet Goobie Girl
When it comes to special needs kitties, Allison’s opinion is clear:
“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.
Like this:
CH Cat Jack, Gaby Need Home in Europe
Here comes a special request all the way from Europe!
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!
