From Mild to Severe: The Varying Degrees of Cerebellar Hypoplasia
Courtesy One From RM
Unlike the kitties to the left, the degree of cerebellar hypoplasia a cat can have is hardly black or white.
In fact, one of the more interesting characteristics about CH is how differently it can impact cats, even those from the same litter. Some may be born with severe cases, while siblings may exhibit mild symptoms, if any at all.
Since there’s such a range when it comes to this condition, many owners classify their cat’s CH severity based on her symptoms and abilities. The degrees are somewhat subjective, but the videos below will help give you an idea of how the severity of CH in a cat can range.
Mild
Most mild cats are rather capable. While they may have a funny gait (a high step or waddle), they can usually get around without a problem. Some may even be able to jump up or go up and down stairs. Chances are they’ll still have mild head tremors (when nervous, excited or focusing on something) and random tumbles, but these may not happen often.
Moderate
Moderate CH cats look even more like little drunken sailors. It often appears as if the ground they’re walking on is unsteady, as they walk in a wide stance to maintain balance. Their movements are even more exaggerated, and it will seem like one end of the cat doesn’t know what the other is doing. They often have spastic movements: They may tumble every few feet or their back legs may slip out from under them, but they can still get around.
Cats with moderate CH will have noticeable head tremors and usually climb, instead of jump, to where they want to go. Some home modifications, like placing area rugs in strategic places and placing bumpers or padding around sharp corners may be helpful.
Below is a fantastic video of Gordon, who was born with moderate CH, but as the video shows, as he grew up he was able to improve quite a bit. This happens often, usually due to building up muscle mass and working on coordination — as well as the brain rewiring itself. Just watch how he runs around when he’s older!
Moderate to Severe
Roxy is a great example of a moderately severe CH kitty. She’s able to get up and walk around a bit, but she usually ends up on her side. Nevertheless, these kitties can become quite capable as they often accomplish what they put their minds to.
Severe
Most severe CH kitties cannot walk or stand. Instead, many may flip-flop around. Shinju, Roxy’s adopted sister, shows how she gets around by propelling herself forward. These kitties may have a bit more trouble getting to where they need to go and when, since they have less control over their movements, but as you can see, it doesn’t make her any less loveable!
Severe cats may have frequent head tremors, and require extra care. They may need assistance using the litter box or getting to where they need to go.
Severe CH Cat in a Walker
Here’s where this gets cool. As stated earlier, some CH kitties can improve with age. Usually this happens if they can exercise, build muscle mass and move around. Since that can be especially difficult for severely impacted kitties (since they can’t really get up or move too much), their owners have created walkers for them. By slipping them into a harness, the kitty can move around without the fear of falling. This helps severe kitties work on their motor control and also slowly build up their muscles.
There are many types of walkers out there, but here’s one example:
For more information on the different degrees of cerebellar hypoplasia, check out these great educational materials! If you can, please print a few out and share it with your local shelters and veterinarians.
How would you classify your CH cat? Has your cat’s CH improved over time? Have you tried using a walker with your kitty? Please share!
Yoshi is 4. He has definately improved over the last year. He even scratches the post like the other cats. He gets stuck and falls over, but he tries. He is even able to jump onto the bed by clawing up the side. I found him on a wooden kitchen chair one day-no clue how he got up there!!
Storm is 4 1/2 yrs. old. She has severe CH. She was the one is three kitties that survived. Storm is able to get around by digging her claws in the carpet, and boy, is she quick (as a cat!). Over the years she has improved, but also lost some back leg function due to seizures. I am a member of the CH Kitty Club and have read posts about the walkers, but have not tried one. She has taught us alot about patience, we all loknow she is a special gift from God!
My kitty is pretty severe… and she might have other brain damage as well, as she is only nice to me. She is at the end of he life, although she is only 12, it looks like she has cancer, and because she is so hostile to anything but food, love, and pets, treating her is impossible. She had a good run. Lots of love.. food, she loved food. Plenty of comfy beds to sit in. She was found in a dumpster covered with ants when she was a kitten. I’m going to miss Weebles.
Hilary,
I’m so sorry to hear about Weebles! What a wonderful life she’s had with you — especially considering how far she’s come! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and her; hope she’s doing well.
I have a mild-moderate CH kitten who is about 8 months old now. We think she has some other brain damage going on though as her condition is slowly but steadily worsening. She has head shakes when stressed or stimulated and has recently started having small seizure like episodes when she makes a funny noise and jerks forward as though she’s going to cough a hair ball up. She looks shocked but is OK after a second. It’s heart-breaking not being able to make her better and is particularly frustrating for me as I’m a vet nurse. She manages to get around fairly well. She claws her way up my bed but can’t jump up. The main problem with her is toileting habits. Sometimes she can’t go and I have to express her bladder (she also has Dibenyline to help with this) and other times she pees little bits everywhere. She’s started pooing out of her trays too even though she can get in them fine. She’s hard work but I love her to bits and am so glad that my friend found her and brought her to me. Lilee was dumped and would have starved to death when she was about 12 weeks old. Does anyone else have experience of cats with something other than CH going on too?
Thanks for sharing, and while I’m sorry to hear about Lilee’s difficulties, she is VERY lucky to have you as a pet parent!
Elf seems moderate to severe…She flops over every 5-10 feet, and has head tremors much of the time. She lays down to eat and use the litter box, but can drink standing up because her bowl is next to a wall and she can lean against it. The laser light has been a big help in in her mobility. We don’t let her near stairs, and she really isn’t around climbable furniture. She doesn’t seem to realize she has issues; yesterday she was longing to get out and chase a bird she spied!
My cat Mimosa is not quite 2 years old yet. My husband and I adopted her from a shelter in July, right after her 1st birthday. She’s very tiny compared to other cats her age and although the shelter wouldn’t absolutely confirm it, they said they believed she had CH. She seems to be mild now. When we first brought her home she was a mess. She could stand to eat and use the litter box but would run into everything and was unable to jump or walk very well. We have noticed an extreme improvement in her motor skills! She’s a curious and feisty little thing who always has something to say. She still makes a mess when she eats, falls over when she tries to look up and is overall a little wobbly but she can now walk in (almost) a straight line 90% of the time, jump up on low furniture, and climb onto pretty much anything. She has just mastered the art of climbing up and down stairs (with only a few mis-steps). She lets NOTHING stop her but I think being able to get out of that tiny cage at the shelter and stretch her legs has made a vast improvement on her mobility. We try to play with her as much as possible and run around with her to help her get more accustomed to different environments and so far she has been doing great! Now if only I could stop her from running into walls I wouldn’t be worried about her health at all!
We have a kitty with mild CH named Weebles. She is really only unsteady and wobbly when she’s on a soft surface, like a bed, or if she’s stressed out or in a new situation. She’s actually getting much better now that we’ve adopted her a couple kitty friends to imitate and follow. She’s learned to climb a condo and is much steadier on her feet. She’s a lovely kitty and we’re so blessed to have her in our lives!
We have a cat named Sprite with mild CH. She is quite tiny – only 5 pounds but she is the boss! The 17 lb. male cat runs from her. Sprite is 15 years; her motor skills definitely improved over time. As a kitten she would run into doors. She hasn’t done that for a long time. Her jumping is off too. She will jump higher than needed and then come down. She uses her claws to climb rather than jump as well. When she walks she picks her feet up high but she does not have tremors or wobble as others do. She is very sweet and we love having her.
My Riley seems to be pretty mildly affected. He has this funny thing he does and I wanted to know if anyone else with a mild or even moderate CH kitty noticed anything similar. Since he walks pretty well (albeit wobbly but well nonetheless), he has this weird galloping thing that he will do out of nowhere. He could be standing still, sitting on the bed, or even watching something outside and all of a sudden, he’ll go from totally calm and relatively still to suddenly galloping a few feet. He’s only about 11 months old so he’s still all kitten but it’s so funny. He’s definitely mainly nocturnal so he will do this after like, 11:30pm or midnight. Anyone else have a CH kitty that seems to think they are part racehorse? LOL