Meet Flip

Meet Flipper Doodle, a 2-year-old kitty with moderate cerebellar hypoplasia. Although Flip can walk, he’s very unsteady and falls frequently. However, he has found ways to accomplish life’s necessities by eating while laying on his side and using the litter box while on his side as well.

Find out more about this little one, according to his mom, Christy:

Does he have certain limitations?

He has learned how to climb up and get down from my bed but that is the only climbing he does. If he needs to run (from a loud noise) it’s usually on his side but he’s very fast at it.

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 posted two videos of him learning how to get up on my bed. I laid on the bed and just kept encouraging. It was strictly his will and determination to get up on the bed with me. He can now get up and down with no problem though, to get down, he gets on his stomach and slides down onto the pillows on the floor. He’s got it all perfected.

Has he ever hurt himself because of his CH?

Nothing that I have seen, but he sure bumps/falls into doors, chairs and other hard objects.

Every animal is special in his or her own way. How is he special?

For me he is special because of how much he loves. He comes to me every time I call him then lays down in front of me for a tummy rub. He loves his tummy rubs and loves for me to hold him on my chest in my recliner.

Have you found ways to help him with his condition?

I am working on a cart but so far he hates the “fittings.” I’m not too sure he will use it. I bought him a slanted dish for his food and he seems to do much better with it — at least he doesn’t fling his food all over now. But maybe that’s to help me more than him, lol. I also found out that he won’t eat the dry food in a bowl, but will if I just put some on the carpet by his food dish.

What do you think people need to know about CH?

That they aren’t in pain, and this is all they know, so you don’t have to feel sad. A good sense of humor goes a long way (I love some of the CH cat’s names, lol).

What is your favorite and least favorite thing about his having CH?

My favorite is how funny he can be and how cuddly he is. My least favorite is how he startles so easily then “runs” away, so I wish he was more mellow.
Do you have any words of wisdom for other CH parents? Love them for who they are not for what they could have been.

Click here to read about other readers’ CH cats or tell us about your CH cat!