These little ones came from the
same mobile home park that Siren came to us from last year. We have
stepped up our efforts to TNR all the cats in that location (we always TNR all
of them but we've been split between many different projects lately). But
it is urgent that we TNR the cats as quickly as possible - and not just for cat
overpopulation problems.
Phoenix and Sun Bird are CH kitties - they have cerebellar
hypoplasia.
Feline cerebellar hypoplasia is a non-progressive,
non-contagious neurological condition that results in walking and balance
problems. A kitten is born with CH when the part of the brain that controls
fine motor skills and coordination is underdeveloped at birth. The most common cause of this is if
the mother contracted feline distemper while pregnant or if there was some sort
of trauma to the kittens while they were in the womb.
CH cats are known for their
“drunken sailor” walk, which is why they are endearingly known as “wobbly
cats”. The severity of a
kitten’s CH can vary greatly – even among litter mates. While some may only “wobble” some,
others may have significant trouble getting around.
CH cats may also experience
head tremors with uncontrollable shaking of the head when trying to focus.
CH cats don’t know they are
different from other cats. Depending
on the severity of their CH, they may have limited ability to jump so they’ll
become world-class climbers instead.
These wonderful babies are safe
now. They will be taken
care of and loved. And if
everything goes well, they may be able to be adopted. If not, they’ll stay with us in a
loving foster home.
