Feline Cerebral Hypoplasia

[Tambrey]

Well....for sure one of the two calicos that I rehomed has been diagnosed with this...as well as being deaf....her family still loves her and won't give her up...they will just accommodate her special needs.....

Her mom was concerned about her small size and often drunken posture and staggering...high stepping across the floor like her feet were stuck on the carpet...messy eating habits and throwing litter ALL over the place...and ignoring them unless they were in front of her...Ellie does not yet weight 2 pounds...last weekend vet visit she was 1.7 pounds....at almost 6 months of age....

last Friday she took Ellie in because she was just too worried....bloodwork is all normal...ELISA test negative, even though she has been vaccinated they were still worried....the vet said they just have a small cat - mom was tiny, she will be tiny - don't worry.....they did not like that answer so Saturday took her in to a different clinic...that is where she was diagnosed with FCH....and deafness, which the family also suspected...
Of course they were mad at the first vet and upset with a brain disorder diagnosis...and the vet said that most kittens do not live beyond their first year....
but she came home and read more about it online and became less worried the more she read...

In the meantime....the mom of the OTHER kitten...Duchess...had HER in the vet because SHE got a cold of virus from the roommate's kitten and while both seemed to be on the mend, the vet was concerned about HER small size...also not yet 2 pounds...so was running tests for kidney and liver failure...however those have all come back normal...and all other bloodwork has as well...
She does not show any of the staggering movements or deafness that Ellie does...but she IS tiny....
However, I did let her know about Ellie's diagnosis and she in turn let the vet know...and he did not seem overly concerned about it...but made note of it....

The 3rd kitten in this litter is still here at home...and she may be rehomed this weekend...but SHE is of normal size and climbs trees and runs along the roof of the garage so she seems to have not been affected at all by the virus when Hissy Spitty must have gotten it while pregnant with them.....

[Traci]

This does not sound like CH, but rather, Cerebellar abiotrophy - or Cerebellar Cortical Abiotrophy.

The two conditions are very similar as far as symptoms are concerned, however, the way they develop are entirely different.

CH is usually viral-induced, develops mainly as a result of distemper infection, either in utero or at or shortly after birth (most likely because the queen was infected), and symptoms are usually noted at or shortly after birth. CH is usually NON-progressive, and the symptoms improve over time as the cat learns to compensate for the disability, the majority of kittens and cats can live long happy lives provided they are well taken care of, the home is prepared for safety etc.

CCA on the otherhand, is theorized to be a genetic condition, (metabolic effect on nerons in the brain), with symptoms generally not noted directly at birth, but rather, is PROGRESSIVE, and symptoms usually occur several weeks or months after birth. It is gradual in older pets. The condition may progress, then it may plateau, and stabilize, with effects for life (much the same as CH). There is no specific test for this, except that an MRI can detect a small cerebellum which aids in diagnosis along with the clinical symptoms. IMPOPRTANT: other conditions like bacterial infections, other viral or neurological disorders must be ruled out as well.

The symptoms for CCA are more progressive, more pronounced, and if the kitten survives the disease early on by the time it plateaus, (usually before 6 months of age), then the likelihood for a good, normal life are good, since they too can compensate for their disability.

However, these kittens need to be frequently evaluated by the vet, paying particular attention to eyesight, since the condition can cause blindness, usually caused by retinal degeneration, retinal detachment. Nystagmus and pupil dilation are common signs to watch for (but there are also other signs as well)

Likewise, these kittens require an extremely safe home, because they are highly accident-prone due to their incoordination and disabilities. The owners must be diligent to provide a safe environment for them, to prevent accidents. Carpets, rugs, soft landings, pillows, anything to soften a fall etc, keep obstacles out of the way, do not allow on stairs, since they are unable to judge depth perception, have a loss of sense for space and distance, etc.

Please tell both owners to discuss the possibility of CCA with their vets, AND request those the vets consult with specialists who can help them properly diagnose, give tips for safety, give tips for proper nutrition and feeding, veterinary care etc. DO NOT ASSUME your third kitten will not develop CCA especially if the other two are PROPERLY DIAGNOSED. She may still develop it, in some pets, this may occur in adulthood, (somewhere less than 4 years of age). If you plan to adopt her out, you must get her evaluated by your vet, and inform the adopter of the potential for CCA.

[Traci]

Also meant to add, if Hissy was the queen of this litter, make all attempts to get her spayed immediately to stop the gene reproduction (if the kittens are properly, without a doubt diagnosed as CCA).

[slvrwhispr]

Hissy didn't make it, Traci... she crossed the bridge a while ago.

[Tambrey]

Thanks for that information, Traci....and yes, I will pass it on to the mom's...I already told the potential family of Stripe about the possibility but she did not say anything about NOT wanting her...

I do know that Ellie's Mom said she is already working on kitten proofing the house...it is basically one level, with a basement but they always keep the door shut anyways...Ellie does not like to get up into windows, and now she knows why...but she said she is going to think of something WIDE with a safety rail and cushion that might allow her to lay and look out a window, since none of their furniture is situated so she can easily....

Duchess's Mom is the one going to university in Ames, and she does bring Duchess home every weekend...their house is also mainly one level, with doors to the upstairs and basement both closed at all times....I have been there often through the years enough to know this!! In Ames it is an apartment, so no stairs there...

Both cats are indoor only....Ellie did dash out the front door once a few weeks ago, but got no further than the front porch because the stairs stopped her...then she turned and sat waiting to be lifted back into the house right away....they don't think she will try that one again, but told the kids they MUST be careful with her!!
And now that they have read more about her disability....they sort of liken having a child with cerebral palsy, they are going to do everything they can for her....

[Traci]

I'm so sorry for my feeble mind about sweet Hissy Spitty, please please forgive me