Bus and Lola, my Cerebellar Hypoplasia cats

Bus (orange/white adult male) and Lola (calico kitten) are my two CH kitties.

Update: Lola passed away in August 2008. See my video Goodbye, Lola for an explanation. Bus is still doing wonderful, and will be three years old in June =)

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• cerebellar
• hypoplasia
• cat
• cats
• maine
• coon
• ch
• animals
• cute
• kitten
• kittens
• disability
• funny
• sweet
• kitty
• kitties

[Babyblue033]

I couldn't believe how similar Lola looks like my own CH kitty Roxy! I was getting all teary looking at Lola, remembering my Roxy as a little baby. Roxy is more severe but much better than when she was a baby. How old is Lola now and how is she doing?

[mcnini]

Lola is almost 9 months old now and is doing quite a bit better. She can pull herself up onto things, uses the litter box on her own, and doesn't run into walls anymore. She still falls a lot though, but we have carpeting and i think that helps with traction. She purrs ALOT lol, as does my other CH cat. All I have to do is look at them and they start purring.

[vdud28]

ah, will they be stuck with that for life? what does the vet say? i feel sad for her. have you taken a recent video?

[mcnini]

Yes, it is a life long condition, though it does improve over time as they get adjusted to the lack of motor skills. My vet says there is no reason they can't live happy, full lives. They are both fixed and vaccinated just like my other cats.  Their nails are not trimmed at all, since they use their claws to pull themselves up onto the bed and couch and stuff. I don't have a recent video but I will try to get one up this weekend. Thanks for your interest in their condition!

[vdud28]

your cat is bad on its feet-is there a problem? i feel for her!

[mcnini]

Yes, both her and my red/white cat have a condition called cerebellar hypoplasia. This affects their motor skills. Don't worry though, As you can see Bus is doing pretty good, and Lola has grown quite a bit since this was taken, she is also much steadier on her feet =)

[ShanaeEskimoFace]

i wonder what the other cats think of how she's all wobbly?

[gilletteTBAMCG]

@mcnini

My cat was like that too. Milo wasn't CH, but he had a tough-guy act he always put on. You knew it was all an act though, because if he so much as saw you looking at him his motor would immediately start going. We just put him down last Friday, so I'm watching all kinds of kitty videos and I love seeing all these CH kitties with loving families. Makes me want to look into getting one whenever that time comes around again...

[countrygirl592]

omg Bus is polydactal thats awesome

[procast]

is it their motor skill ? i thought it was the gravity sensor(fluid) at their ear is malfunctioning .

[D5366914]

I had never heard of CH until today when I ran into this type of videos. I have learned that it is not payful and that these kitties can live a long an fullfiling file. What they lack in mottor skills they make up in cutness.

[nelt3]

pretty little kitty eheh cute

[Ambyrhawke]

The cerebellar hypoplasia condition comes about when the cat's mom has distemper while pregnant. This causes the cerebellum part of the brain to not develop fully. The symptoms (bad balance and head bobbing) start showing up at 4 weeks when the kittens start walking. I've got a CH cat, too. He's got cancer and will get his front right leg amputated on Monday, so he'll be a bit more wobbly until he heals.