My Special-Needs Cat

In March of 2006 I rescued my cat Tipsy from the Trenton animal shelter in New Jersey. She was found roaming the streets with a unique medical condition. At a specialized medical facility in Valley Forge, PA she was diagnosed with Cerebellar Hypoplasia, which is a neurological abnormality causing tremors and unbalanced movements in cats.

What exactly is Cerebellar Hypoplasia?
This information was gathered from the Encyclopedia of Feline Veterinary Medical.
The cerebellum is the portion of the brain responsible for the control of motion. When a puppy or kitten is born with an underdeveloped cerebellum, the condition is known as congenital cerebellar hypoplasia. There are infectious causes of this condition in both cats (panleukopenia infection prior to birth) and dogs (herpes virus infection prior to birth). Improper development of the cerebellum may occur due to injury, poisoning or just from an accident in development in the uterus. It is generally possible to see signs of this condition almost as soon as the puppy or kitten is born. Affected animals have tremors and unusual jerky movements or may fall down when they try to move. The symptoms do not get worse as they age. As the kitten or puppy grows it will learn to compensate for its condition but there are usually lifelong signs of a decreased ability to coordinate movement. Almost all dogs and cats with congenital cerebellar hypoplasia can live happily as pets with a little special care to compensate for their disabilities.

First Troubles
When I brought my cat home I named her Tipsy because her condition makes her move like she's drunk all the time. For the first month after I brought her home, things were a bit difficult. She would sometimes use my floor as her toilet instead of her litter box, and she would spill her water every time she came near it. After a while we got into a routine together and the problems disappeared. I got a weighted water bowl so that it wouldn't tip over when she fell on it, and I purchased a corner litter box with a lower, wider opening in the front so that it was easier to get into. It was a trial and error process that took some adjusting to get used to.

Tipsy's Uniqueness
Tipsy's condition is unique. She moves differently than all other cats, but she can walk, run, climb, eat, and use a litter box well enough to have a normal life. She takes light steps when she walks and her back is always arched up. I believe it helps her keep her balance. Her behavior is normal; she loves to eat dairy and meat, and to watch the birds out of the back sliding glass door. Sometimes while Tipsy is walking around, for no apparent reason she will literally do a back flip. When she gets excited about something her head moves back and forth like a bobblehead figure. She also moves in a chicken peck motion when she eats. Everyone that sees her feels bad for her, but after a while it is comical. She thinks that she is a normal cat and has no idea that she is unique. She doesn't seem to feel any pain from her condition, and so far is living a normal healthy life.

I often think about what might have happened to Tipsy if she stayed in the shelter for much longer. She probably would have been euthanized because of her condition. She is over a year old now and is my constant companion. She will always be labeled as a 'special needs' animal, but she is so much more than that.

For more info about Cerebellar Hypoplasia: http://www.chkittyclub.com/pages/home.html