CH-Kittens

Meet S’Klallam, Kalispel, Nisqually, Skokomish, Quileute, and Quinalt!

Recently, Almost Home Foundation rescued a litter of six kittens from a high-kill shelter. These lucky little ones went to a fantastic foster home together!

It was quickly discovered that some of the kittens were different from the rest. These ones had a lot of trouble walking. Their movements were shaky and extremely uncoordinated. Their heads tended to bob and they couldn’t keep their balance for long. Their steps were wobbly and they fell down a lot. They stood with wide, unsteady stances. Sometimes they even walked backwards when they were clearly trying to walk forward.

At the vet, these kittens were diagnosed with cerebellar hypoplasia (CH). CH is a neurological disorder of the cerebellum, which develops incorrectly when affected kittens are still in the womb. CH often happens when the mom cat encounters paneleukopenia (feline distemper) while she is pregnant. Not all of the kittens will be affected by it. This litter had six kittens in it. Four of them appear to have CH, while the remaining two seem perfectly fine.

CH affects the coordination and balance of affected cats. Cats with CH have very little control over their movements, which makes walking difficult. They have awkward gaits and a range of motor issues. Sometimes they suffer from tremors. The severity of the disorder varies from cat to cat. In some cats, the disorder is mild. In others, it’s more severe.

CH is a lifelong disorder that doesn’t get better or worse. There is no known treatment for it. Fortunately, cats usually adapt very well to living with the disorder. They learn to navigate differently but expertly. The lifespan for a cat with CH is the same as the lifespan for any other cat.

They may have CH, but the little kittens in Almost Home Foundation’s care are a VERY happy-go-lucky group. Friendly, active, and talkative, they love being held and receiving attention. They absolutely love people! No matter where they go, they don’t waste any time turning on the charm. They are true heart-stealers.

The entire litter is also extremely lucky. At the high-kill shelter, they wouldn’t have stood much of a chance. Everything changed for them on the day they were rescued! Now they have a chance at enjoying long, happy lives in forever homes.

Cats with special needs are often harder to find homes for. This litter needs some special people to open their hearts to them! If you are interested in adopting one (or maybe more!) of them, please contact us at cats@almosthomefoundation.org. Thank you for giving these special kittens a chance!