~ baby Chloe ~
So, it turns out I was absolutely right! We went to the vet today Baby Chloe does indeed have a kind of kitty-disability called cerebellar hypoplasia.
It's basically brain damage affecting the cerebellum, which controls balance and co-ordination among other things. (Thanks, PSYC 304!) The damage can be caused by any number of things, from viral infections in-utero, to genetics, to just plain dumb luck. Chloe can't walk more than a couple of steps without falling, and also has poor control over her neck muscles. Be that as it may, she is a mischievous, curious, playful, snuggly, sweet little thing, and I have fallen head over heels in little-kitten love with her.
The vet checked to see if she was blind or deaf - which I knew she wasn't, cause I checked it out myself! (Am feeling particularly smug and clever today, hehe.) He listened to her heart and took a few drops of blood from her ear to check her blood sugar and liver enzymes, and it seems that other than her obvious walking/balance issues, she is a perfect little kitten who should have a long and happy life!!!! Here are a couple of youtube videos featuring kittens and cats with this disability. Her walking skills are not quite as good as this little guy's (yet!):
This video is so sweet... awww:
Anyway, I have vitamins and supplements to give her twice a day, and physiotherapy exercises to do with her (range of motion exercises, and also walking practice!) and with time, she should learn to adapt and become slightly more mobile. The VOKRA woman, Karen, wants me to take a video of her every couple days to see how she's coming along, and I'm thinking that this would be a good place to post them. For now, though, here is a cute picture of her recently (thanks to Helene!)
It's basically brain damage affecting the cerebellum, which controls balance and co-ordination among other things. (Thanks, PSYC 304!) The damage can be caused by any number of things, from viral infections in-utero, to genetics, to just plain dumb luck. Chloe can't walk more than a couple of steps without falling, and also has poor control over her neck muscles. Be that as it may, she is a mischievous, curious, playful, snuggly, sweet little thing, and I have fallen head over heels in little-kitten love with her.
The vet checked to see if she was blind or deaf - which I knew she wasn't, cause I checked it out myself! (Am feeling particularly smug and clever today, hehe.) He listened to her heart and took a few drops of blood from her ear to check her blood sugar and liver enzymes, and it seems that other than her obvious walking/balance issues, she is a perfect little kitten who should have a long and happy life!!!! Here are a couple of youtube videos featuring kittens and cats with this disability. Her walking skills are not quite as good as this little guy's (yet!):
Click to viewThis video is so sweet... awww:
Anyway, I have vitamins and supplements to give her twice a day, and physiotherapy exercises to do with her (range of motion exercises, and also walking practice!) and with time, she should learn to adapt and become slightly more mobile. The VOKRA woman, Karen, wants me to take a video of her every couple days to see how she's coming along, and I'm thinking that this would be a good place to post them. For now, though, here is a cute picture of her recently (thanks to Helene!)