Cerebellar Hypoplasia (CH)

CH develops when an unborn kitten’s brain does not finish growing and remains in an immature state due to the viral infection in the mother cat. The infection causes a pause in the unborn kitten’s brain development, specifically to the area called the cerebellum, which is responsible for coordinated movement and balance.

The severity of symptoms highly depends on how developed the kitten is at the time the mother is infected. It is not a contagious disease, so if your cat is exposed to another cat with Cerebellar Hypoplasia, your cat is not at risk for developing any symptoms. The condition does not worsen over time to those cats that are born with Cerebellar Hypoplasia, and it is not a painful condition, but it is untreatable. Cats with CH have a normal life expectancy, and learn to adapt to their disability very quickly.

There are varying severities of CH, some cats present only slight wobbling, others have quite strong tremors and fall over a lot, and the worse cases of CH present in the animal not being able to walk at all. Despite the symptoms, there is no evidence that cats with CH feel nauseous or dizzy, and they can lead quite normal lives in many cases.

Sadly many vets and rescues are still unaware of the condition and many cats are unnecessarily euthanized.

Symptoms of Cerebellar Hypoplasia in Cats

Cats with Cerebellar Hypoplasia experience problems with movement and mobility and can display the following symptoms –

• Wobbling or swaying when walking
• Uncoordinated movements
• Falling over or falling backwards
• Head tremors which become worse when concentrating or excited
• Overstepping when walking and wide stance
• Difficulty going from a sitting position to standing, or vice versa

The brain damage is permanent but does not get worse with age.

If you suspect you cat has CH it is important to visit your vet as soon as possible to determine a diagnosis. Ataxia can be caused by many other neurological problems, CH is just one of the most common.

What Do CH Cats Need?

• It is essential that cats with CH are kept indoors or at the very least have access to a cat proofed garden to protect them from accident or injury
• Catios and cat proofed gardens are a great way to allow some outdoor time in a safe environment
• Depending on the severity of CH, High sided cat litter trays or custom made litter trays are a great addition to prevent falling over and getting dirty. Large square trays like a gardening tray is ideal for severe CH cats like Heidi that lie in their litter tray
• The use of vet bedding, rugs and softplay areas help them grip when walking and are soft for those wobbly landings
• Soft silicone food bowls or raised feeding bowls really help CH cats to eat safely and accurately when wobbling
• Wider drinking bowls or water fountains to enable easier drinking due to their wobbling tendencies, and syringe feeding water for more severe cats
• Making sure that mild CH cats that can climb and jump, are safe when up high, using pillows or lower cat beds to prevent injury
• For moderate to severe CH cats, the use of walker frames can sometimes benefit by improving their strength and stability