This week we are honored to hear the story of Roxy, a courageous kitty who has a disability. Her human mother / owner, Linda Freedman was gracious enough to write an article for EverCats to describe Roxy’s condition and tell more of Cerebellar Hypoplasia, a condition in which kittens are born without full development of part of the brain; the cerebellum.
Roxy was humanely trapped in a feral cat colony at the age of four weeks by a local rescue goup. Her unvaccinated feral mother had died after contracting Feline Panleukopenia, commonly called feline distemper. The mortality rate of kittens born to infected mothers is 90 %. Surviving kittens are immune to the disease, but may have life long consequences such as cerebellar hypoplasia. Roxy displayed the classic symptoms of cerebellar hypoplasia. She was a little wobbly and had intention tremors – a slight jiggling of the head when she focused on an object. This did not interfere with her ability to run and play, however. She was litter box trained and had a clean bill of health.
The Panleukopenia virus affects the area of the brain called the cerebellum, which controls fine motor skills. The effects on the cerebellum can range from mild to severe. The condition of the affected kittens will not deteriorate. As they mature, they become stronger and adapt to their condition. Some are smaller than unaffected cats, but have a normal life expectancy.
Because of Roxy’s condition, she is an indoor cat. We carefully “kitten proofed” our home – partly due to her condition, but mostly because she was a kitten, equipped with equal parts of kitten curiosity and kitten fearlessness. We bought a low-sided litter box, but she soon grew large enough and steady enough to use a standard one. She had difficulty negotiating stairs at first, so we installed a baby gate. She can jump up on the beds and the sofa, although some jumps are belly flops. Being on the bed is the objective. How she arrives there doesn’t matter.
For Roxy, life is one big adventure. Unlike some humans, cats with disabilities don’t compare themselves with normal cats and sit around feeling sorry for themselves. They simply develop new ways of accomplishing goals and getting things done. Roxy has normal muscle strength, but is a little uncoordinated. She doesn’t always travel in a straight line, but she always reaches her destination. Sometimes her hind end swings around to the side, as if trying to get there first. Roxy bounds rather than runs – leaping with her front legs together and then her back legs together.
Sometimes a run down the bare floor in the hall ends with a sideways slide, like a Little Leaguer sliding into first base. She has more control when she runs on carpets. But does she choose to play in the carpeted areas of the house? No. I think she enjoys the challenge! Roxy walks with the characteristic “goose step” of “CH cats”, as they are affectionately called. Her hind legs move up and down like pistons. She sounds like a tiny train, chugging down the track.
Cerebellar hypoplasia does not affect intelligence. Roxy knows her name, comes when called and can identify different toys. When asked, “Where’s Mousie?”, Roxy will fetch a toy mouse and drop it at your feet. At family gatherings, you’ll find Roxy in the middle of the action. She loves to snuggle and snoozes in my arms for hours.
Although Roxy is clumsier than unaffected cats, her philosophy remains “Full Speed Ahead” – even if you stumble sometimes and make some unexpected detours along the way. After all, didn’t someone say that life is a journey, not a destination?
Unfortunately, many “C H cats” are needlessly euthanized because they are “not normal”. Roxy can teach us all about accepting and loving ourselves, even with our “defects”, and about perseverance in the face of adversity.
This is Roxy’s gift.
Post by Nikki Osterman
I am a writer here at EverCats and currently have 6 rescue cats that fill my days with smiles, laughter and love. I look forward to the growth of our community through feedback from you!Most recent The Daily Cat
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I like Roxy!
I have a cat named Midnight. I know I have been told that outdoor cats with this condition may not have a long life expectancy. But my Midnight has this disorder and is outdoors since I cannot have her inside. She stays on the porch and sleeps in a basket with a blanket. She is not outdoors alone though. I have other cats who are normal and watch after her. If she gets to close to the road, they will run her off and follow her back on the porch. I thank God everyday for letting me have Midnight. I bring her inside for an hour or so to love on her and she loves to suck on my sleeves as if she is nursing on her mother. My Midnight is also all play. She climbs up and down the stairs and it takes her longer than the other cats but she knows she needs to take her time. She has now started to climb on our chairs outside and lay on them. She can groom herself. My family wanted me to name her Gimp but I said no and named her Midnight for her fur is as black as midnight and is the softest fur I have ever felt. She is my baby girl and always will be. Her sibling was born with the same disorder and has recently passed for it had something else wrong with it as well. These cats need not to be put down unless they are suffering. If Midnight couldn't walk or play, that would have been the day I would have put her down. But since she can play as a normal cat, despite she stumbles, then I hope to have many years to share with her.
Roxy's story is so nice. We have a cat like Roxy: Poppie is a bit unusual since he comes from Afghanistan. It was only at the veterinarian in the US that we discovered he had CH but it didn’t make much difference. We were only glad he didn’t require surgery or something else. We put all sorts of aids through the house especially on the stairs but Poppie soon learned to get around without them.
We have documented his life in a short educational video on CH.
Poppie the Movie – An Epic Journey Through Life – The Cat From Afghanistan with Cerebellar Hypoplasia. You thought he just slept all day. He has a story to tell that will benefit other cats that suffer from his special problem.
This is the link to Poppie's YouTube Movie in HD quality with a great soundtrack (turn on your loudspeakers):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF9mkO9cehQ
Four months ago a little feral CH kitten wandered into our garden and picked us as her family. Terrified of us at first she would hiss and spit at me when I tried to go near her and spent every day hiding on or around our chicken coop earning her the name Coop. We could see she wanted to be loved, she would purr and paw at the ground when I brought her food and after 3 weeks let me stroke her and cuddle her. I remember getting tears in my eyes as she burrowed her head into my shoulder and purred like a chainsaw. She now greets strangers as they walk in the door and let's herself out at night to go to the toilet or if the door has swung shut she paws gently at my arm waking me. She loves her dog friend Lenny who she wrestles with and follows around all day. Her cowboy shuffle way of getting around is gorgeous to watch and while she has limitations she never let's these stop her springing around to keep up with Lenny. Since her front legs are bowed and her neck weak Coop views life from her hind legs like a meer Cat or stretched out like a slug with her chin on the ground. Coop is our cat, we love her every day and I couldn't even bear the thought of someone putting down such a special cat because she was disabled