Need advice - cerebellar hypoplasia / wobbly cat

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Martin-W
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Need advice - cerebellar hypoplasia / wobbly cat

Post by Martin-W »

Hi all,

We've started looking for a pair of young cats or kittens to adopt into the family, and have been offered a pair of 14-week kittens currently at a fosterer.

They seem well-socialised, confident and friendly. They also seem a little underweight, which we've been told is due to them not eating well when younger, but otherwise they seem fine...

...except we've been told the mum had cerebellar hypoplasia (wobbly cat syndrome). The fosterer said this isn't a hereditary condition, but a quick googling suggests otherwise.

So I've two questions:-
- Is it passed down from mum to kittens, and how likely / what %?
- Given the cats will be coming into a family home with young kids (and stairs, and obstacles), should we even be considering them still?

Thanks,

Martin.
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fjm
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Re: Need advice - cerebellar hypoplasia / wobbly cat

Post by fjm »

It would seem that there is no evidence in cats of it being passed down from parent to kittens, and if the kittens were affected they would be showing signs by now: https://www.thesprucepets.com/feline-ce ... ia-4171881

If they are otherwise a good fit for your family I would welcome them in, but it is always worth getting a thorough vet check just to be sure.
Martin-W
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Re: Need advice - cerebellar hypoplasia / wobbly cat

Post by Martin-W »

Ahhh...I think I misread the webpage I googled...reading that page it suggests it develops in-utero but caused by an external influence on the mum, not genetics.

Thank you...that reassures.
booktigger
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Re: Need advice - cerebellar hypoplasia / wobbly cat

Post by booktigger »

I've never heard of it being passed on, and as FJM says, it's apparent from a very early age (can even be as early as 10 days), so if they seem fine at 14 weeks, I'd doubt they have it.
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Ruth B
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Re: Need advice - cerebellar hypoplasia / wobbly cat

Post by Ruth B »

From what I understand CH is caused by a lack of oxygen while in the womb or just at birth damaging the kittens brain, so while it is in a way passed from the mother to the kittens, it has nothing to do with genetics, and everything to do with the health and well being of the mother while pregnant and giving birth. Your kittens should be fine. From what i have heard it also doesn't get worse as the cats age. It will show up as they start to move around at 4 to 6 weeks, and by about 8 weeks it should be apparent that they will always have motor control issues, if at 14 weeks there is no sign of wobblyness then yours should be fine.

If possible try and spend some time with them so you can see them playing, running about navigating obstacles and eating, as long as they are managing all those with out problem then I don't think you have anything to worry about, if you still have any concerns you could ask if you could have them on trial for a couple of weeks just to make sure that there weren't any issues and that if there is (CH does come in a range of severity depending on how badly the brain was damaged) that the kittens and the children can cope together.

Personally I think they will be fine (I'm no expert on CH just learnt about it from people who had CH cats and watching videos) and I think congratulations will be in order for the new additions to your family.
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