CH Kitty of the Month

My Precious Little Girl

Shakey Pudding Pie  

by Wilbur Pierson, Shakey's Daddy

My little CH kitty entered my life just a little over 7 1/2 years ago by accident from a neighborhood cat who graciously had kittens at my house.   I noticed one was not right and could not function.  It would fall over and tremor, so after about two weeks I made an appointment with a vet and brought her in to be put down.   My vet, along with a neurological doctor, examined her and they pleaded for me to please give her a chance to live.  They told me about Cerebellar Hypoplasia. I really did not want to put her down, and with the vets encouragement I gave it a go.  I told Shakey the only thing I needed from her was to make it into the litter box.  Well, promptly after the vet visit she made it to the litter box the first time, as if she knew what we were talking about!  After that she was a keeper of course!

I pretty much was her surrogate mom since she could no longer keep up with the mom cat or her siblings, so she knew me as mom!  I took her to the potty, carried her everywhere, literally fed her with a spoon, held her water, and gave her butt washes when she would make a mess of herself.  

Shakey has severe CH and was almost 6 months before she could take her first step without falling.   She had a strong will and never gave up cruising all over the house, climbing on furniture. Every evening I took in the backyard to leap around in the grass like a lioness.

I really cannot imagine my life without my little Shakey Pudding Pie.  We find that our lives revolve around this little girl, and we can't get enough of her!   We are always watching her, and when we are not home we wonder what she is doing and if she misses us.  Often times we race home because we miss her and think she misses us too!     

Shakey's typical day is waking up in bed with her mommy and daddy, all snugged in the bed with her blankie over her.   If you touch her while she is sleeping she makes a tribble noise that is just downright adorable.   

As the sun starts to rise, Shakey's paw reaches out from under her blankie and she stretches immediately.  That means she would like to have breakfast in bed, so with her kitty food on the night stand we reach out and give her her breakfast!  After breakfast she gets down off the bed all by herself and gets a little water.   

Baby Shakey

Then she marches to her litter box and gives the distinctive loud deep meow that means she wishes to be picked up and taken to potty!   We scramble to meet her needs immediately.  Then, we go downstairs (she insists to do the stairs all by herself) and head to the kitchen for a treat.

Then we go off to what we call her tuffet where the sun has entered the house through the window and she does her sunbathing. Throughout the day she chases the sun from window to window. Of course, we have a bed and a catnip toy for her in each spot. She will head to the sofa or up to the bed around sundown and settle in for the evening, then drift to sleep with her blankie over her.  

Shakey often goes on vacations with us unless she is not allowed by other countries due to quarantine laws.  But Shakey has had international travel papers and health certificates for plane rides across the country!  She is quite the jetsetter!  She has traveled all across the US and is a pleasure to have aboard in the RV or whatever vehicle we should take.  She even has been on a train and stayed on a boat in the Florida Keys.   

Oddly enough she loves road trips.  She just purrs away and is very happy on the road.  If we leave her home and go away her Uncle Rick is always on board to take care of little Shakey.  He spoils her with treats and toys while we are gone, and he sends us photos so we know what she is doing all the time.  He event sleeps with her every night, too.  Shakey has never slept alone since the day she was born.

All the vets are afraid of her as she does not like strangers to touch her at all.  So we are the vet's assistant while we are there, and we have supplies here if we need to take them samples etc...   It was quite humorous watching the vet and his staff afraid of a little 8 lb. little cat, but they are!!!!  This is a different vet from when we first got her but the vet appreciates her and is just wonderful with her medical care even though we do all the work.

I have included photos of Shakey, and all I have to say is I love this little cat with all my heart.  I am so thankful for the vets for talking us into keeping our little CH Little Girl!!!

Shakey Pudding Pies Dad,
Wilbur 

Meet the Parents...

Meet Beth and Tipsy!  

By Kristie (Riley Dean's Mommy)

While some of us have been giving and getting advice at the CH Kitty Club for years, it's important to note that we get new posters on the Yahoo group and members at the website all the time. Beth Weldon-Muscarella is a relatively new CH parent, but she's been picking things up quickly! Beth is the mommy of Tipsy, a six and a half month old tabby. Tipsy lives with Beth, her husband, and her other four cats (as well as two dogs) in Essex, Ontario, Canada. Beth, who 

is a retired nurse, had never heard of CH until she saw Tipsy advertised on Ebay Classifieds (Kijiji), looking for someone to rescue him. Even though she had no experience with CH, she didn't hesitate. She immediately called, then went and got him right away.

"I love to rescue babies," Beth says with a smile. "I learned a great deal on the condition by researching it on the web and from the fantastic CH Kitty Club group. The members have been so helpful and have given me such great advice. I learn new things every day from them." 

Beth has definitely gone above and beyond in order to make life easier for Tipsy: "I have purchased several throw pillows and have lined the floor around his favorite sleeping area and
chair, so when he jumps off, he will have a soft landing. I have also had to purchase a new kitty travel carrier in which I have removed the door and lined with kitty litter as he is unable to get into the regular kitty litter boxes. Also, he needs something with very high sides so he can lean against them to stabilize himself." Additionally, she has purchased carpet runners and placed them in his main traffic area due to her hardwood floors ("he slips and slides around too much on them").

"I have [also] had to purchase a special diet of no grain and hypo-allergenic for him. Regular
kitten food is too rich for him."

Beth has found that even though Tipsy has moderate to severe CH, he loves to play and have fun like all of her non-CH babies. "When he plays with the other cats, it is so funny," she says. "He tries to pounce on them and nearly always misses. They don't have to move or jump out of the way as he wobbles all over, missing his target. It takes him maybe ten tries before he actually gets them." However, she assures me: "The big cats love it."

Tipsy also has lots of love in him, and he often shows his great affection to Beth's husband. "When he gets home, Tipsy wobbles up to him to be picked up then he puts his cheek against my husband's, closes his eyes and purrs very loudly! It is so cute." Tipsy loves to sleep in the bed with them, so they've placed a folded up large comforter at the side of the bed to keep him from hurting himself as he "flops out" when he tries to get down. 

Like many of us CH kitty parents, Beth has quickly come to realize that patience is the most important quality to have with our babies. "It will take some time to get totally in sync with
your new one, but once you do, you cannot imagine the joy he/she will bring into your life. And remember, you not only have added a new member to your family, but you have most likely saved a life as well."

Otter's Corner-written by Effie and Lovey

Melissa B. (Missy) Green

Cats and Kids

by Shannon Collar 

Our Yahoo Group... Adoption Specialist ... Debbie Martin 

Debbie and Shakey

by Lizzie Holochwost 

The CH Kitty Club has a very well connected adoption specialist, Debbie Martin. She is a wonderful resource for our members, new and old alike, who have a CH kitty to be adopted or who wish to adopt a CH kitty. If you have a CH kitty for adoption, we encourage you to post the details on the Adoption page on the CH Kitty Club website, as well as to post in this Yahoo group, and to contact Debbie. This should greatly increase the likelihood that the kitty will find a suitable furever home. You may email Debbie Martin at  beachcomber@hotmail.com.    

The World According to  

Riley Dean 

 By Riley Dean (with a little help from Mommy)

Check-up Checklist:

Taking Your CH Kitty to the Vet

Is it true that an apple a day keeps the doctor away? Because if it is, I wish I ate apples! This
month it was time for my annual vet check-up. I hate going to the vet! I'm sure I'm not alone in
this. Going to the vet can definitely be a stressful experience for any CH kitty. However, there are ways to make your vet visit as pleasant as possible, and also to be sure that your CH kitty is getting extra special care. Here are some tips:

1. Put the carrier out early. Having the carrier out a few days before the vet visit might help
your kitty to feel more comfortable with it. He or she can explore it and get more familiar so that it isn't such a foreign space when the day comes. Putting a nice fluffy blanket inside will keep your CH from hitting the sides of the carrier (and take those corners softly while you're driving! I don't want to go tumbling!).

2. Keep me close! Sometimes there are large or loud animals in the waiting room that can make
your kitty even more scared than he or she already is. If your kitty scares easily, try to cover some of the sides of the carrier with a towel or blanket. Also, make sure that your kitty can see YOU at all times. You'd be surprised how comforting your presence can be!

3. Make sure the doctor and staff know your kitty has CH. You should have a regular trusted
vet who is knowledgeable about CH. If your vet's staff doesn't know what CH is, take a few
moments to explain. Depending on your kitty's severity, this could change the way that your
kitty needs to be handled during the examination. For example, if your kitty's head bobs (like mine does), the vet assistant may have to make sure to support it to keep it from hitting the hard exam table. Also, while a scared non-CH kitty might decide to jump off the table, a panicked CH-er who doesn't jump might just roll or fall off the table and get hurt!

4. Have the doctor check for injuries particularly associated with CH. This includes broken teeth and toe injuries, which non-CH kitties don't seem to get quite as often as we do.

5. Try to avoid side trips if you can. We like to be in the carrier and away from our happy homes for a little time as possible! If you remember on the way home that you have to pick up dry cleaning or buy a loaf of bread, please try to take us home first! Also, never leave your kitty alone in the car - even in the carrier - especially on hot days! Temperatures inside of a car can get dangerously hot very quickly (and not the GOOD kind of hot and dangerous, like me! Heh heh!).

My mommy takes me to Dr. Evans at Animal Care Clinic. He is a great doctor who knows all about CH and makes sure I get extra special care. He's been my doctor for eight years now (since I was a kitten!). However, that doesn't stop me from crying and throwing a fit every time I have to see him (remember how I said I hate going to the vet?). He still gives me a kiss on the head and calls me "good boy."

I hope that these tips help you and your CH kitty to make the best of what can otherwise be a scary experience for us CH kitties. Remember that it's a good idea to get a check-up every year!  

Notes From Tanja

by Tanja Vranic

About Seizures (again) 

Introducing the Yahoo group  

EPI FELINES

In my small column in our monthly newsletter, I share info about issues that are important for us CH parents. But not being an expert myself, I am reluctant to write about medical issues. That is why I try to find the most reliable sources and I ask educated and experienced people to write about these issues for us.

In today's article I have to go back to info about Seizures in Cats, because in our forums we still read urgent and sometimes panicked mails and posts about seizures. Within one week, two members of our Facebook CH group whose CH kitties started to have sudden seizures had to say goodbye to their fur babies. The last one was only 3 weeks old. Heartbreaking...

CH parents who have experienced the first seizure know that it is scary. I thought it would be useful to have an article that will help us learn in advance, so in case our CH kitty ever has a seizure we would know what to do and where to find relevant information and support.

As you may remember I wrote a short Note with few links about Seizures in Cats,
(see CH Kitty Newsletter May 2011 Issue #8 'Seizures')

The same data can be found in our yahoo Files (CH Yahoo group) Seizures in Cats

In that note/file I advise our readers to join the Epi-Felines Yahoo group in case their cats had seizures. Epi-Felines is the Yahoo group where parents whose cats suffer from seizures can seek advice and support.

Let me copy the main page from Epi-Felines here:

"Feline Epilepsy is relatively rare. The aim of this group is to provide support and educational information for owners whose cats suffer from seizures of any type. We know that this can be a very devastating and frightening condition for pet owners, and the purpose of the group is to share information on medications, diet, vaccinations, and treatments of all types. Seizures in cats are not always fatal!! We know how scary it can take to help you get through it."

At the time I wrote the first note about seizures, and advised people to join Epi-Felines, I was not a member myself, but the group was recommended by some respected people. Well, life works in mysterious ways - it happened that I joined Epi-Felines two months later for another reason - Makitza, Martha's non-CH sibling, started to show signs of FHS, feline hyperesthesia syndrome, syndrome that Epi-Felines also advises about. Once I became a member, I started reading files archived in Epi-Felines and, yes, I was right to recommend this group. It has a wealth of information, and a group of wonderful people who will be there for each other at all times.

As we in our CH Yahoo group also occasionally get an email about seizures from our CH Kitty Club members, and it often needs immediate reaction, I felt it would be valuable to have an article about this issue from the very source, so I decided to ask the owner and Epi-Felines' admins to tell us more about Epi-Felines, to advise how to recognize a seizure and what would be the correct most important thing to do in case the cat has a seizure. Ms Samantha Richards is a member of our CH group, and at the same time an admin in Epi-Felines. In this issue we will have opportunity to read her article about seizures in cats. Her cat Missy has epilepsy and mild CH, and Samantha is one of the active moderators in Epi-Felines Yahoo group.

I hope this article will help us learn basic things about seizures, and that we will know where to go for an advice in case our cat has a seizure. Learning about seizures will also help us help others in cases of emergency.

At the end, I remind you that you can find basics about this issue in Bruce Lowekamp's article 'Feline Seizures and Epilepsy'

Tanja

Missy, my 7 years old Epileptic CH kitty  

Seizures in Cats

by Samantha Richards  

My Name is Samantha and my cat Missy is epileptic. She is also mild CH, she can walk around fine, use the litter box, she just doesn't have good judgment and has tremors and eats a little funny. She was found as a stray at about 4-6 weeks of age. She was a tiny little grey kitty. She had tremors and within 2 weeks had started to have seizures. She is now a happy healthy 12 lb girl who is 7 years old, and her seizures are controlled well with medication. The first 12 months were quite rough as she was a kitten and I was skeptical about starting her on lifelong meds at such a young age. I tried the natural route first and we did have a little success but she was still having Gran Mal seizures one or two a month, sometimes three. I had her on homeopathic remedies, I read all I could about nutrition and vitamin supplements, etc . At about 15 months my vet said "Look, she is having too many seizures; we should start phenobarb, the drug of choice for seizures in cats". The phenobarb worked well and a great side effect was it took away about 90% of her shaking and blinking :-)  On phenobarbital she could go maybe 6 -8 weeks without seizures sometimes. Missy is now also on Keppra which is one of the newest anti seizure drugs there is, and it has helped space her seizures out a lot more.  It really is a good drug.

Seizures in cats are a scary thing for the owner. Please know seizures are not a death sentence for your cat and that your cat can live a normal life with seizures controlled.  Seizures stem from a different part of the brain than CH. Seizures are front brain - cerebrum and CH is back brain (cerebellum)

Signs of seizure
·    Loss of consciousness
·    Contractions of the muscles of the body
·    Changes in awareness
·    Salivation, involuntary urination or defecation

 There are 3 phases to a seizure:  

1 - Preictal - cat may seem nervous, will seek out the owner, restless and may salivate. 

2 - Ictus - actual seizure, can last a few seconds up to 5 minutes. Muscles will contract, the animal will most likely fall on its side, may meow and vocalize, salivate and start to have heavy breathing.  The mouth will usually be chomping as well.  Cats don't swallow their tongue so don't try to put your fingers near their mouth.  During some seizures the cat will just stare or see imaginary things.  

During a seizure I will dim the light, turn off any noise (radio, TV, etc.), keep things quiet, and speak to my cat in a soothing voice and stroke her. Keep them away from sharp objects and prevent them falling if they are up high.  The cat is not aware of anything during a seizure so they feel no pain - it is harder to see the seizure for us than the cat having it. 

3 - Postictal - after the seizure the cat will appear dazed, confused, very hungry. Seizures take a lot out of them so let them eat. Keep the house quite and dimly lit. My cat is very clingy after a seizure and always purrs for a long time. It is the only time she purrs (she doesn't normally). If the cat has had a full Gran Mal seizure, it will be tired and probably sleep and be groggy for a good part of the day afterwards.  If your cat has a seizure don't panic, just start timing if you can.

Anything over 5 minutes is an Emergency the cat needs to get to a vet ASAP, They can overheat and have lasting brain damage otherwise. Most seizures will not last this long but if they do please get veterinary assistance as quick as you can.

Some owners use flower essences. If we feel our pet is a little stressed or may have a seizure this helps to calm the pet. Rescue Remedy is a good all-arounder and can be applied after a seizure.  This helps give the owner peace of mind as well, like I am doing something good for my cat.

If your cat has a seizure, the vet will - or should - run a full blood test to try and rule out possible reasons. For most cats seizures are of 'no known cause' and that is epilepsy. MRIs and cat scans are not generally required, so don't feel bad if you can't afford these - most owners opt out of this testing. The ones who have it rarely show anything that could be treated differently. Of course, it's personal choice.

A single seizure doesn't need an urgent vet visit if it is after hours.

Ok, so your cat has had a seizure - what now?  Run the full blood tests to rule out other causes besides epilepsy. Medication is usually only given if a cat has more than one seizure a month or if the cat seizure has lasted over 5 minutes.
The seizure medication phenobarb is given every 12 hours and is quite time sensitive. It won't usually stop all the seizures, but control is what we aim for and that is one per month.
Phenobarb is quite cheap and apart from that twice yearly blood tests to check the pheno level and a liver enzymes check are standard.

The vet will mention poisons, metabolic disorders, brain tumors, etc. as possible causes.  Tumors in cats are quite rare and especially as a cause of cat seizures. "No known cause" is the usual answer so don't be scared if the vet mentions all of these.  Anemia can bring on seizures as well as worm infestation - especially in kittens.  Another cause especially in cats under 2 years is a liver shunt so a bile acids test is a good idea in a cat under 2.  Most vets have not treated many cats with seizures; it seems to be more common in dogs.  As cats and dogs are so different, treating a cat with seizures is different from dogs with seizures.

Epi Felines

The Epi-Felines Yahoo group has over 1,300 members - we live, eat, breathe this and often know more than a lot of vets dealing with this.

Seizures in a cat are a condition, not a death sentence - you can get thought it like I have and so many others.

Cats prone to seizures should avoid harsh spot on flea and worm all-in-one treatments; go for a more natural way (Capstar is a flea tablet that is more gentle and works well).

Also vaccinations should be avoided in cats with seizures.  A medical waiver may be obtained in states where vaccines are mandatory.   

Cats prone to seizures should be kept inside and away from dangers outside. 

I hope this has given you an insight into Feline seizures. It is scary at the start but as you learn to live with this it is fine.

Samantha

*** *** ***

Links: 

Seizure Disorders in Cats By: PetPlace Veterinarians 

Idiopathic Epilepsy in Cats   By: Dr. John McDonnell 

Phenobarbital Level in Cats By: PetPlace Veterinarians 

Seizures 

Feline Seizures and Epilepsy 

Seizure Disorders in Cats and Dogs 

New Family Members...

Jordan & Jonah

 by Kim Daugherty  

Hi Everyone! I was asked to write a short article about my new CH babies and include a picture for the CH newsletter. I have been involved with animal rescue for a while. I have fostered kittens, taken in seniors and other special needs cats. One of them is the sweetest, blind boy you can imagine.  

When I adopted Jaspurr, I wanted to find him a playmate, but I was hesitant about getting a kitten without disabilities because I was afraid he might hurt Jaspurr by being too rambunctious. So I decided to search for either another blind cat.  

Somehow I found out about CH kittens. I watched a couple of videos of them and thought they were just adorable. I got in touch with Debbie who sent me LOADS of information (lol) on CH and how to take care of kittens/cats that have it. I also saw the CH adoption list. I wrote to Dani about Mikey, but we all know that Mikey has since passed on, much to the dismay of everyone.  

There were three brothers in a San Francisco humane society (named Moe, Larry and Curly) that had CH and I considered driving up there, but I was unsure of my schedule at the time. One night I was trying to decide how I could make it up there (four hours away), when Deb contacted me to tell me that Alicia was going up to Sonoma to rescue Jonah and also planned on adopting one of the black kittens from San Francisco. I told her I would love to adopt one - but I was certainly not going to leave one behind and all alone, so I adopted both.  

I talked to Naomi at the shelter and got the "okay" to adopt them. I felt like it was meant to be as I was just thinking the night before how I was going to get to San Francisco. I met Alicia and she chose the kitten she wanted and I took the other two. I renamed them: Jordan is the shorthair and the least affected of the two. Jonah, the longhair, has a little more trouble, but it doesn't slow him down.  

They are the most loving and affectionate kittens I have ever had. They purr instantly when they see me. They want to jump into my lap, or if I am walking around the house, they will follow me. I can pick them up and cradle them, and they just love it. Their staggering gait is so endearing, but they also have the most wonderful personalities to match. I am so honored to have them, and they truly bring so much joy to my life.  

I hope to eventually adopt another CH baby and I can see why so many people love them so much.

gathered by Debbie Martin

2 CH KITTIES ARE STILL IN DESPERATE NEED OF RESCUE GROUP OR ADOPTION IN BROOKLYN NEW YORK!!!!!!!

Neville and Bean are two 3 year old CH cats. They are honestly the best pets a girl could ask for. They manage the litterbox fine and besides some extra cleaning and the occasional bathing (to which they're perfectly accustomed) they don't need much extra attention than any normal cat. And the best part, they are the two most snuggliest, affectionate, loving creatures EVER. Their favorite thing is to sit right under my neck and purr while we watch TV. They would spend all day in my lap or on my tummy if I didn't have things to do :) 

Sadly, my fiancee is severely allergic to them. We've tried pills, baths, special shampoos, quarantine... everything. The issue is that Jon is severely allergic to dander AND saliva. He can't even be at my apartment because it becomes tough for him to breathe.

I'm devastated, but after more than a year of exhaustive effort and research, it's clear that I can't keep them and still live with my future husband.

I am wondering if you can help me try to place them. The shelter I adopted them from has done absolutely nothing for the past 7 months, and I refuse to take them to a kill shelter.

They've got no other medical conditions, are up to date with all their vaccinations and we'd give anyone who'd take them all their accessories, litterbox, bed, etc...

I'm attaching a few photos that demonstrate how adorable they are, and I also created a youtube video here:

Neville and Bean

I'd be grateful for any help at all...resources, no-kill shelters, online forums, adoption sites etc...    

I'm located in Brooklyn, New York. I'm also happy to have any prospective adopters come over and meet the cats before signing on.

 PLEASE CONTACT VICTORIA IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!   

 vmarini06@gmail.com  

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I need to find a home for my two CH kitties and I would prefer they stay together. To sum it up without going into too many messy details of my personal life, I'm going through a separation. I have to work a lot more to pay the bills as I was

left with the majority of the debt. Therefore I don't have the time or the money to give them what they need. While it is heartbreaking to give them up, as I've raised them from birth, it's what's best for them at this time. They are severe CH, unable to walk, though they do get up on their feet and try. I have been unable to find a potty training solution and he was very much not willing to either help or tolerate the situation while I explored options. I now do not have the resources to continue trying to help them. I won't put them in a shelter where I know they will be killed the same day. I'm continuing to take care of them the best that I can but they are simply not getting the time they need. I currently live right outside the Central Ohio area. If you can provide a home for them, I could provide more details on them.

I don't have any recent pics, this one is from six months ago. I'll try to get someone with a decent camera phone to take some updated ones. He (Wobbles) is bigger, she (Weebles) isn't. They are very much love bugs. They are very mild tempered, except when you try to give Wobbles a bath (he's a demon, but manageable if you keep a tight grip). Weebles is slightly timid, she scares easily but usually not for long. Wobbles is pretty well fearless unless you turn on the vacuum. They haven't been fixed or vaccinated as I can't find a vet who knows anything about CH and the ones I've talked to don't want to chance it because they are severe. Mommy was tested negative for everything, and they have never been outside. I'm not sure what else you would want to know. This is very hard for me, but I do appreciate the help.

Please contact (APRIL)  through her email kresheyesouls@yahoo.com 

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TWO CH KITTIES ARE NOW URGENT AND NEED PLACEMENT ASAP!!!! THEY ARE NOW GOING BACK TO THE SHELTER AND CAN FACE EUTHASIA IF NOT RESCUED OR ADOPTED!!!!!!!!    

FREMONT, MICHIGAN

These 2 CH kittens that need homes are located in Fremont, MI. They are currently in foster for Bellwether Harbor Animal Rescue.

These sweet babes came to us June 21 when their Mom was killed on the road. There are 5 kittens but only 3 show signs of CH (SHADOW WAS ADOPTED BY A CH KITTY CLUB MEMBER). Their estimated date of birth is June 2, 2011; making them about 12 weeks right now.

Health: Our shelter vet has examined them and has diagnosed them as having CH. They have had their first vaccinations for feline distemper and have been dewormed. They have tested negative for parasites. Their eyes are very clear and they appear to be in great health aside from the CH.

Capabilies: They range in degrees of how much they are affected. All 3 can use the litter box and do almost all the time. They love stalking the Golden of the house, are curious about the big old grumpy cat and have been gently handled but children.

Angelina Ballerina: Calico female: She has an adorable black mask with a white stripe between her eyes, topped by an orange 'v' going between her ears: one orange and one black; one black spot between her shoulders, one eack black and orange dot on her butt and a cute black heart on her side. She is in the middle as far as her abilities due to the CH. She runs quite well, climbs onto chairs and has learned to spread her legs into a wide stance to stand still. She needs some help to stand still enough to eat and doesn't appear to drink water so gets her water as moistened kitten chow. She also likes the dry chow. She has learned that if she runs fast she goes straighter and loves to play attack as well as snuggle in your arms when she wears herself out!

Princess: Calico/tiger female: She has a white face with orange over her eyes and black and white striping between her ears. She's very vocal about when she wants to eat or be held but the minute you touch her the motor starts going! She is the most affected by the CH...she tumbles side to side alot to get around...esp. when she is excited...like at feeding time! She needs to be held to eat so she doesn't flip over, but we are experimentingwith some success with some ways that help her stand easier. She does manage to get to the litter box, and doesn't make too much of a mess. She follows the others to play and does better when she can walk under something with her back braced --like walk under a footstool. Nestled in your arms is her favorite way to sleep!

Contact Jessisca ASAP!!!!

Bellwether Harbor

7645 W. 48th St.

Fremont, MI 49412

www.bellwetherharbor.org 

(231) 924-9230 ext. 2 

Jessica Peterson

Animal Care Coordinator

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Bellwether Harbor

7645 W. 48th St. Fremont, MI 49412

 
 jessica@bellwetherharbor.org 

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2 CH Kitties desperately
need new home or rescue in Connecticut!!!!

My First CH Kitty

by Sharon Mikesell   

In July this year, my life was to be changed forever in a way I could never have imagined.  It was then that I went to pick out a kitten to bring home to hopefully bond with Shelby, the sweet kitty I had at home.

That was the day I met my first CH kitty. I was looking at the kittens and there was a cage with some little kittens she called "wobblers". She said that they were born to an undernourished very young mom and she didn't expect them to get better or even to live very long. I had been

learning recently to go where I could do the most good so I decided to take the tiniest one of the bunch. Yoda was a Siamese looking kitten who I found out had CH - my first CH kitty. I got online and did some research and joined the CH Kitty Club.

Yoda was the sweetest, most adorable and loving kitty I had ever had, and he cracked open a part of my heart that had been closed off for years, ever since my special needs son, Ryan died over 28 years ago. I found not only that but also a group of people unlike any I had ever known. The people in the CH Kitty Club were so helpful and encouraging that although the veterinarian I took Yoda to knew little, I still found what I needed to best help this sweet little angel.

Unfortunately, Yoda had other problems and didn't live very long. I posted his pictures on the CH Kitty group and buried his little body at a dear friend's house. I decided that, in his honor, I would adopt one of his siblings. To be completely honest, after Yoda, all I wanted was a CH kitty - I was hooked!

The lady at the shelter was hesitant about letting me have another of the CH kitties because she was afraid they would also die and wanted to try giving the ones she had a little time with their mother to see if they would get better. Every time she would take them from their mother, though, they would start to fail. She decided to take them to the vet and that if the vet said they wouldn't get any better, to have them put to sleep.  

I practically begged this woman not to do that and finally came up with a solution - why don't I take both the kittens and their mother? She
went for that and joyfully I went about preparing a place for Weeble, Wobble and Mama Kitty.  Shortly after, I picked them up and, under the direction of the CH Kitty Club, gave the three of them their own room while Shelby got used to them being in the house. Here are a couple pictures of their first day here. 

These sweet, adorable kittens have brought more life, love, and laughter into my home than has been here in a very long time. I decided to keep Mama Kitty also, as she has started to bond with Shelby. Thanks to y'all I have learned how to care for these precious angels I have been so honored to love and care for. In so doing, I have also learned a lot about myself. I have always been a bit of a perfectionist and could easily tear myself to pieces for some little thing I felt that I had done imperfectly. I believed that there was only one definition for perfection - "excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement" and that anything less meant that I didn't try hard enough. While spending time with my new furry family, I have discovered a few things about this word "perfect". You see, I can see that each of them IS absolutely perfect. I
found that another definition for perfection is "exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose". They are exactly the right fit for their mission here.  

Yoda was perfect for cracking my heart open and teaching me that love has little to do with the amount of time you have with a loved one - it is the quality of that time and how fully you allow yourself to love and embrace another heart. Weeble is perfect to teach me that there is fun and love and joy to be found anywhere and at anytime. He will get up almost every time I wake up at night just to snuggle with me for a few minutes or purr me back to sleep. Wobble has taught me that little spills are nothing to get upset about. Falling over just gives you a different perspective for a moment then you can either lay there and relish that paradigm shift or you can get up and bounce happily on your way. 

You see, my life was forever changed that day in July. I took a turn that lead me here, to share with you who have shared so much with me - my CH kitty family. And it is with great gratitude that I close this with great big thank you's from someone you have helped and whose life has been greatly enhanced by you and the kitties whose lives you helped me save (and ultimately who saved mine). 

Sharon! 

Elise MurphyLoading...

Jul 7 (11 days ago)

by Elise Murphy

Meet Neal and Lizzie's Family!

Family Statistics:

Humans: 2 - Lizzie and Neal (our lovely CH Kitty Club founders!)

The Tardy Pose.

Cats (all indoor only): 17 - Tardy (14yrs/male/CH) and Ziggy(2yrs/male/CH); Dana (12yrs/female) and Orkie (6yrs/female), Borisanne (14yrs/female), Gertrude (10yrs/female), Maybe (5yrs/female), Smudge(11yrs/female), Mr. Handsome (11yrs/male), Kevin (10yrs/male), Pumpkin (5yrs/male), Freddy (9yrs/male), Stanley (9yrs/male), Screech (13yrs/male), Harley (8yrs/male), Harriette (13yrs/female), Annalee (11yrs/female)

Ziggy's bedroom eyes

Overall interactions:  Separate, but peaceful

The two boys with CH, our famous friends Tardy Peebucket and Ziggy, reside in their own room in the house.  They are also given the freedom to roam other parts of the house a few days a week.  When they come out to play in the other rooms, the other cats are pretty much used to them and leave them alone.  Tardy can be a bit "crotchety," as Lizzie and Neal describe and will sometimes hiss at the other cats.  He is very intent on just finding the food!  Ziggy is tolerant of the other cats, possibly due to his young age and being the most recent addition to the family, and is a little explorer at heart!

Borisanne, our little queen

Another pair, two girls, Dana and Orkie also reside together in their own room.  They are separated from the other cats because Dana has an incurable ear problem causing her to throw goop all over the place.  They are also given the opportunity to roam the rest of the house a few times a week.

King Kevin

Lizzie and Neal have a beautiful 800 sq foot sunroom with windows all along the back wall, which can also be called the cat room.  In that room a number of cats stay: boys Mr. Handsome, Kevin, Pumpkin, Freddy, Stanley, Screech, Harley and girls Harriette and Annalee.  Another female cat, Smudge, often visits in the sunroom as well.  Sometimes the cats in the sunroom come into the rest of the house to visit, but when they do, Lizzie and Neal have to watch out for Maybe, as she sometimes gets picked on.

Inside hanging gardens for kitties delight : )

In the final population, a group that has run of the rest of the house, are girls Borisanne, Gertrude, Maybe, and Smudge.  Borisanne is the only cat that regularly sleeps with Lizzie and Neal and often will pin Neal down and sneeze in his face!

Harriette and Mr. Pumpkin Pie

Sibling Stats:

-Freddy and Stanley are brothers

-Mr. Handsome and Annalee are brother and sister.  They had another brother, Mr. Cutie, who passed away a couple of weeks ago.

-Harriette had a brother who passed away about 5 years ago.

Stanley Steemer

CH Kitty Additions:

Tardy was adopted before most of the other cats, so there wasn't much opportunity for trouble when he was introduced.  Tardy and Ziggy have almost identical severities of CH, so when Ziggy was added to the house, the other cats just thought of Zig as 'another wobbler.'  Tardy and Ziggy get along very well, as long as Ziggy respects Tardy's space.  

Sweet sweet Tardy

How they help each other:

Tardy taught Ziggy how to use the towel litter trays.  They can often be found staring at each other, leading Lizzie to believe that they have a psychic connection and are communicating.  Tardy also had similar experiences with an iguana.  He even saw a pet psychic who confirmed he was communicating with the lizard - the lizard had told him that he wanted Lizzie to trim his nails.  When they got back from the pet psychic, Lizzie checked the iguana's nails and they did need trimming badly!  Tardy also told her that he often gets frustrated with not being able to move as easily as he would like to.

Ziggy,"You cannot resist..."

Interesting family tidbit:

Tardy and Ziggy both suffer from what many in the club refer to as "CH Temper."  Tardy's temper has gotten much milder as he has aged, however, Lizzie and Neal describe Ziggy as a demon!  When they first met him, he attached himself to Lizzie's face with all four paws and claws.  Recently, they have been trimming his nails, which has not hindered his mobility at all and has allowed them to get much more close and personal cuddle and play time in with him. 

Lizzie and Neal love Tardy, Ziggy, all of their other cats, and each other very much and are so happy to be able to have the accommodations to give all of the cats the separation, room, and attention they need to be super happy.  They truly have a house full of love!

A home full of love

We forgot to get Bambi in for the Birthdays last month!!!   Bambi is the other brother of Rickety and Flip who was adopted by  Tina Fuerente in the Los Angeles Area.  Bambi was born on

AUGUST 14th. 2009. HAPPY 2 YEARS OLD BIRTHDAY BAMBI!!!!   Sorry we left you out!!!!  

Bambi's mom Tina Fuerente in Ontario, Ca.

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Nanako September 7, 2010 

On September 7th (best guess as she was 5-6 weeks old when found in a dumpster) our sweet Nanako turns one year old.  In the 11 months we've known her and over 10 months living with us her CH has improved drastically (downgraded from severe to moderate).  She also went from wanting to be cuddled and held all the time to being a strong, independent adolescent cat who attempts to scale the tallest cat tree and later dives off once she feels it's dinner time, scaring everyone else in the process.  She is still very sweet though and sleeps with us every night and is on the bed to greet us as soon as we wake up every morning.  Our lives wouldn't be complete without our wobbly kitties and we are so grateful to have found Nanako and have her in our lives. 

by Elise Murphy 

 ************

Monkey  September 16, 1999

************

Martha  September 26, 2009

I will be two on September the 26th !

♪ ♫ Happy Birthday to me! ♪ ♫

My second year was much nicer than my first year, but that is typical for us CH kitties- we progress with time! I grew up, gained some serious muscles and improved my walking skills. That is because I practice every day: I walk up and down the stairs, I climb my cat trees, and I eat well! We've had new cat enclosures since May, practically our whole garden is protected and secure, so we spend hours outside, chasing

butterflies and bugs (and each other, too). Walking on grass improved my walking in

general.  I finally managed to walk with my hind legs spread enough to keep better balance on hard floor.

I work as mummy's supervisor in her home office (pssst, I also help her write articles for our newsletter!). Sometimes I help Auntie Deb Martin and Auntie Lisa Beers Kirry who work hard to find good homes for CH kitties all around the world.

Auntie Lisa wrote something that I would like to share with all of you on this occasion:

"There are more and more people that are becoming aware of CH. With the education

comes families who are not afraid to adopt a kitty with a neurological condition such as CH." 

I believe that sharing info about CH, through our newsletter, our club, in blogs, on Facebook and everywhere else, is of utmost importance and yes, I will use every opportunity, even my birthday, to talk or write about it!

♪ ♫ Happy Birthday to me! ♪♫

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO OUR CH KITTY CLUB MEOWZLETTER

Luvz & Hugz,

Martha Vitez

p.s. mummy, can I purlease get a new cat tree for my birthday?

by Lizzie Holochwost

We all try so hard to accommodate our CHer's. Aren't we seeing more and more carts to help them? There's a lot of talk in the group about special diets to make them healthier. A lot of us CH 'proof' our furniture and/or complete rooms. There are many things we can do to make our babies safer and happier. 

This is one thing that Neal and I found to help Tardy and Ziggy be happier.  

(Replace children with cats)

The bouncy tiles : ))

We have no carpeting in our house. We use to put comforters on the floors for Tardy. Then we discovered these foam tiles. These are just wonderful, the boys can rock, roll and bounce to their little hearts content.

There are cons though. Some how Ziggy manages to pee underneath the tiles. (took me a while to discover this, not pleasant) They are difficult to clean. I now take them out and hose them down. They take a little while to dry, but it seems the best way to actually clean them. 

Tata for now, 

Tatamatatomato

The Rescue of CH Kitty Jasper
 A Teenager's Beloved CH Kitty in Eugene, OR

Michelle Canzano

So on Friday Julie drove down and picked Jasper up from his mom, who was very sad but happy he was going to wonderful place, Harbor Hope Cat Rescue in Gig Harbor.  Julie brought Jasper home. This was Julie's first time with a CH kitty so it took a little bit to get used to his condition. She fell in love though. She said she left him on his pillow that night and when she woke up he made his way up into a chair.

From Julie

This was my first animal rescue trip. I got an urgent call from Michele Moyes, a high school classmate I got reacquainted with via Facebook. She asked me if I knew anyone who could transport a special needs kitty, named Jasper, from Eugene to Vancouver. I didn't know anyone in Eugene and decided I could go get him myself. So I drove down on a Friday morning and after getting lost, I found the family who were giving him to a new home. It was a tearful goodbye, but we all knew it was for the best.

Jasper settled right in as we drove north. When we got to my home in Vancouver, we let him get adjusted to our living room area. After awhile, I let him roam around and was not prepared when I saw him navigate the room. He is a CF kitty and he cannot balance himself like other cats. It was hard for me to see, but realized that is his "normal". 

In the morning, I was pleasantly surprised to see he had pulled himself up into my lazyboy. He looked so cute sitting there stretching as he was also just waking up. At 8:30 am, I drove him to Woodland, Wa, twenty miles north of Vancouver, to rendezvous with Michelle Conzano who was to drive him to

his new rescue home in Gig Harbor. It was another tearful goodbye and off he went to his new life. I am happy for him and relieved he could be rescued.:)

Julie Richardson

Vancouver,WA

Laura Carlson

Facebook Page   

Ways to support Harbor Hope Cat Rescue by donating or selling items on ebay

http://donations.ebay.com/charity/charity.jsp?NP_ID=14392  

by Amanda Maurer

Trimming a CH cat's claws can be a controversial subject, usually because everyone's CH kitties rely on their claws to different degrees.  

Lizzie learned that first hand when it came to her CH kitties, Tardy and Ziggy. Even before Tardy had his claws accidentally trimmed by a vet, Lizzie knew how much he depended on them to get around. However, it was a different story with Ziggy.  

"Ziggy's aggression made it clear to me that I would have to try to trim his nails; we shouldn't have to be afraid of our kitty," Lizzie said. "Also, Ziggy doesn't climb, so I didn't think the nail trim would hinder his mobility at all."  

So, Lizzie pulled out the kitty nail trimmers and went to work. The result? They can now spend time with Ziggy without worrying about being scratched.  

"It's a very hard decision to make; if your kitty depends on his nails to accomplish things, try not to clip," Lizzie said.  

So should you clip? Carefully consider how much your cat uses his claws:  

Does your kitty use his claws to get around? If your cat holds on to your carpet to remain upright, climbs your furniture, carpeted stairs or a kitty condo, the claws may be essential. John's Princess relies on her claws a good deal to get around, so he puts up with them.  

However, you may still be able to clip just the tip of the nail for safety reasons. If your kitty doesn't climb much, and if you don't think it would hurt his mobility, feel free to cut a tiny bit more. Elise says she clips her girls' claws about once a month -- by just cutting off the sharp tip -- and it doesn't impact their ability to climb furniture at all. 

How would you rate your cat's coordination? If your kitty has trouble controlling muscle movements, a trim may help prevent accidents. Kristie's Riley Dean has had his nails clipped since he was a kitten, and it helps prevent him from them getting snagged in the carpet.  

Also consider your cat's temperament. If he's spastic, nervous or aggressive, a slight claw trim may make life easier for everyone.  

How To Cut a Cat's Nails 

1. Pick the right tool: There are several great products out there; try to buy one with a curved, sharp blade. Cat claws grow in layers, and a dull blade or human nail clipper can cause them to splinter and crack.  

2. Hold your cat securely, or have a friend help hold him: Wait until your cat is relaxed to clip his nails. Hold him in a stable position so you can use one hand to extend the nail, and the other to hold the clippers.  

3. Extend the nail: Gently press your cat's paw pad and top of the toe to make the nail extend out. Take a look to see where the nail's quick, or the pink core that contains blood vessels and nerve endings, is located.  

4. Cut the nail: To get the cleanest cut possible, hold the cutters upright while cutting. This will apply the right pressure in the proper places. Just cut the very tip of the nail off; make sure you stay away from the quick. 

Clip one at a time until you're finished. Sometimes this means doing the job a few nails at a time. You may not need to worry about the back claws, either. Hind claws are generally thicker and not as sharp as front claws. They also don't shed as much, so you may not need to cut these claws nearly as often, if at all.  

If you cut a bit too close to the quick, and it begins to bleed, dab some styptic powder, cornstarch or flour on the tip of the claw.