CH Kitty Club Newsletter

May 2013 Issue #31

Welcome to the CH Kitty Newsletter

A lot going on in the CH Kitty Community. Many saved, Auctions raising money to help CH Kitties, many saved from floods in Illinois saved from owners who dumped at shelters, liter found in parking lot in Texas. Endless CH Kitty missions happening but no time to report. You can see a lot of this activity on Facebook on these CH Pages

* Cerebellar Hypoplasia Cats and Kittens

* CHARGe

* SpecialNeeds InNeed Crossposting

With Love:

Debbie & Elise

Roadtrips with your CH Kitty

By: Debbie Martin Shakey

Shakey cruising Big Sur,California

Shakey our CH Kitty hits the road often, unlike many kitties Shakey loves cruising in the car so we are very lucky. Since summer vacations are starting thought this information would be helpful for our CH Kitty Road Trippers.

Keep Shakey in your thoughts please, discovered a lump and she goes in on May 1st. 11:00AM.

Make your cat's veterinarian the first stop in road trip planning. Road trips are stressful for a cat that spends his life in the safety of his home or yard. A trip to the cat's vet helps ensure that he is healthy and well prepared for such a vacation. Make sure that the cat is up to date on all vaccines necessary for the trip's destination and has an adequate supply of any necessary medications. Be sure to obtain any required vaccination records or health exam documentation requested by the pet friendly places on your travel itinerary. During the cat's examination, discuss any anxiety concerns. Your vet may prescribe a mild sedative for use during the trip if he or she feels that your cat may become dangerously tense.

I always put her favorite cat nip toys in her carrier

Ensure that your cat wears identification or a microchip during travel. Does your indoor cat wear identification tags and a collar? Many do not wear identification at home but should wear identification tags or be micro chipped for road trips. If your pet becomes separated from you during a traffic accident, or even jumps from the vehicle or hotel room in a strange place--his identification tags or microchip are vital for his safe return.

Rethink food, drink and potty breaks while on the road. Many cats become too irritable during road trips to consider eating or drinking-or litter box breaks. If your road trip is less than eight hours, you may be best suited to skip food and potty breaks to avoid upsetting kitty--especially if he has relaxed and settled into his temporary environment. Sometimes allowing the cat space for food, water and even a small litter box inside a large travel crate is the easiest option for longer road trips.

Shakey and her dad and of course at Pet Friendly Motel 6

Remember that pet-friendly destinations are not always kitty-proof. If your cat is an accomplished, door jumper--take along signs to post as reminders to your non-cat owning hosts. If your cat will not be confined to a carrier or crate at the hotel in your absence, be sure that the hotel staff remembers his presence. Of our three cats, one is a daredevil climber, another is an electrical cord chewer, the third turns everything into a toy, and the fourth is a door jumping, stealth cat. Remember to pet proof your destination. We spend a considerable amount of time ensuring that our destination is safe for, and from, our cats during the visit.

Keep the cat safely secured during the road trip. Travelers never expect an accident on the road-but wear seat belts just in case. While your cat may be more content to choose a spot freely in the vehicle, he is not safe loose in the car. If the carrier is a no-go, try a pet harness secured in the seat beside someone he trusts.

Break time for food ,water and potty

Break the trip into short bursts of travel. Some cats do appreciate

some time to stretch, head to the potty, or have a quick snack. However, many cats refuse a break until they safely reach their final destination and are free of the frightening confines of the car. If your cat refuses food, water or the litter box during travel-or becomes excessively agitated during breaks, then shorter road trips are in order. If your travel plans take you several hours from home, keep kitty's needs in mind and schedule an over night stay to break up the trip.

Pack a cat friendly first aid kit. There are a number of commercial, pet first aid kits available. Consider purchasing one or making your own--being sure to include your veterinarian's phone number, a supply of any prescription medications along with instructions, the cat's vaccination documentation, and cat-specific supplies, such as fur-friendly bandages.

Take along gloves and a towel or pillowcase to ease administering first aid treatment.

PET FRIENDLY HOTEL SEARCH

PET FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS

PET FRIENDLY TRAVEL
BEST AIRLINES FOR CATS

Is Anesthesia Dangerous for Cats with Cerebellar Hypoplasia?

Anesthesia and CH Kitties

By:Amanda Woodhead

Life WIth CH Cats

January 5, 2012

Thankfully, it's something that we don't need to think about often, but when we do, it can be a serious concern for CH cat parents. Since our cats already have a certain degree of brain damage, will the anesthesia cause more damage? Can CH cats even handle anesthesia?

According to Cary, a veterinary anesthesiologist who has written about this on the CH Kitty Club's Tips From Members there are no medical contraindications (conditions that make a procedure inadvisable) to any anesthetic technique for cerebellar hypoplasia cases. What does that mean in plain English? CH cats can be anesthetized. In fact, he said that if it's for a standard procedure, like a spay or neuter, it shouldn't be an issue.

Of course all operations come with a certain degree of risk. Fortunately, the odds of something happening to a healthy cat is pretty low. Cary said the percentage of healthy cats that die while under anesthesia is only 0.3%. However, that percentage increases if the cat is sick while being anesthetized.

And while we've all heard our share of anesthesia horror stories, your kitty doesn't have to become one. You can improve your odds by having and experienced, competent vet perform the procedure.

If you're not sure what to look for in a vet, Cary suggested these five characteristics:

A competent, experienced vet who is familiar with performing surgeries on cats
A vet who has a surgery team member who is dedicated to monitoring the cat while she is anesthetized
A vet who routinely uses intravenous catheters in anesthetized cats
A vet who routinely intubates the anesthetized cats; this makes sure that their airways stay open and they receive enough oxygen
A vet who routinely monitors blood pressure. This will tell them if there's a lack of oxygen reaching the brain, which could result in more brain damage.

Martha CH Kitty in Serbia

In addition, don't forget to let the vet know about your cat's cerebellar hypoplasia. It's tremendously important for your vet and their staff to be aware of any pet's brain disorder when performing a medical procedure.

If you're still concerned, have a serious talk with your vet about the procedure and your worries. A good vet will be happy to address all of your concerns.

Another idea would be to speak the vet or shelter that sterilized your cat prior to adoption. If your cat had to be anesthetized for that procedure - and obviously came through OK - there maybe some folks you'll want to consult with, too.

The World According to Riley Dean: Playtime!

Riley Dean

By Riley Dean (With a Little Help From Mommy)

Hello, everybody! You know, sometimes it gets difficult to keep up on exercise. It's especially hard if you're a CH kitty. We're not exactly known for our speed or coordination! However, it's still important for us to get in our play and exercise. It keeps our weight at healthy levels and allows us to get out energy that can otherwise turn into play aggression behavior. Here are some of Riley Dean's tips for safe and fun play sessions:

1. CH Proof the Area - The first thing to do is make sure that your CH-er can play freely without fear of injury. Some of us, me included, can get excited when we play, and this leads to a loss of balance and a fall. To avoid banging, play on a soft surface like a couch (making sure we don't roll off the side!). If you have hardwood floors or tile, it would be a good idea to lay a soft blanket or other padding down. Safety first!

2. Find the Perfect Toy - This takes a little bit of trial and error. Different kitties like different toys. Some like feathers on sticks. Others like laser pointers. Some like balls and things they can bat around. We can also be moody. We have our favorite toys, but we can also get bored and want to play with something different. It's good to have a nice collection of toys we can respond to, and sometimes we just want something new! Be sure to stay away from toys with small parts that may fall off, ribbon, yarn and string. They can hurt us if we swallow them!

3. Save Some Cash/Pay it Forward! - If your furbaby's toy collection is getting out of hand in the price department, why not use items from around the house? An empty paper grocery bag, a cardboard toilet paper tube or a crumpled up piece of scratch paper can be just exciting as something from a pet store. Be creative! Also, if you're running out of room for all those toys, why not donate some of the less popular ones to a local shelter? Just because your CH-er isn't so amused anymore, that doesn't mean a sweet shelter cat wouldn't get hours of fun out of the old toy!

4. Play with Treats - I know what you're thinking: doesn't this defeat the purpose? Yes, sometimes there may be more calorie intake than burning, but for some CH-ers, treats are just the motivation we need to get up and moving! There are lots of yummy and low-calorie treats on the market now that your kitty may love.

5. It's a Party! - Do you have more than one kitty? Why not get them all playing together? I know that this can be tricky due to temperaments, and sometimes it can be tough to get non-CH kitties to play with their CH adopted siblings. Start off by trying to get them to play near each other. Also, feeding them both treats allows them to associate the positive reinforcement with each other. As long as they don't fight over the same toys and nobody gets too rough, family playtime can be fun for everybody!

Play sessions don't have to be too long; fifteen minutes is a good length. Hopefully this inspires you to get your CH-er moving. It's a great bonding activity as well!

Until next month, have fun!

Cerebellar Hypoplasia vs. Spina Bifida Part 2: An Update on Tia

By Elise Murphy

You may recall the story of Tia in last month's newsletter - a 7-9 year old kitty who was believed to have CH since she was rescued in 2008. At the end of 2012 Tia suddenly started having difficulty getting one of her back legs to go down and shortly after lost the ability to get up and walk, though strength in her back legs remained. Tia's mom, Catherine, began to question if Tia really did have CH or something else and consulted with a neuro-specialist who, after an MRI, discovered Tia never had CH, but rather Spina Bifida. Unfortunately, through the years, her spinal malformation had been worsening, though not in such a way that there was any visible or functional manifestation.

This situation has had a big impact on both Catherine and Tia's lives. For Catherine there is a new level of worry when away from the house for long. Catherine is now performing physical therapy with Tia and researching wheelchairs to help her regain her mobility. It is very possible that Tia will regain these abilities, but she will always be extremely fragile. To help cope with this, Catherine has made Tia her very own padded "Wonderland" where she can comfortably and safely rest, especially when Catherine is not home to keep an eye on her. Luckily, Catherine has a care assistant for Tia in her semi-feral rescue, Sammy. Tia and Sammy are a love story - when Catherine is away they both stay in her office in their "Wonderland." Sammy has always been madly in love with Tia and he comforts her, often spending his time right by her side.

Sammy Tia

To make this safe area, Catherine flat & sturdily padded an area of floor, lined it with comforters, and decorated the area with little pictures attached to the fencing. It is enclosed in an exercise-pen, which is something you normally see used for dogs/puppies or house rabbits, a flexible and configurable "fence." Inside there is an bedding filled, padded ottoman for Tia to hide under. Her boyfriend kitty, Sammy, enters the "Wonderland" by jumping the on the Ottoman. The padded flooring allows Tia to grip her claws into it and pull herself up and around. She gets to her food, water and any place in the wonderland that she wants on her own and fairly fast! Tia seems to take comfort in the area & doesn't venture out often, even though its always kept open. Catherine believes that Tia is transitioning from negative psychological issues about her newly progressive disability to a kind of sometimes depressed/sometimes happy acceptance. She seems to like security of the area and the extra padding and comfort it affords. Tia still loves her sleep time with her mommy, Catherine, though - they have both been recovering & gearing up for the more intensive rehab stage.

Tia was always a messy kitty, which Catherine assumed came from her prior years in a cage in the shelter and confusion with some fosters. Now she urinates even more in little spurts which the neurologist attributes to her spinal problem. He explained that normally for cats and humans our signal is default on, but the brain controls it so you only 'go' at will. With a neurological problem, the brain can't do that as well or at all, and the result is some form of partial or full incontinence. Tia's rehab routine is consisting of walking/standing in a homemade "towel wheelchair" every day. Catherine holds her in a standing position and motivates her to move forward and try to walk. Mostly she seems to get a little power jolt in her back legs and pushes off of them to get to where she wants to go. Tia has tried a couple of different cat/small dog wheelchairs, however neither fit her well enough for her to use, so Catherine is continuing to look into other options, one of which may be very affordable and will be shared next month after further investigation :)

Fundraising for CH Kitties

We are continually busy with rescue and helping CH Kitties. Recently auctions were held for CH Kitties PJ in Washington State, Chowder in Ohio and Elmer in New Jersey. In addition with the auctions, the sale of Bumper Stickers and CH Kitty Bracelets have raised funds for the above three CH Kitties also we were able spread to other rescues West Side Cats in Ohio, Harbor Hope in Washington State and Charm City Rescue in Maryland which assisted their recent CH Kitty rescues in need of medial care.

If you are interested in a bumper sticker or CH Kitty Bracelet all information is in the photo.

Thank you all for your continual care helping!!!! You all ROCK!

Wobbly Kittens - Other then Cerebellar Hypoplasia

Dr Sarah MA Caney, ex-FAB Lecturer in Feline Medicine

CH Kitty Winnie, Boston Mass.

Presented at the FAB Conference October 2002

There are many causes of gait abnormalities in kittens which include:

From www.fabcats.org

Problems with the nervous system
Problems with other body systems which have an effect on how the brain or nerves work
Weakness - many causes of this including anaemia, lack of food or fluids etc
Orthopaedic problems (problems with the bones and joints)
Muscle problems

Some of these problems are congenital , present from birth while other problems develop later on. Some of the diseases are inherited whilst others occur for other reasons including infectious causes.

Ataxia is the medical term for a wobbly, drunken or unsteady gait. Ataxia is caused by problems affecting the sense of motion or position of the body and limbs. The term ataxia is usually reserved for describing cats with neurological problems, but it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish ataxia from nonneurological problems such as weakness which can also cause a wobbly gait. There are a large number of different causes of ataxia in kittens, this paper will focus on some of the more common causes. Causes of ataxia can be split into three main categories:

Cerebellar ataxia This is caused by problems with the cerebellum which is an area of the brain involved in controlling balance and coordination. Affected cats often stand and walk with their legs far apart and may be described to have a highstepping gait (goose stepping). Cats with cerebellar problems find it difficult to make accurate calculations when jumping and so often do this in a very exaggerated way. Tremors, which in some cats get worse when they go to do something such as eating (referred to as an intention tremor), may also be seen.

Vestibular ataxia This is caused by problems with the inner ear or nerves from this part of the body to the brain. The vestibular system is important in controlling balance and feeds information into the cerebellum. Affected cats may have a head tilt, nystagmus (flickering of the eyes from side to side or, more rarely, up and down) and tendency to walk in circles and fall to one side. Signs of motion sickness such as nausea and vomiting may also be seen.

Sensory ataxia This is caused by problems with the brain, spinal cord or peripheral nerves that are involved in detecting the location of the limbs. Affected cats often stand and walk with their legs far apart and are generally weak because of additional problems with the nerves supplying the muscles.

Abnormal development of the brain

Abnormal development of the brain is an important cause of ataxia in kittens. Abnormalities may be present at birth or develop soon after when the brain is still developing.

Developmental problems can be seen for various reasons including:

The queen is exposed to toxins when the kitten is developing in the womb (eg griseofulvin treatment for ringworm in the queen)
The queen is vaccinated with a live feline panleukopenia virus (FPV, feline enteritis) vaccine when pregnant. FPV is a virus which has a predilection for rapidly dividing cells and therefore the tissues most severely affected by this virus include the cerebellum (which develops during late pregnancy and early life), the intestinal tract and the bone marrow. Panleukopenia means low white blood cell numbers which occurs as a result of the bone marrow infection with the virus.

The queen/kittens are infected with panleukopenia virus during late pregnancy or early life. This has the same effect as described above.
Inherited diseases causing abnormal development.

Lysosomal storage diseases are rare inherited diseases where the kitten is born lacking an enzyme required for normal metabolism. Enzymes are required for chemical reactions which convert one substance into another in the body. In cats with storage diseases, metabolites accumulate in the tissues. Neurological signs are common since the brain function is affected by this abnormal accumulation.

Lysosomal storage diseases are a rare cause of neurological problems in kittens. Affected cats may also have eye problems such as this cat which has cloudy corneas (the cornea is the transparent surface of the eye)

Metabolic problems

Metabolic problems describe the category of diseases where problems outside the brain affect how this very sensitive organ is able to work. Porto systemic shunts are one example of this where an abnormality of the blood supply to the liver affects how the brain functions. More rare additional examples of metabolic problems in kittens include diabetes mellitus, low blood glucose and low blood calcium levels. For example, very young kittens are vulnerable to having low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) if they are ill for another reason and this can cause weakness, ataxia and seizures in severe cases.

Nutritional deficiencies such as thiamine deficiency can result in weakness and a wobbly gait - nutritional deficiencies should not occur when commercial cat food is fed.

Assessment of wobbly kittens: first take a thorough history

Investigation of any ataxic kitten requires a logical and step by step approach. The first important requirement is to obtain a thorough history concerning the cat's background and breeding. Important questions include:

Has there been any possible exposure to toxins?
Was the queen vaccinated when pregnant?
Did the queen receive any veterinary treatment when pregnant?
Any possible exposure to toxins since the kitten was born? (this includes veterinary or pet shop treatments)
What is the kitten's diet?
Any possibility of a nutritional deficiency?
Are the other litter mates normal?
Any reports of similar problems? (this would implicate problems such as infectious diseases, problems when the queen was pregnant, exposure to toxins etc)
Any reports of similar problems in previous litters (this may indicate a possible inherited problem)
Any traumatic episode in the kitten's life which preceded the wobbly gait? (e.g. road traffic accident, falls)
Any other clinical signs which could be helpful in pointing to a particular diagnosis?
For example hyper salivation is commonly seen in cats with portosystemic shunts

Taking a thorough history should make it possible to rule out some of the possible causes of the ataxia and may highlight areas for further investigation and questioning.

Assessment of wobbly kittens: examine the cat

Clinical and neurological examination are the next important steps which your vet will perform. A thorough general clinical examination may reveal clues as to the cause of the ataxia, for example, in cats with FIP there may be abdominal distension with fluid. A neurological examination enables assessment of the nervous system which helps to locate the exact anatomical site and extent of any abnormality. Some problems are associated with quite specific and localized clinical signs, for example cerebellar hypoplasia is usually associated with tremors, a high stepping gait and exaggerated jumping. Other diseases such as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) can result in several foci of disease which may lead to a number of neurological deficits on examination.

In many cases, a thorough history, physical and neurological examination will be sufficient to reach a diagnosis.

Assessment of wobbly kittens: further tests

In some cases further tests are needed in order to reach a specific diagnosis. These tests include:

Blood and urine tests

These can give vital clues as to the cause of the disease and include routine hematology (assesses red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells) and biochemistry (evaluates liver, kidneys etc). These tests are helpful in the diagnosis of conditions including portosystemic shunts as well as some of the infections that can cause ataxia. Specific tests for infectious diseases (FeLV,
FIV, Toxoplasma gondii) and lysosomal storage diseases are also available.

Examination of the eyes

This is particularly useful in the case of infectious diseases (FeLV, FIV, Toxoplasma gondii and FIP) where inflammatory lesions can also be seen in the eyes. Examination of the eyes can also be useful in diagnosing lysosomal storage diseases.

Radiographs (X-rays) of the chest and abdomen

This is useful in screening for abnormalities which cannot be identified on clinical examination of the patient and particularly in diagnosis of FIP where fluid production can occur in the
chest and/or abdomen

Ultrasound examination

This is also helpful in checking for the presence of fluid in the chest or abdomen (FIP) and can identify portosystemic shunts in affected kittens

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis

The CSF is the fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord. This test is especially useful in diagnosing the cause of the problem in cats with inflammatory diseases (such as FIP) or cancer (such as lymphoma).

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan

Specialist imaging techniques have only recently become available but are a very useful, non invasive way of obtaining valuable information about the anatomical structure of the brain and presence or absence of inflammation or cancer. Some diseases cannot be diagnosed using this technique and unfortunately it is a very expensive test which generally is only performed in cats that are insured.

Bunnie CH Kitty In New Jersey, Proud dad Andy Cogen

Diagnosis and management of wobbly kittens

In most cases, a diagnosis can be reached allowing advice to the cat's owner as to what the best treatment and likely long term outlook is.

The prognosis varies hugely from disease to disease and although there are many serious and incurable causes of ataxia, there are also conditions to which the affected kittens can adapt and cope.

One common example of such a disease would be cerebellar hypoplasia.

CH Kitty Adoption Application for private party and accompany a rescue/ shelter Application

Elise Murphy has created the CH Cat adoption application in addition, the Cerebellar Hypoplasia Handout.

Photo Courtesy of

Amber Murphy, Canada.

We are using it this week for a private party adoption as we did for Zooey the CH Doggie a few months ago.

However I think it is a great application for both rescues and shelters to use when adopting out a Cerebellar Hypoplasia Kitty. Also when adopting out a CH Kitty you should be accompanying your CH Kitty adopter with the information handout and directing your CH Kitties adoptive family to both the CH Kitty Club and also Cerebellar Hypoplasia Cats and Kittens Facebook Page.

This way they have a support system and all information as a CH Kitty pet owner.

Application to adopt a CH Cat

**Please Note, have adopter print out after completed and have them fax or scan and send back to you. If they hit enter for the application you wont receive it **

Cerebellar Hypoplasia Hand out

For the Love of Romeo

By: Gina Lynn

Gosh, I can't believe its been over 2 months. I apologize for taking so long to write this follow up. I've written it 100 times in my head but actually typing it out is a much more daunting task. I think its safe to say that you all know how devastated I was/am by the loss of my precious Romeo. In fact I only just picked up the ashes yesterday and have been sobbing all over again. I still can't believe it, cannot stand it and can't even say it out loud.

I want to make this short and bittersweet but I just wanted to take a moment to tell you all how much your support and compassion has meant to me. I'm sorry that I couldn't bring myself to respond to all the individual messages and countless Facebook comments. The outpouring of love and sympathy was utterly ph

enomenal. And the heartbreak was felt by so many people who never even met Romeo but had followed his story on Facebook... To borrow from just a few of the many beautiful remarks that were made about Romeo (and our connection): "He was magical." "He taught us all that every life matters." "Our love was epic" (and indeed it was!). He was "the specialist little guy in the world."

From Sabrina Guyll:

"The love you two shared will remain forever, and I know I, for one, am a better person for having had the opportunity to witness such a strong, inspiring tale of two hearts, who shall remain bonded for eternity..."

Gina and Romeo.

Romeo's legacy... First of all to touch so many hearts all over the world with his beautiful spirit. Second, there were some funds left over after cremation, etc. and the overwhelming response from those who donated was to put it towards others in need so...

$50 was donated to help rescue Smokey, a blind senior cat, from Downey Shelter (where Romeo was from) and now living at a sanctuary in San Diego:

$25 was donated to Roxy, a Caring Friends Cat Rescue kitty who was having liver shunt surgery the same day as Romeo's MRI (coincidentally, back in July, they thought that Romeo may have had a liver shunt but that turned out not to be). Sorry I do not have a picture of her.

The rest (and then some) was spent on the rescue, adoption and vetting of my 2 new loves, in Romeo's honor, Mercutio and Juliette.

Mercutio's Shelter Pic. .

Mercuitio's Shelter pic ( left) was the first thing I saw when I got home from the hospital that most awful night. I'm not sure I believe in all that but it sure seems as if it was meant to be. I vowed to avoid comparisons but his personality is very similar to Romeo's - he's an absolute love, sweet and snuggly as can be (curled up and purring in my lap as I type), and not to mention brilliant.

Gina and Mercutio.

Thanks to Stray Cat Alliance, he was seen by one of the best eye specialists in LA who determined that there is nothing that can be done to restore vision and the only question is whether to take his eyes out (to prevent infection and discomfort). I think they will eventually come out as they do seem to bother him and he HATES having them cleaned and ointment put in twice a day. He's had a few other odd health issues as well, requiring multiple vet visits but all is on the up and up!

Gina and Juliette.

Juliette is as sweet as she is beautiful, also partially blind and has Cerebellar Hypoplasia which it was originally thought that Romeo had. She was adopted from Caring Friends, fits very nicely in here with our lovely family and I absolutely adore her!! She will be seeing an eye specialist Monday to see if there's anything that can be done to preserve what's left of her vision.

No one could ever replace my precious Romeo who captured my heart like no other, from the moment I held him in my arms for the first time. But pouring my love into these 2 special little angels has helped my heart heal some.

I post frequent updates, pics and videos on them on Gisele's Facebook page for anyone who doesn't already follow:

Gisele's Facebook Page

Lastly, I am considering changing the focus of my planned sanctuary to special needs animals and calling it For the Love of Romeo.

Thank You All Again and Much Love,
Gina
`

(Romeo's urn, paw print and collar; tattoo I got 4 days after his passing; and a beautiful tribute by rescuer Brenda Renee Green)

May Birthdays

Twitch will be 1 year old in May. We don't know his exact DOB since he was found in the road as a tiny kitten but we know it's May. Happy Birthday Twitch!Proud Mom is Andrea Sisko

You can follow Twitch and his CH Kitty Brother Swagger on their Facebook Page.

Twitch CH Kitty Facebook Page

Interviews: Life with CH Cats

By Amanda Maurer Woodhead

From Amanda's Blog http://lifewithchcats.com/

Please see the awesome topics Amanda has discussed lately on her blog.

(To view, please click on each topic below to lead to Amanda's blog)



Understanding Your Cat's Body Language: The Tail

Meet Groove

More Solutions for Demanding Cats

A Look At CH Cats' Accomplishments

CH Cat Parent: The Spay/Neuter Clinic Wouldn't Neuter My CH Cat

Step Three: Ignoring & Encouraging Behaviors

Step Two: Provide Options & Remove Problems

Step One: Determine The Roots Of Your Cat's Behavioral Problems

Spread Awareness, Save Lives!

Also, Follow Life with CH Cats with Amanda on Twitter

Life With CH Cats on Twitter

Sign up to be a CH Kitty Rescue Warrior!

We need people ALL OVER the country to sign up as helpers in cases where urgent CH kitties pop up in your general area.

This can include help:

fostering
adopting
transporting
pulling from a shelter
offering place at your rescue
chip-ins
crossposting with other rescuers and animal lovers in your area
Sign up using the form here!

Adoptable Angels

CH Cats Available for Adoption Interactive Map

Search for your town and find the CH cats closest to you! Click on the points in the map below to find information about CH cats available for adoption around the world!

*hint* click on the name of the pet after clicking on their map point to view their Petfinder bio or Facebook album

View CH Cats Available for Adoption

CH Cats Available for Adoption in a full screen map

Please Click this link: http://chcat.org/adoptable-cats/

State College, PA - 2 CH Kitties need homes!

Hope

Hope has come a long way from a feisty kitty to a real sweetheart. She runs to greet me when I come to the shelter. She loves to be pet and she enjoys her dinner time a lot. She is quite a character with a lot of personality. Hope gets along well with other cats and she loves to play. If possible we would really like to adopt Hope and her mother Charity together but we understand that is not always a possibility. Her mother helped to raise two other CH kitties plus Hope. If you would like to know more about her please call 814-238-4758 or email Shirley Fonda at ssfonda@juno.com

Vet History: Hope is spayed and up to date on all of her shots.

Sensa-wu

Sensa-Wu needs a loving home. She was part of the University Doctor Rescue where a renter was feedings stray cats and when she moved, she left them to fend for themselves. Sensa-Wu is a CH kitty. Cerebellar Hypoplasia is a neurological disorder that affects motor skills in cats. Sensa-Wu's symptoms are very mild. She struggles with balance. She is able to use the litter box without any difficulty and she is a good healthy eater. Someone who is interested in adopting a CH cat should read up on them but they live the same normal life span as any other cat. They tend to be very sweet and affectionate, and watching them overcome their every day challenges is so inspiring.

If you would like to know more about her please call 814-238-4758 or email Shirley Fonda at ssfonda@juno.com

Vet History: Sensa-Wu is spayed and up to date on all of her shots.

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Northern Nevada - 2 CH Kitties for Adoption:

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Mr. Bill In New Jersey needs a Home or Rescue!!!

Bill gets around well. He falls but he runs around chasing the other cats and the dog just fine!

He uses the litter box but sometimes he doesn't have the best aim (His butt sticks out over the edge). I think what he needs is a long litter box with low sides. His problem is that he can NOT lift his back legs too high and therefore he can not climb into the standard large litter box.

He is a great little guy, a bit of a lap cat and a bit of a daredevil . Please call Loida (973) 987-5582

Mr Bill in New Jersey

Mr Bill in New Jersey

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Tiny Timmy Needs a Rescue or adopter In Virginia!

Tiny Timmy was rescued by a gal who was transporting Timmy and the foster backed out, fearing for his life if he was brought back to the shelter, she brought him home. Having a dog and horses she never head a cat, let alone CH Cat but she really needs to find someone who is a cat person and CH willing and able PLEASE!!!

We have training pads (3-4) held down with bricks to keep them from moving when he scratches in the kitchen. He falls down sometimes due to the CH whilst doing his business, and sometimes gets it on himself. Good news good about being washed off in a tub.

He must be watched because every now and then he will go someplace else if he can't get to them. Good news is he is on a schedule: twice a day feedings(some wet and dry is easier for him to eat because his head bobs a lot) and peeing/pooping. He drinks out of my Weimaraners's big water bowl that he can get to easily.

Tiny Tim the CH Kitty Virginia/ Maryland Area

Call Lisa now please!!! 301-466-1285

Tiny Timmy in VA./Maryland

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Penny, CH kitty in South Elgin, IL needs a home!

Penny

http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/25159920

Penny came to us in August of 2012 when she was only three weeks old. She was unable to walk, eat, or drink on her own. Later, she was diagnosed with a neurologic disorder called Cerebellar Hypoplasia. With the help of the clinic staff and volunteers, she learned to eat and drink on her own. Penny is currently in a foster home where she is making great strides towards walking. She is able to get around by rolling and crawling to where she wants to go. She loves to run and tumble around and play with her toys, and when she's tired she loves to cuddle in bed. Penny is litter box trained and requires a modified litter box that she can roll in and out of with ease. She is good with the foster's big and small dogs and her other cats. Penny has so much love to give and is looking for the perfect owner to love her and her special needs.

Please call the shelter for more details and to schedule an appointment to meet Penny.

All of our animals are spayed/neutered, micro chipped, and up to date on all their vaccinations prior to adoption. For more information on this cat, or any of our other animals, please give us a call at 847.697.2880 ext. 22 or stop by the shelter during our open hours.

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St. Joseph, MO - Terra the trilling CH kitty needs a new home

Terra

Terra is a sweet CH kitty who trills in place of meowing. She is occasionally litter-box trained, but mostly paper-trained. She lives in NW MO, in a town called St. Joseph. Terra needs a good, secure home w/ understanding parents. If you're interested in adopting Terra, please contact Elise at

yeesey85@gmail.com

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Eight CH kitties in North Carolina need homes! Transport available!

All of the beautiful cats in this album have a neurological disorder called cerebellar hypoplasia (CH). CH is a non-painful congenital condition that results in cats having a cute, wobbly walk. It is not contagious, does not worsen with time, and does not require medication. CH cats live and act just like any other cat, minus their adorable walk. All cats are currently in foster care in Chapel Hill, North Carolina but transport is available. Everyone is fully vetted (spayed/neutered, vaccinated, FIV/

Felk negative, and microchipped) and does great with dogs and cats. Please help our special needs cats find homes - hit share! Email adoptionoptionrescue@gmail.com if you are interested in adding a special member to your family. Transport is available to anywhere in the Midwest or along the East Coast for qualified adopters.