Have you ever seen a cat or kitten that appears ‘wobbly’ and has bad balance? It’s possible that they’re suffering from Feline Cerebellar Hypoplasia, a common congenital condition in cats. In this article, we discuss what cerebellar hypoplasia is, how it affects cats, and what you can do about it.
What is Cerebellar Hypoplasia?
Cerebellar Hypoplasia is a condition that affects all mammals to varying degrees. It’s congenital (present at birth) and incurable in cats.
The name ‘cerebellar hypoplasia’ describes the condition perfectly. The cerebellum is part of the brain – it’s the bit that’s responsible for movement, especially fine motor skills, co-ordinating muscles, and helping with balance. ‘Hypoplasia’ means under-developed. In cerebellar hypoplasia, kittens are born with an underdeveloped cerebellum.
Signs of Cerebellar Hypoplasia in Cats
Since the cerebellum’s function is to control movement, co-ordinate muscles, and balance, affected cats struggle to do these things. They’ll appear ‘wobbly’, and you’ll notice the head bobbing. You might notice small tremors (‘intention tremors’), especially when the cat is deciding to do something – like eat food or play with a toy. These tremors should go away when the cat is resting and sleeping. Cats with cerebellar hypoplasia will exhibit a decreased sense of balance – they may fall over or miss easy jumps.
- Clumsiness
- Unsteadiness and swaying when they move
- Difficulties with balance
- Head bobbing
- Shakes and tremors
- Lifting the feet high when moving them
- Standing with feet far apart
Cats can be affected mildly or severely depending on the amount of damage to the cerebellum, which will mean that some or all of the signs and symptoms can be present.
Feline Cerebellar Hypoplasia Causes
The cerebellum grows largely in the last stages of pregnancy and in the first few days after birth, and any damage at this time can stop its growth, causing hypoplasia. Physical damage (such as blunt trauma) can cause cerebellar hypoplasia, but this is uncommon. Severe malnutrition of the mother cat (queen) can also cause cerebellar hypoplasia, but again, this is rare.
By far the most common cause of cerebellar hypoplasia in cats is infection with feline panleukopenia virus (also known as feline parvovirus). If caught by the mother cat, this virus can pass across the womb to the kittens. It attacks any rapidly dividing cells – and, at critical points in gestation, the cells of the cerebellum are the most rapidly dividing cells in the body.
How is Feline Cerebellar Hypoplasia Diagnosed?
There is no single test for feline cerebellar hypoplasia. However, it’s often diagnosed simply by the symptoms that are present and the age of the cat. If a young kitten – or cat with no known history – has many of the symptoms of cerebellar hypoplasia, and some other common conditions are ruled out, a presumptive diagnosis is often made.
If the signs are more subtle, your veterinarian may undertake some tests. Since feline epilepsy and other balance disorders can look similar to cerebellar hypoplasia in cats, it’s important that other conditions are ruled out. Your veterinarian may undertake blood tests and ultrasound scans.
An MRI is the best way to diagnose ‘wobbly cat’ syndrome, as it allows an image of the brain to be created. However, most vets do not have access to specialist imaging equipment and the procedure is often expensive, meaning this step is often missed and a presumptive diagnosis is made.
Caring for a Cat with Feline Cerebellar Hypoplasia
Cats with cerebellar hypoplasia do not recover – they will have symptoms for life. However, the condition doesn’t worsen, either, and most cats will learn to cope with their disability. However, there are a few things you can do to help your cat with cerebellar hypoplasia thrive.
Do not give free outside access
Since your kitten or cat cannot jump or run like a normal cat, they shouldn’t be let outside. There’s a high risk of them hurting themselves if they end up in a difficult situation (like up a tree!).
Preventing Cerebellar Hypoplasia in Cats
Once your cat has cerebellar hypoplasia, there’s nothing that can be done to reverse the damage. However, it’s possible to reduce the risk of kittens being born with cerebellar hypoplasia. The most important thing that you can do is to make sure that the mother cat is fully vaccinated before becoming pregnant. This reduces her risk of catching feline panleukopenia virus and passing it onto her kittens. It is not possible to vaccinate cats that are already pregnant. If you find a pregnant stray whose vaccination status is unknown, the best you can do is reduce her chance of catching parvovirus. You should not allow her access to any other cats,
If you have a pregnant cat, it’s important their nutrition is adequate. Since both underfeeding and overfeeding can cause nutritional problems, it’s a good idea to approach your vet for help if you aren’t sure you are feeding the right diet and amount for your pregnant cat.
Featured Image Credit: Casey Elise Christopher, Shutterstock
