Helping Cats with Cerebellar Hypoplasia

When you think of a domestic cat you tend to think of a graceful feline that always lands on all 4 feet, some are however born with a condition known as Wobbly Cat Syndrome or Cerebellar Hypoplasia. This condition affects their ability to balance.

Cerebellar hypoplasia is a neurological condition where the cerebellum is not completely developed or develops smaller than usual. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that is responsible for movement and co-ordination, in people and in animals.

Content:

1. What Is Cerebellar Hypoplasia in Cats
2. Cerebellar Hypoplasia in Cats Symptoms
3. Cerebellar Hypoplasia in Cats Treatment
4. Conclusion

What Is Cerebellar Hypoplasia in Cats

Cerebellar hypoplasia is commonly known as spastic cat syndrome and wobbly cat syndrome. The condition is not contagious, nor is it painful.

The most common reason for occurrence in cats is when a pregnant female contracts the feline panleukopenia virus passing it onto her kittens in-utero. The FPV virus is contagious and prefers attacking cells that are rapidly dividing. The cerebellum undergoes rapid growth in the last few weeks of pregnancy making it the ideal target for the virus. There is the possibility that only one kitten in a litter is affected, or the whole litter can be affected.

Dr. J Mankin said: “Cerebellar hypoplasia is a condition in which the cerebellum, the part of the brain that is responsible for coordination and balance, does not develop properly. It results in cats that have exaggerated movements of their legs and head, as those movements are normally controlled by the cerebellum.”

If you have a cat that hasn’t ever shown any symptoms of being off balance and suddenly becomes wobbly then it is very important to take them to your nearest veterinarian as it is something that needs investigating.

Cerebellar Hypoplasia in Cats Symptoms

As the affected area of the brain is responsible for movement you may not see any problems in a kitten until they start standing or walking on their own. All newborn animals are wobbly to start but do get the hang of controlled movement far faster than humans do. The severeness of the symptoms all depends on at which stage the infection occurred and how much of the cerebellum is affected.

Symptoms to look out far:

• Uncoordinated or jerky walking/movement
• Goose-stepping gait
• Head tremors
• Swaying from side to side when walking
• Intention tremors, these become more obvious when the kitten plans to do more movement than just walking such as playing or eating

If you have a new kitten at home, it is always recommended to invest in a pet camera to check in when you are not home. In this way you can pick up on any unusual behaviour or movements even while you are at work.

Feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) may induce a granuloprival cerebellar hypoplasia in cats when the virus infects fetuses during the last 3 weeks of gestation or kittens during the 3 first weeks of life (Parrish, 1994). Earlier foetal infections may result in hydranencephaly (deLahunta, 1971, Sharp et al., 1999).

Cerebellar Hypoplasia in Cats Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no treatment available for this condition as the cause is a lack of brain development. Changes in your cat’s environment can be made to try and prevent any accidents or serious falls. Cerebellum hyperplasia cannot be 100% confirmed without an MRI, which is very expensive. It is always a good idea to sign up with Petcube Emergency Fund so that you know you can provide your feline friend with the best possible care if an accident were to occur.

“The most common cause is an in-utero infection with the feline panleukopenia virus,” Dr J Mankin said. “The virus attacks the developing cerebellum, resulting in a cerebellum that is not able to form properly.”

Conclusion

This syndrome can not be cured, but it can be prevented by vaccinating female cats against the panleukopenia virus before pregnancy. Thankfully cerebellar hypoplasia is not painful, nor infectious to other kittens or cats. Cats are amazing animals and learn to adapt to their environment with this condition. It is, however, safer to keep them solely indoors to prevent them from accidentally injuring themselves outside in an unpredictable environment.