Plenty of young kittens are a little clumsy. But if you notice unusual clumsiness, like frequent wobbling or stumbling when walking, it’s possible they may have cerebellar hypoplasia (CH), also called ‘wobbly cat syndrome’.
This neurological condition causes difficulties with walking, balancing, and controlling movements. So, you may notice jerky and uncoordinated movements, like swaying from side to side, head tremors, or quivering when standing, explains Dr Primrose Moss, VetMB, MRCVS, a UK-based small animal veterinarian.
Wobbly cat syndrome isn’t treatable, but it’s not contagious, and it doesn’t cause pain. Cats with wobbly cat syndrome can live just as long as cats without CH, says Dr Moss, and many enjoy many years of feline antics and human companionship.
That said, it can leave your cat prone to accidents, so they’ll require a few special adjustments at home. Read on to get the details on CH, including early signs, causes, and proper care for a wobbly cat.
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Symptoms Of Wobbly Cat Syndrome
Kittens in the early stages of development may wobble around as they learn to walk. But if your kitten wobbles after they reach six weeks of age, you’ll want to consult a vet.
Signs of CH may show up shortly after birth. You may notice:
- uncoordinated movement
- shaking, tremors, or swaying while standing
- difficulty jumping
- nystagmus, or a side-to-side movement of the eye
As kittens learn to compensate for their neurological disability, symptoms of CH may appear to improve slightly. However, the cerebellum won’t heal or continue to develop.
“CH is not generally treatable or curable, but it can be managed through environmental modifications and lifestyle,” says Dr Jessica Taylor, DVM, a Fear Free certified veterinarian at Petfolk. Unless a cat has a secondary infection or toxicity poisoning, the condition usually doesn’t get worse over time, she adds.
What Causes Wobbly Cat Syndrome?
Your cat’s brain controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, and every other process that regulates their bodies—just like your brain does for you.
The brain has different regions that perform different functions. One of these regions is the cerebellum, explains Dr Primrose. It’s located at the back of the brain and controls muscular movement and coordination.
If the cerebellum doesn’t fully develop or develops abnormally, this may lead to CH. A few different factors can contribute, according to our experts:
- Viral infections. Congenial CH is most commonly caused by panleukopenia, or feline parvovirus, in the mother cat. Dr Zach Coston, DVM, a veterinarian at Dutch, explains that the virus destroys developing nerves in the foetal cerebellum, resulting in a kitten being born with an underdeveloped cerebellum.
- Toxicity poisoning. Toxins can also affect foetal development and cause brain defects like wobbly cat syndrome.
- Trauma. Trauma during foetal development may lead to CH.
Kittens within the same litter can develop differently, so one kitten may develop CH while the others don’t.
Important! Kittens can also develop CH after birth. The cerebellum continues developing for about two weeks after a kitten is born, Dr Coston explains. If a kitten contracts panleukopenia during those final developmental stages, they could develop CH. This is why pregnant cats and kittens under two weeks of age shouldn’t get the panleukopenia vaccine.
How Do Vets Diagnose Wobbly Cat Syndrome?
Dr Taylor urges pet parents to promptly take their kittens to a vet at the first sign of jerky or abnormal movements in their legs, head, or body.
If your vet suspects CH, they’ll usually suggest a blood test to eliminate other potential underlying diseases and conduct a comprehensive exam, including a neurologic assessment.
Most vets will easily recognise the signs, according to Dr Moss, though this condition isn’t common. That said, they can only make an official diagnosis with brain imaging, such as an MRI or CT scan.
Can other conditions resemble CH?
“Some toxins or severe infections can cause similar neurological signs to CH,” Dr Taylor says.
These other conditions will usually involve other symptoms, like loss of appetite, weight loss, and fever. Your vet can do an exam to help identify possible causes of your cat’s symptoms and recommend tests to help pinpoint and treat other health issues.
How To Care For A Wobbly Cat
If your kitten is diagnosed with CH, your veterinarian will suggest some changes at home to make life more comfortable for them.
Dr Taylor offers a few tips to get you started:
- Choose the right litter box. Rather than a top-entry litter box or one with a tall opening, opt for a litter box with a wide entry that’s low to the ground.
- Tailor food and water dishes to your cat’s needs. Opt for spill-proof food and water dishes with wide openings. It may also help to add a non-slip mat to their feeding station.
- Make spaces more accessible. Try adding a ramp or stairs to your cat’s favourite high-up spots, like the couch or a sunny perch.
Since cats with CH are more prone to accidents and may have a harder time defending themselves, you’ll want to keep them safely indoors.
“Many cats with minor disabilities can still run, play, and even jump,” Dr Coston says. In other words, personalised care may look different from one wobbly cat to another.
Is Wobbly Cat Syndrome Treatable?
CH in cats is not curable or treatable.
“Yet many cats with CH can live full, active, relatively normal lives. They just require closer monitoring than their coordinated counterparts,” Dr Coston says.
Dr Taylor adds that cats who have wobbly cat syndrome often adapt easily to their environments with some minor adjustments.
However, in some cases, severe CH can make basic tasks, like eating and using the litter box, more challenging. When CH affects a cat’s quality of life or poses a high risk of secondary disease or infection, Dr Taylor says your vet may bring up the option of humane euthanasia.
Can you prevent CH?
CH caused by panleukopenia can be prevented.
“Vaccinating cats against the feline panleukopenia virus will reduce the number of affected kittens,” Dr Moss says. “It’s especially important to ensure your female cat is fully vaccinated before she becomes pregnant.”
This is because vaccinating a pregnant cat may harm unborn kittens, Dr Coston says.
Your vet can offer more guidance about the right vaccination schedule for cats and kittens and the specific vaccinations they need, based on their lifestyle.
It’s true that the cost of vaccines can add up fast, but it’s often possible to save some money by finding a low-cost vaccination clinic near you. Making sure your cat has all their essential vaccines can help them have a happier, healthier life!
Special thanks to benbencatcat, campwobblycat, and tippytuxies for permission to use their social media posts in this article.
