Ask the Cat Doc: How to Encourage a Cat with Cerebellar Hypoplasia to Play

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Welcome to the regular “Ask the Cat Doc With Dr. Lynn Bahr” section! Once a month, Dr. answers. Sea on as many of your questions as possible, and you can leave new ones for them in a comment.

Dr. Bahr graduated in 1991 from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and is the founder of Dezi & Roo, a company that designs, manufactures, and sells solution-based products that enhance the lives of cats and their owners. She has volunteered for numerous animal-related charities and causes and serves on the Fear Free Advisory Board, the Parliamentary Association of Veterinary Ethics, the Cat Committee of the Pet Professional Guild, and the Alley Cat Allies Feline Forward Task Force.

Dr. Bahar is co-author of a book The Inner Cat: How to Enrich Their Lives and Expand Their WorldAnd the Available from Amazon.

For more information about Dezi & Roo and its unique and innovative cat toys, please visit Dezi and Roo on Etsy.

We had just one question last month, about a cat with cerebellar hypoplasia, also known as wobbly cat syndrome. If you are not familiar with this condition, it is a neurological disorder that causes sudden jerky movements, uncoordinated movement and loss of balance. In a CH cat, the brain does not develop properly. This can happen when a pregnant mother has feline panleukopenia (feline tuberculosis) and passes it on to her unborn offspring. CH is neither contagious nor painful, and with some facilities, Cats with this condition can live a full and happy life.

How to encourage a cat with CH to play

Hello Doctor Bahr,

I am the mother of a first time cat to my friends in the black humane community and I love him to pieces! She stopped drinking on February 12, 2021 and completed 3 months of inpatient rehabilitation. I wanted a companion pet, but I knew a dog was out of the question. I decided to buy a cat and had no idea what was in store for me! I fell in love with his picture and knew I had to adopt him! The people at the adoption place didn’t know exactly how old he was because he was found with his mother and siblings in a barn. I picked it up when I got there and then went to wait in the room to be served. The lady put him on the ground so he could explore, and I immediately saw that his march was off. The lady explained that the little man had picked up an infection from his mother called cerebellar hypoplasia, which makes him walk funny. So I look at this feisty, fuzzy little fur ball, and it takes a few steps, and will give his legs a bit, but that didn’t stop him at all! He was moving as fast as those little legs would carry him, he stumbled a little, then back up! My heart melted! I picked him up and thought he might get upset because he wanted to play, but it was like we already knew each other! He put his head on my chest and started purring and did not stop! I told the lady that as soon as he started walking, I was sold! It’s okay that he doesn’t move around like other cats; I was about to make sure he’s living his best life! It reminds me of the mindset I had when I got home from rehab; No matter what knocks you down, it only wins if you don’t prepare. So, get back! I’ll have it for 1 year on October 1 and it’s in really good shape! What I’m wondering is, what kinds of things can I let him do that will make up for the fact that he can’t go out unattended? The weather is getting better and I want to let him out, but with his walking and coordination issues, he won’t be able to get himself out of a bad situation or fend for himself. He doesn’t really enjoy games for long, if at all! I want him to enjoy being a cat and also be active as much as possible. Thank you so much and I’m excited to discover some ways to keep my boyfriend happy and healthy! its name? Well, I had a name chosen because it’s technically my friend. I came home and told my husband “this is my new boyfriend”. I was going to tell my husband the name, but he watched him walk and say “Wobble. His name’s wobbly.” perfect! — Angela Fulghum[stechnicallyMYbuddyIgothomeandtoldmyhusband“Thisismynewbuddy”Iwasgonnatellmyhusbandthenamebuthewatchedhimwalkandhesays“WobblesHisnameisWobbles”Perfect!–AngelaFulghum[stechnicallyMYbuddyIgothomeandtoldmyhusband“Thisismynewbuddy”Iwasgonnatellmyhusbandthenamebuthewatchedhimwalkandhesays“WobblesHisnameisWobbles”Perfect!–AngelaFulghum

Hello Angela,

Who saved who? It looks like you and your wobbly boy are the same in heaven and I’m so happy for both of you. I appreciate your desire to find more ways to play with him and I have a few suggestions.

Since navigation is an issue, you may want to try games that include smell. Using items like silver, catnip, and even food or candy hidden around the house or in food puzzles is an easy way to encourage him to use his nose to look for and find things that taste or feel good. There is also an online Nosework tutorial that you can learn more about over here. Bringing scents from outside, such as twigs, leaves, and safe plants inside for him to smell and play with, is another way to appeal to his sense of smell and give him a fun activity to engage in.

Opening the windows to fertilize will allow Wobbles to experience a bit of the outdoors and I encourage you to do this frequently. And if possible, take him outside for short, supervised periods of time to explore. You could even consider building a CATIO container. in my bookAnd the The Inner Cat: How to Enrich Their Lives and Expand Their World There is a simple tutorial on how to make a quick and inexpensive window unit that anyone can assemble.

Have you tried stick games to encourage your kid to play? If not, I recommend trying a few to see which one catches his attention best. Favorites include Wiggly Wand from Dezi & Roo, Da Bird from Go Cat, Bamboozler by Boinks, or Purrfect Leather Bouncer from Vee Enterprises. Make sure you and Wobbler play these safely on a carpeted surface to help him keep his balance and avoid injuries.

How to play properly with stick games

A common mistake people make when trying to get their cats to play with a stick attachment is dangling it in front of their cat’s face. In the wild, a mouse, bird, or insect would never run up to a cat and say “hello” or tease them by jumping in front of their face. The prey is running away and the cats are chasing them. The best way to entice the wobbler to play is to gently move the stick until you get his or her attention. Then he stops all movements until he lays eyes on her, takes a prone position, and begins to pounce. Then you can move him to lure him to chase him. Once he grabs the elbow, let him carry it away with pride.

Play the carpet, like magic carpetGreat for entertaining cats like wobblers. You can throw it on a chair or table to create a fun tent for him to hide in or use it to encourage foraging by placing treats or toys under it for him to reveal. He might enjoy rooting it around when he’s laying on the floor or sleeping in it in a corner.

Building forts from chests is another way to encourage him to play. Or letting him play with a box full of leaves can be a fun activity for him, too. Most cats enjoy frolicking in brown paper bags, and wobblers may like that too.

I hope I gave you some ideas on how to keep Wobbles happy and playing healthy. If you’re looking for more ways to play with him, I encourage you to check out my book. It is full of valuable ideas and information.

Thank you for messaging us and I hope you and Wobbles enjoy playing together more.

Do you have a question for Dr. Bahar? Leave it in a comment and you’ll answer it in next month’s column.