What Is Ataxia in Cats? Ataxia is the word used to describe a loss of coordination and balance that affects your cat's head, limbs, and/or torso. Ataxia is caused by decreased sensory function of the nervous system, which in turn can be caused by a wide range of diseases.
Treatment of ataxia will be influenced by the root cause. Pain management, supportive care, and making the environment safe (e.g., preventing access to stairs) are cornerstones of ataxia treatment. Regular reassessments will be scheduled in order to monitor the progress of recovery.
Affected cats are usually young to middle-aged and generally improve in 2–3 days, although residual deficits (especially head tilt) may take some time (usually 2–3 weeks) to improve; some cats may be left with a permanent head tilt.
The most typical symptoms are jerky or uncoordinated walking, swaying from side to side when trying to walk, a goose-stepping gait called hypermetria, mild head tremors, and/or intention tremors. Intention tremors are tremors that occur when the kitten intends to make some sort of movement.
If your kitten has cerebellar hypoplasia, you might notice that they are a little 'wobbly' as they begin to move, usually at a few weeks of age. As cerebellar hypoplasia is a non-progressive disorder, this will not worsen over time but cats are generally affected for the rest of their lives.
An ataxic cat may look like they are drunk, with a wobbly gait, swaying, and increased drowsiness. They may also have more subtle symptoms, such as a mild head tilt or a curling under of the toes while walking.
Unfortunately, there's no treatment or cure for wobbly kitten syndrome, so cats live with the condition their entire lives. While that might sound disheartening, think about it from the kittens' perspective.
The signs that your cat may be suffering from a neurologic disorder include: reluctance or refusal to use its litter box; altering the way it interacts with its owner and others; and a noticeable change in its gait and apparent sense of balance. An affected cat, says Dr. Dewey, may suddenly “flop down and flail around.
“The most common cause is an in-utero infection with the feline panleukopenia virus,” Mankin said. “The virus attacks the developing cerebellum, resulting in a cerebellum that is not able to form properly.”
The cause, they determined, was cerebellar hypoplasia (CH), a neurological condition that occurs when a kitten's cerebellum doesn't fully develop in the womb. Since the cerebellum is what controls motor function, cats who have CH tend to wobble when they walk.
Life expectancy is generally shorter than normal for people with hereditary ataxia, although some people can live well into their 50s, 60s or beyond. In more severe cases, the condition can be fatal in childhood or early adulthood.
In a few cases of ataxia, it may be possible to improve the condition or stop it getting worse by treating the underlying cause. For example: ataxia with vitamin E deficiency can often be controlled or improved with vitamin E supplements.
acquired ataxia – this can affect people of any age and usually develops very quickly over the course of a few days, or sometimes hours; it may improve over time, stay the same or get slowly worse.
Common symptoms of salt toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, polydipsia (increased drinking/thirst), ataxia (difficulty walking), tremors, and seizures.
There is no specific treatment for ataxia. In some cases, treating the underlying cause may help improve the ataxia. In other cases, such as ataxia that results from chickenpox or other viral infections, it is likely to resolve on its own.
A large litter box that is easy to get in and out of will be best for cats with cerebellar hypoplasia. You might also want to provide a ramp for easier access, such as the Litter-Robot 3 Ramp.
Kittens are particularly vulnerable to ataxia. It's caused by infection, trauma or a disease, such as cancer. If your cat begins to stumble, wobble back and forth or fall down, first protect him or her from additional harm. Keep your cat indoors and away from stairs or standing water.
Lethargic and Losing Significant Weight - A poor appetite can lead to weight loss, but so can diseases like hyperthyroidism or diabetes, even if your cat is eating well. Lethargic and Wobbly - Cats who are wobbly could be suffering from a neurologic problem or metabolic disease, or they could simply be very weak.
Most Common Neurological Disorders in Cats. Thankfully, cats are less troubled by neurologic disorders than dogs. Those most common in cats can be caused by birth defects, infectious disease, an underlying condition, trauma, or unknown reasons related to aging.
SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: Acting like a kittenzilla, destructiveness, crying/constant meowing, scratching, biting, aggression, lack of sleep, more time spent training, and more. Single kittens are the #1 most returned animal at sanctuaries and shelters nationwide!
What is “Fading Kitten Syndrome”? Fading kitten syndrome, sometimes referred as “failure to thrive”, describes a kitten that “crashes”, suddenly becoming ill or unresponsive, even if it was previously healthy.
Cerebellar Hypoplasia, also known as CH and wobbly cat syndrome, is a neurological disorder that causes sudden jerky movements, uncoordinated motion and loss of balance. In a CH cat, the brain does not develop properly.
What age does Fading Kitten Syndrome start? Fading Kitten Syndrome can start immediately after birth up until the age of weaning (about four to five weeks of life).
The most common cause of rear limb paralysis in cats is a blood clot that goes to the back leg, called a saddle thrombus or arterial thromboembolism (ATE). This clot blocks blood flow to the affected limb(s). A clot in the back leg suddenly causes the cat to be unable to put full weight on the affected leg.