Taking Care Of A Cat Diagnosed With Down Syndrome
Max, a nine-year-old ginger cat, has been diagnosed with the feline equivalent of down syndrome. His owner wonders if there is anything that he can do for his cat as he gets older. When cats get older, he may become less coordinated and his symptoms may worsen.
Max’s owner says that his cat does well for the most part. But his coordination and balance have gotten worse as he has gotten older. He says that Max has never been able to focus, so when he goes to a window, he will walk into the glass.
From ABC Regional Online:
Vet and President of the Albury RSPCA Branch Dr Arthur Fruaenfelder says Glen’s descriptions of Max are typical characteristics of a cat with Down Syndrome.
“Down Syndrome is a very rare condition among cats. Down Syndrome is a deficiency in the development of the lower brain and what you have got is basically incoordination.”
“One way to consider Down Syndrome, is that you have got a spinal cord it comes up into the back of the brain and then it gets relayed all through the brain and the messages go back. What is happening here is that ‘relayed box’ is not working properly.”
“Max has got it to a minor degree and is actually able to co-ordinate to some degree. You will see more of the aging process as he gets to that nine to 12 years and more age bracket and more so then you see in other cats. The reason being as we age, we lose some of our nerve fibers or neurones, as Max hasn’t got as many of these he will show less and less co-ordination earlier on.”
“I would hope because he is nine and has been fairly good so far, at this stage I wouldn’t expect him to be totally incapacitated hopefully for a few years yet.”
Dr Fruaenfelder says with Down Syndrome there is not a lot you can do. “It is one of those things that just progresses and is very slow. I’m a great believer in keeping down the additives in foods so keeping him on natural foods and also a varied vitamin preparation.”
July 9th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Huh — it sounds like what this vet is talking about is cerebellar hypoplasia, or a similar disorder. It means the cat has an underdeveloped cerebellum, most likely because the mother cat had distemper.
My 13 year old cat Grover has it. I picked him up as a stray kitten, and it was obvious right away that he had some neurological issue — he has a very stiff gait and has always been uncoordinated. As he’s gotten older, his biggest challenge has been arthritis decreasing his mobility even more. We got him some kitty stairs so he can get on our bed, and he’s smart enough to use the orthopedic pet beds in the house.
I don’t worry too much about it; Grover is a really happy, affectionate cat. And that’s all you can ask for.
July 9th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
Yes, I believe that this is cerebellar hypoplasia, not “Down Syndrome”. Down’s Syndrome is a specific chromosome disorder in humans that causes distinct physical signs and usually some form of cognitive impairment, the degree of which can vary widely.
Holly is correct that cats can be born with cerebellar hypoplasia if the mother has distemper (more accurately FPV). However, vaccinating the mother cat against FPV–a part of one of the routine vaccinations administered to cats–while she is pregnant can also cause the kittens to be born with this condition. So if you have any suspicion that your cat is pregnant, wait until after the kittens delivered and are a month old or more before having this vaccine given, or follow your vet’s recommendation. Of course, the best thing to do is spay your cat in the first place so this will not become an issue.
July 9th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
what a love! Where did I just read about an elderly cat using a cookie sheet with sides for a litter tray? I thought that was a great idea - maybe useful down the road.
deej
September 13th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
[…] Someone else asked this question about a cat who she thought had Down’s Syndrome. There is supposedly a feline equivalent to Down’s Syndrome. I do not know how this can happen because human chromosomes are different than cats. Wouldn’t the cat need to have the same defect of the 21st chromosome? There are those who say cats even can cause Down’s Syndrome in humans, when the expectant mother is around a cat. Check this site out: Taking Care Of A Cat Diagnosed With Down Syndrome | Itchmo: News For Dogs & Cats […]
May 26th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Hi my 2 females who have just turned 1 have both had kittens and the father being there brother and 2 kittens died looked to me as though they died due to organ failure it was hard watching them slowly die in pain i bet to, but yeh the others seem healthy at the moment but i have noticed one of them has extra laurge eyes and a flat long face with a slight domed head looks exactly like a down syndrome person so i dunno and it cant walk propoly it sota drags its right back leg and wobbles all over its so tiny aswell and so sweet it comes up to everyone and lickes them non stop and she can just lie there in your hands and she wouldnt even notice unlike the others they cry and strugle to get down from you she is 4 week nearly 5 week old i dont know what to do either should i keep her give her to somone who will want her? thanx for replying if u do.
July 6th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
[…] Hopefully that will provide some helpful information. Here are a few other links I ran across: Taking Care Of A Cat Diagnosed With Down Syndrome | Itchmo: News For Dogs & Cats kitten with Down’s syndrome? - Ask a Vet (Pet Health) - […]
August 14th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I have an 8 year old cat who was preliminarily diagnosed with something resembling Downs Syndrome. He has poor balance, butt the primary difference are some physical abnormalities such as his ears are only about 1-1/2 inches apart, his eyes slant, he has a cleft upper lip and a small head. His personality is the real tell tale, he asks just like a Downs child, he is happy, happy, happy and then something will frighten him or make him mad and he will curl up and hiss like the cat in Pet Semetary. He does some smart things though, he knows what “no food for you” means and he really knows what “food for you” means and comes running. We love him dearly and he loves us too.
October 16th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I had no idea there was a feline equililent if I showed you a picture would you be able to tell me if she had it. She has the eyes like a down syndrome human would have. Shes in a good place shes at a vet tech school. shes cute.
October 31st, 2008 at 10:02 pm
HI D HOWYOUDOING D TIS GRACE
December 12th, 2008 at 5:20 am
ewww
January 14th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
My dog has this disease what can i do, he stopped maturing at 4 months old
April 29th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Hi Holly,
“Huh — it sounds like what this vet is talking about is cerebellar hypoplasia, or a similar disorder. It means the cat has an underdeveloped cerebellum, most likely because the mother cat had distemper.”
I hate to tell you but my cat had a litter and out of 5 only one is like this. Would it be safe to say if the mom has distemper then ALL the kittens would turn out this way NOT just one of them????
August 2nd, 2009 at 6:42 am
this thread delivers
+1
November 25th, 2009 at 7:02 am
I find it highly insulting the degree of ignorance that is written here about Down Syndrome. Calling it a ‘Chromosonal DISORDER’. The only people with a disorder is the people who have writen on this website. How completely ignorant and prejudice to judge a human being as a being a ‘disorder’! The writing about the cat with Down Syndrome is completely incorrect in every way and judgemental to people who have Down Syndrome. It’s the equivilant of rasism or sexism but inadvertantly directed to people who have a VARIATION in their genetic makeup. They are not defected they are HUMAN BEINGS! I take huge insult to this website. Please go to the Down Syndrome website to be EDUCATED! http://www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/ There you might free yourself from your own learning disability. Appauled and disgusted, anon 2009 (not the 15th century)