Cerebellar hypoplasia is a condition that gives felines a wobbly appearance. Here, vet Penny Clarke explains about the disease.
Penny Clarke, BVetMed MRCVS, graduated in 2003 from the Royal Veterinary College. She is a cat-loving clinician at a busy, small animal hospital in Warwickshire. Penny writes about all things veterinary and also human neurodiversity, particularly autism.
In this series, vet Penny is breaking down different health conditions that affect our cats. She is guiding us through each problem, explaining what it is, how it impacts a cat, and how it can be treated. The aim is that for anyone with a cat who suffers from any of the conditions covered, you have an essential understanding of the disease and can make the best possible decisions for your feline companion.
WHAT IS CEREBELLAR HYPOPLASIA?
Cerebellar hypoplasia is a developmental brain condition affecting kittens from birth — some people call them ‘wobbly cats.’ Cerebellar refers to the cerebellum, an important part of the brain, and hypoplasia means it isn’t fully developed. Many cats with cerebellar hypoplasia live a relatively normal life, whereas others have more severe difficulties requiring a high level of support.
BRAIN ANATOMY
To fully understand this condition, let’s first take a look at the brain. Cats’ brains are complex structures containing around 300 million tiny neurons (nerve cells). Dogs have just over half this amount (as an impartial vet, I couldn’t possibly comment about which species is the most intelligent!). Your cat’s brain has a storage capacity over 1,000 times bigger than the average iPad with a far superior processing speed (around 6.1 trillion operations per second compared to an iPad’s mere 170 million per second). This impressive piece of kit fits neatly inside your cat’s skull measuring about 5cm in length and weighing only 30 grams!
HERE’S A QUICK GUIDE TO WHICH BIT OF THE BRAIN DOES WHAT:
● The olfactory lobe is made of two ‘bulbs’ and sits at the bottom front part of the brain. It receives signals from your cat’s nose and mouth and processes everything
smell related.
● The frontal lobe in cats is a much smaller portion of the brain than in humans. We have a more developed emotional regulation system than cats, allowing us to navigate complex social interactions. In both species, the frontal lobe is important for memory, voluntary movements, and behaviour.
● The temporal lobe has a few roles including hearing and memory (recognising objects).
● Below the temporal lobe are the thalamus, hypothalamus, and pituitary gl
