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Booger's Story
On June 6, 1995, a mother cat at the shelter where I work gave birth to five kittens,
one of which was stillborn. At the time, our shelter was crammed full of animals and I
wanted to get the newborns away from all the possible diseases and infections floating
about, so I took the mother and the four kittens home with me to foster until they were 8
weeks old where then I had plans on returning them to be tested and adopted out. Little
did I know at the time that that one action and decision would remarkably change my life.
At first, things seemed to be going well. A few days had went by, and although the mother
cat was not very good at feeding her young (she was very young and was more interested in
attention from humans), the kittens appeared to be fine. Then, all of a sudden, two of the
kittens began to have body tremors and gasping for air. I tried to save them, but it was a
losing battle and all I could do was hold their tiny bodies in my arms as they died.
Shortly after they were dead, the other two began to do the same but not as severe. With a
little mouth to mouth and care, I kept the other two kittens alive, at least for the
moment.
A trip to my vet did little to ease my concern as he could find nothing wrong with the
mother or the remaining kittens. He gave me vitamins to put in the mother cat's food and
sent me home. A day later, another kitten died during the night.
With one remaining kitten left, I put all my time and effort into hand feeding the kitten,
thinking at the time that it was the mother that was at fault; perhaps she wasn't feeding
them enough or her milk was not good, there was nothing else to explain what was happening
to these kittens that looked perfectly normal. It was a rough time for me: the mother cat
seemed determined to get rid of the kitten and continue on with her life (two weeks after
giving birth to those kittens, she began to go into heat again) and dropped the kitten
behind my bed, our hot tub, and dryer. It took all of my families energy to watch over the
kitten and keep it safe.
It was about 5 weeks later that I began to notice small things in the kitten that were
unlike other kittens her age. She still was not walking, just pulling herself
around. At 7 weeks, she began to stumble about but was very small. Another trip to the vet
still proved unsuccessful in determining the cause.
Finally, at 12 weeks of age, she was big enough to be tested at the shelter for feline
leukemia which thankfully was negative. By this time she had finally began to walk, though
her movements were very awkward: she stumbled a lot, had problems running, kept falling
into her food and water dishes, and seemed to be having problems focusing on us as she
always swung her head from side to side slightly in order to focus on an object. I began
to read in textbooks and talk to other local vets, finally finding one name to fit her
situation: cerebellar hypoplasia. Not only did this totally explain her spastic movements
and incoordination, but it also told of how many kittens die from this in their first
weeks of life as they are too weak (most never are born, either stillborn or reabsorbed,
depending on the gestation period that the panleukopenia virus comes in contact with the
pregnant queen). I was happy to finally have an explanation, but worried about the
kittens' future. Talking to vets in the area, most have never dealt with the situation
before and often recommended euthanasia as being the easiest and kindest way to handle
these creatures. However, I decided to take this kitten in to my home and learn from her
as well as help her to live the fullest life she could. The vets warned me her condition
would never get better, but at this point, how could it get worse?
Since that point years ago, I have never had one ounce of regret for my decision to keep
her. Although a bit awkward at first, the kitten, now adult known as "Lucky Little
Booger" or "Booger" for short, has brought so much laughter, entertainment,
and joy into my families life and home that I can't imagine life without her. The vets
were right; she isn't really any better at walking or running, but she has learned to cope
with her condition and often looks almost normal as she plays with my other cats. She
still has problems with perception, such as the water bowl, but we cope with that by
either floating ice cubes in it or her favorite way, allowing her to sit on our
bathroom counter and lay down in the sink while drinking from the faucet. We have to watch
what we put low to the ground as she is very curious and ornery (c.h. does not mean that
these cats won't get themselves into mischief!), but other than that, we really haven't
had to change our lives to cope with hers. Although my parents argued with me about
getting her declawed at first, they have now seen that her claws save her many times as
she has trouble jumping and instead uses her claws to catch on and pull herself up to
safety...or to naps.
Always entertaining and having a great personality, Booger is known by my friends as
"the drunk lil' kitty" as she often staggers or stands wide-legged, but she
loves the attention and to play. She loves to lie out in our enclosed porch and watch the
birds fly around and also finds my fish tank mesmerizing. Her favorite toy is just an
empty box or paper bag and a shoe string, proving the philosophy that it's the simple
things in life that need to be treasured the most!
She's never had problems using the litter box or been sick a day in her life. The only
worry we ever had regarding her was when we had her spayed as there was concern about the
anesthesia used and her slightly impaired condition. However, I decided to have her
altered anyways as there is no need for more cats in this world and she came through just
fine. Through all the c.h. cats I have encountered n the past few years, I have yet heard
of one having any drastic problems.
My vet always marvels at how well Booger reacts to things in life and often sends me
little clips in science magazines or articles that he finds about cerebellar hypoplasia.
with my knowledge and experience, I have saved many cats and kittens from death at the
shelter, sharing what I know with other employees and vets as well as adopting them out to
now knowledgeable families. All it takes is education and a person to care to give these
animals the great life to live that they deserve.
~Jessica L. Ault
aultj@mail.findlay.edu
Wood County Humane society
http://www.homestead.com/WoodcoHumanesociety/WCHS.html
June 1996
Booger checking out my fish tank...even c.h. doesn't keep this cat outta trouble!!
Dec. 1997
Booger's favorite resting spot...our living room recluner
November 1998
Booger at Thanksgiving
Spring 1999
Booger doing what she does best...looking cute
Spring 1999
Booger at her watering spot...She doesn't do too well with bowls (perception problems)
*bathroom sink :-)
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