Cats and K9 Carts Wheelchairs

Specimen of a cat brain from the side showing the cerebellum in aqua.

Cerebellar hypoplasia is a reason that we see young animals needing four-wheel K9 Carts. The cerebellum is a small portion of the brain (pictured in aqua to the left) that is responsible for the fine motor control.  Cerebellar hypoplasia is seen more frequently in cats than dogs.  The disease may not be immediately apparent at birth.  Animals will typical show tremors and when the other kittens or puppies in the litter start to walk, the affected pet may not walk or show uncoordinated and jerky movements.  The term "hypo" in cerebellar hypoplasia implies that the cerebellum is underdeveloped.  The cause of cerebellar hypoplasia may range from toxicity to the mother while the fetus is under development to malnutrition to genetic causes.  A definitive diagnosis can only be made by advanced imaging such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).  Due 

"London" is a siamese kitten using a quad wheelchair.

to the expense, most pets are diagnosed by a veterinarian based on the classic jerky movement.  Despite their disability, many of these animals can capture one's heart since besides the poorly developed cerebellum, the pupply or kitten may be an otherwise normal loving pet.

Cerebellar Hypoplasia and Quad Carts

Because fine control of locomotion is disturbed in these animals, they will typically need a four-wheel or quad wheelchair.  Ideally, because the degree of disability varies from kitten to kitten, we prefer to do a final fitting in-house, but that is not always possible. Also, since the kittens are not full grown, the fact that K9 Cart Co East four-wheel carts are adjustable in height, width, and length is especially important to allow changes to the cart as the kitten becomes a cat.

London is an 7-month old siamese kitten that we fitted with our new four-wheel adjustable cat wheelchair.  Prior to testing out her wheelchair, she had never been able to stand or walk.  Like most siamese, she is very thin despite having a horse's appetite.  Since she cannot walk on her own, standard litterbox training was not possible.  Instead, her owner, Michelle, takes her to use the toilet in their house.  The cue for London to do her business is that she runs the water in the sink! Necessity is always the mother of invention.  While we never expect London to walk absolutely normally, her cat wheelchair will help her to build strength in her legs. It will also allow her to eat standing up and help prevent lung infections from either accidentally breathing food into her lungs or from laying on one side too long. Since London's brain is still developing, we have often seen these animals train other parts of their brain and learn to walk with less assistance (or sometimes no assistance) from their wheelchair.  Because London has never stood on her own before, she will need to start with short intervals in her cat wheelchair until she builds up more strength.  For now, we know London was pleased about her K9 Cart since we could here her purring! 

Update February 26, 2011:  Here are a few more pictures of London as she was getting adjusted to her cart.  We understand that she is now exploring her home like a normal kitten and even taking a few other critters for rides.

Jamie is tuning up London's wheelchair.	"London" is learning to stand and walk in her new wheelchair for the first time.	"Mia" goes for a ride on London's wheelchair.

Want more info?

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