Wobbly 10wk old kitten

Hi all,
I was just wondering if anyone knew what to do about a 10wk old kitten that seems to fall down very easily. "Yo Yo" started walking later then the rest of the litter and despite that fact he seems perfectly healthy he tends to run into things or falls down.

His appearence makes me wonder if he wasn't the first born and the mother had difficulty. His face is a little flatter and his eyes are 'spacey'. He actually looks like a bear cub!

My bf found the mother and kittens and the mother is pretty much a big kitten herself. They all eat great and are very active...Yo Yo is just the one that seems a little off. When you pick him up he doesn't seem to have control of his head. The same when he's walking around...I'm not sure if it's a vision problem or neck muscles. Is this something that is just a birth defect or something that can be treated?

Take care, M

Is all his whiskers there? Sometimes if someone cuts a whisker it will make the kitty wobble and not hold his head straight..

Also he may have an ear infection.. But I would get him to the vet ASAP though!

The kitten needs to be checked out by your vet. It could be so many things causing this. best have your vet take a look at him.

My bf found the mother and kittens and the mother is pretty much a big kitten herself. They all eat great and are very active...Yo Yo is just the one that seems a little off. When you pick him up he doesn't seem to have control of his head. The same when he's walking around...I'm not sure if it's a vision problem or neck muscles. Is this something that is just a birth defect or something that can be treated?

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The kitten needs to be seen by a vet..also it is time for mom cat to be spayed so she doesn't become pregnant again. Below is a list of low cost clinics in MA:

http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html#ma

Katie

Ear infection would be the most likely cause of this! Its so easy to treat too once you get him to a vet. Other alternatives aren't as nice... neurological disorders mostly.

You kitten could also have cerebellar hypoplasia. Its a congential neurological disease which causes kittens to wobble and be shaky.

You cat can lead a perfectly normal life with this conditions, but it could be a good idea to get your vet to have a look over the kitten to diagnose the problem correctly.

A girl I know adopted a kitten who has a neurological disorder from my school and this sounds very similar. Is yoyo using his back legs properly? Does his head kind of bob all the time?

CH (cerebellar hypoplasia) sounds like a definite possibility here. Don't worry, cats with CH live long, healthy lives with very little medical problems, generally. I would look for a feline specialist vet or an all-feline veterinary practice in your area--they generally have mroe expertise on these kinds of cat-specific problems.
If the vet confirms that the cat does indeed have CH, but suggests that they should be euthanized--RUN! Many vets still don't seem to understand that CH is a very, very treatable disorder that the cat adapts to live with very easily.
There are many members on the site w/ CH kitties--hopefully one of them will respond soon and give you some more tips!
Kudos to you for taking in this kitty family--make sure when you take baby to the vet you take momma too--to have her spayed--or you'll undoubtedly have more kittens on your hands.

A vet visit is definitely in order. Cerebellar hypoplasia is a possibility but doesn't seem the most likely to me. An oddly shaped face is not a sign of the condition and the eyes are usually normal. Plus it would be unusual to have just one kitten affected in a fairly large litter. Poor muscle tone is also not a symptom - if anything, their muscles are somewhat stiff. Hydrocephalus may be more likely.

However, a vet will be able to shed some light on the situation and also do the necessary tests to tell you about the kitten's overall health. There are many conditions that can cause motor skill problems. Some are disabilities that do not affect the cat's overall health and others are illnesses that are serious. It is much better to work with a vet and figure out what is up earlier than later.

At ten weeks, honestly all the kittens are due for their initial vet check and shots. And Momma is due for shots and to be spayed. Then the vet can tell you what is up with this kitten.

Please post and let us know what the vet says. I hope it is something simple like an ear infection!

have you been able to get this little one to the vet?