✾ Cerebellar Hypoplasia - Columbinekit Info Project ✾

Instructions

(I've actually written a research essay about this condition for an assignment last year, along with researching the condition for a long while, so I'll be referencing my old information from there with some other, newer sources as well. :D) ...................................✾................................... Put simply, Columbinekit isn't exactly like other cats. Due to their cerebellum failing to develop properly before they were born, they were born with a condition called Cerebellar Hypoplasia (CH). The cerebellum in a cat's brain is dedicated to motor function, movement, and balance-- And when underdeveloped affect these in big ways. This generally poses challenges to maintaining a steady gait and coordinated steps while walking– with some cats having an inability to walk at all. Cats born with this condition generally have three distinct levels of severity: mild, moderate, and severe. While not all cats fall easily into these three categories, they do represent varying levels of the disease, the symptoms becoming more pronounced as the severity increases. One of the most common causes of CH in kittens is the mother contracting Feline Panleukemia while carrying the kittens. While the exact cause of Columbinekit’s CH in-roleplay isn’t entirely known, it’s likely that something caused their body to form differently than what was expected due to them also being born intersex. Despite this, they are otherwise healthy. Columbinekit has severe Cerebellar Hypoplasia. While not entirely evident at their birth, it quickly becomes apparent as they attempt to move and explore the world around them as a kitten. Their head seems to always be in motion, swaying and wobbling back and forth as they attempt to judge distance and keep their head upright. Even further, Columbinekit has a sort of paralysis before carrying out a big motion, their head and body having a significant intention tremor before being able to attempt to carry it out. An intention tremor is a sudden seizing and uncontrollable shaking for a moment, though it isn’t painful despite how it looks unless they hit an object in the process. Their general movements are quite uncoordinated and shaky, even simple tasks like batting at an object on the ground proving just a little challenging. Their back half also seems to be a little stiff, having less control over the muscles in their back legs and tail. Perhaps the most noticeable thing about them as they enter into their later kithood is that they aren’t yet able to stand. While the other kits are already scampering around and wrestling, Cole has to spend special time learning to hold themselves on their four paws. They won’t be able to master standing until their early apprenticeship. To compensate, at first, Columbinekit may have to be carried places often. That, or move by means of crawling or alternating flopping from one side to the other, favoring to lay in a stable position when at rest. Despite this, Columbinekit isn’t in any pain from their condition. Unless they take a tumble (which does often happen, it’s hard to keep them in one place for long!) all that stands between them and learning to live with their condition is determination and practice. Cats in the real world can participate in special physical therapy and stretches to help build their confidence and aid them in being able to get around easier with time. In a society where cats already spend much of their time training and building physical skills, Cole will also be able to practice. With a special training routine and dedication, stretches and exercises aiming to increase their muscle mass and coordination, they will slowly be able to find that they can move in more ways than they previously thought. Over time, they will learn to use their claws to help them grip against the ground– filing them down in the process, making them become somewhat dull– standing with a splayed, tent-like stance to help firm their position. They eat with movements that almost resemble that of a bird pecking for seeds, their head always seeming to loll to the side as it wobbles to stay upright. As their confidence in their movements increases, they’ll begin to attempt walking on their own, taking shaky and uncoordinated steps forwards until into their early warriorhood-age they’ll finally be able to master walking. Though still looking quite strange as they do so, they do whatever they can to adapt to their situation and keep moving forwards. They walk with a wobbly, wide stance and pigeon-toed, high-stepping gait, looking as if they were always walking across a sticky surface. (cont'd below)