─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ─── Table of Contents ♬ What is ataxia? || How will it affect her? || Roleplay examples || ——————————————————— ♪ Ataxia-- Ataxia is the word used to describe a loss of coordination and balance that affects your cat's head, limbs, and/or torso. Ataxia is caused by decreased sensory function of the nervous system, which in turn can be caused by a wide range of diseases. Cats suffering from ataxia may also have an abnormal eye movement called nystagmus, which is caused by an underlying issue with the central nervous system. The most common sign of ataxia, regardless of the cause, is an abnormal gait in which the cat is very unsteady on her feet. With a spinal cord lesion, the toes may drag on the ground as the cat walks, traumatizing the tissues of the toes. With a vestibular disorder, it is also common to see abnormal movement of the eyes, typically drifting from side to side. Cats may stand with their feet wide apart in an effort to stay upright. They may generally have a head tilt toward the side of the lesion in vestibular syndrome. Also, with vestibular syndrome, the cat may be unable to stand and may roll toward the side of the lesion, sometimes rolling completely over time and time again. If the ataxia is caused by a lesion in the cerebellum, the cat will walk with an exaggerated “goose-stepping” gait called hypermetria. Sources used: https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/neurological/c_ct_ataxia \\ https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ataxia-in-cats ——————————————————— ♪ How will it affect her? To be frank, she will have trouble moving. Based on what I learned in the article, cats that have ataxia have more trouble with stabilizing themselves and may even appear to be woozy. Treacle in addition will suffer with involuntary movements in her eye and head. She may tilt her head slightly at any given moment, as well as randomly curl up her claws. Sometimes she may even completely collapse, lacking a grasp on where her feet are on the ground and tripping over herself. ——————————————————— ♪ Roleplay examples- The chirping of birds filled the ear of small Treacle as she stirred inside the moss bed that lay comfortably in the nursery. Her pale green eyes blinked slowly open, her nose twitching, smelling all the wonderful scents around her, those of the fresh air, the calming scent of her family all around her. Her ear twitched as she got up, widening her legs in a very odd looking position. Just as she waddled out of the nursery, her paw suddenly missed a step and she toppled over, like a Jenga! puzzle gone wrong. Treacle lay there, feeling defeated in a way, her fluffy tail coiling around the rest of her body. “Why.. can’t.. I.. do it!” She meowed, trying to get up and falling every time. She glanced around to be sure that nobody was able to spot the pathetic scene.
