Ronan is a weirdo.

This is why there is kibble all over my apartment.

This is how Ronan eats.  You can't make this stuff up.  Pandora chases kibble, too, but Ronan's method has two exceptions to hers:

1) He lays on his side, scoots the kibble piece under his jaw and quickly licks it up.  Because of his cerebellar hypoplasia, his head has a consistent wobble and he gets "intention tremors" where his body jerks or shakes in anticipation of trying to execute a movement.

This is his way of steadying his head while eating.  I have tried to explain to him that it is not wise to eat lying down, but i don't think he's listening.

2) Ronan does not like to chew.  This is why he still has minor gingivitis while Pandora's is all but cleared up.  The kittens were put on Hill's Science Diet t/d Dental Care a few months back to help clean and condition their teeth and gums.  Dr. J is completely shocked that Ronan can get that whole kibble piece down in one gulp.  He has suggested we think about mixing this kibble with some canine t/d Diet as it is even larger.  I am worried it might not make one iota of difference to Ronan.

Meanwhile, I have to put an antiseptic oral gel on the kittens gums, and brush their teeth as regularly as they will allow.

And yes, he really does do this every day.

Occupational Therapy

"A profession concerned with promoting health and well being through engagement in occupation" -- World Federation of Occupational Therapy

Essentially, Occupational Therapy (OT) is a holistic approach to healthy living that takes mental, emotional and physical well-being into consideration when making recommendations and finding long-term solutions for out-patients' living situations.

This is the career path chosen by my younger sister Jane.  She spends her days meeting with patients, finding out how they are doing overall -- mentally, physically, and emotionally -- and determining how best they can return to living "normal" lives.  Often she meets people who have had accidents, illnesses, mental breakdowns, broken bones, and other afflictions that have landed them under the care of health professionals.  Every case is a person and she sees them as such.  She learns who they are, what they need, and works to figure out what way she can help them receive long- or short-term care to live happily and healthily.

I am truly proud of Jane.  She works really hard to help relative strangers, and she approaches each of them as individuals, not just patients.  I was both surprised and pleased when she met Ronan and Pandora last week and heard her take on their condition.

"They just don't know when to quit, do they?"

Nope.  They will keep trying to do whatever it is they want or need to do.  I showed her a few things in my apartment that I had added as aids for the kittens to go about their normal business, including the water fountain.  I explained my reasons for purchasing it, and how it has not only reduced spills and puddles, but also eliminated their getting splashed up the nose.

"You're an occupational therapist," she told me.  "And you didn't even know it.  You found a solution that fits what they need for their disability."

BONUS:
 One of Ronan's quirks: Forgetting to put his tongue back inside his mouth, especially when he is excited!

Fountain!

I may have found a solution to the Messy Kitten Problem.  The kittens have problems eating and drinking without making messes.  Just feeding them often results in:

- Chasing of food kibble
- Playing in puddles
- Crumbs found under carpets, in corners, and under furniture
- Sticky wet food tracked across the floor
- Food in the water dish and vice versa
- Moldy kibble found under carpets, in corners, and under furniture

The above is a direct result of several kitten habits including, but not limited to:

- Falling in water dish
- Aiming at water/food dish and missing
- Pouncing on food dish
- Fighting for first access to wet food dish
- Chasing kibble inside water dish
- Chasing of food kibble across floor and crashing into water dish


Long before I even adopted Ronan and Pandora, I was busy mentally compiling ideas for how to care for two kittens with Cerebellar Hypoplasia.  It occurred to me while at a pet store one day that a water fountain might be just the solution to help them with their drinking problem (haha).

When I first met Ronan, I noticed he "pecked" at his food and water dishes because he lacked the control to simply lower his head to the bowl and hold it there until he was finished eating or drinking.  More often than not he wound up getting water up his nose.  Using a water fountain seemed a natural solution as it provided a gentle slope of running water that was much shallower than the dish itself and was therefore less likely to submerge his nostrils.

Unfortunately, a good quality, stainless-steel fountain is pricey (I don't believe in using plastic if it can be avoided), so I had to wait a few months until finances were sorted.  After finding a pile of moldy crumbs and kibble stretching more than a foot under a cupboard, however, I decided this would be the Week of the Fountain.

Behold!  Fresh running water for my favourite feline friends.  It didn't take long to fully set up (though it would have taken even less time had I not had two very curious and over-eager helpers at my side trying to tackle every bag or bubble wrap pouch), and only a couple minutes to get the water pumping.  The kittens heard the motor start up, wobbled over and explored the new toy. 

And verdict is.....

Uhmmm.... maybe the jury is still out on this one.

This is by far my favourite video of the kittens.  It was shot the first night they came home with me -- January, 21st, 2012.

Ronan and Pandora always try everything with their full hearts.  They have no reason to believe they shouldn't.  They have the most ridiculous, hilarious time trying to chase the ball (and the slippery tile floors are not helping matters), but they are obviously having a blast together.

Did I mention it was hilarious?

The Oatmeal Incident.

People ask me if Cerebellar Hypoplasia means that the kittens are less mentally competent than other cats their age.  The answer is no.  No, no, and oh NOOOOO, bad kittens, Don't touch that ---!!!

Even with their reduced motor control the kittens have still managed to get into just as much trouble as any other 8 month old feline.  They can open zippers.  They have retrieved long-lost shards of glass from behind bookcases, and they have managed to extract a bag on oatmeal -- not once, but twice! -- from a second shelf behind several heavy jars without moving anything else.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I give you Exhibit A:

The oatmeal evidence is clearly strewn across a favourite floor mat with incriminating squeaky balls left nearby.  Despite being evolutionary carnivores, the kittens crave carbohydrates for reasons I cannot start to fathom.  As mentioned, this is the second oatmeal incident which occurred after I thought said-oatmeal was stored well-beyond prying kitten paws.  I was wrong.

Happy National Differently-abled Pets Day!

Happy National Differently-abled Pets Day!
Yes, this is real. 

My kittens are clearly in this category, what with being adorably wobbly and all.  So, today I thought i'd give some greater detail about what makes my feline friends so unusual and yet awesome.

Feline Parvovirus -- This is what most commonly causes Cerebellar Hypoplasia in cats.  It is the term most often used to refer to all viruses in the Parvoviridae taxonomic family, but it is also the taxonomic name of the Parvovirus genus within the Parvoviridae family itself.

Interestingly, these viruses have developed to be specific to the species it will infect.  For example, canine parvovirus will only in rare cases infect a cat, but will readily infect coyotes, wolves, and domestic dogs.

If a pregnant female contracts the virus then the cerebellum of the kittens in utero can under-develop (no word yet on what happens if a pregnant male contracts the virus).  The cerebellum, of course, is known as the "motor control centre" of the brain, and thus the kittens are born with issues in the area of coordination.  i.e. They are wobbly.

Other symptoms in the condition can include spastic jerking, intention tremors (the muscles vibrate in anticipation as the animal prepares, for example, to leap), wide splayed legs both in movement and at rest (for balance), and a general lack of motor control or coordination.  They may lose their balance unexpectedly, walk into walls, bump their heads, etc.

Ronan has a more extreme version of cerebellar hypoplasia than Pandora.  He tends to walk sideways into objects and has been known to fall spectacularly to one side when he is trying to leap on something in front of him.  He also has a very noticeable head wobble (yes, exactly like a kitten bobblehead) that increases in activity when he is nervous or excited, and almost disappears when he is calm.

Pandora is smaller and less ballsier than Ronan, so it seems only fair that her condition is less pronounced.  She walks with a swagger, kicking her hindlegs out to the side as she goes, and frequently will tip over backwards when enjoying a head scratch or chest rub.  Ronan is more excitable and is usually the dominant cat during wrestle-time, so the playing field is leveled a bit with Pandora being more agile.  She has developed a wicked judo flip she uses time and again on her brother.

They can leap up onto higher surfaces - like the bed or couch - without much struggle.  Sometimes the claws come out so they can wrangle themselves up without tipping over backwards and having to start all over again.  My bedsheets will never be the same, but then again neither will my life.  As for getting back down to the floor, they have figured out that the easiest way to do so is to bellyslide.  Front paws extend over the edge along with their front legs, then they noodle their way down to the floor.

Both have adapted well to their personal limitations, and I have been told they will continue to improve in both balance and coordination as they grow older, although the condition will be with them for the rest of their lives.  I am always amazed at how quick they are to pick themselves up, dust themselves off and dive headlong back in the fray of life.

PS: April 28th was World Veterinary Day!  I hope you all took time to hug your Vet.  I know I did :)

The Naming of Felines

You ought to read Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Elliot if you have not yet already.  The inspiration and lyrics behind Tony award-winning musical Cats, this book of poems is a veritable Who's-Who of funny cat behaviour.

There is poem called "The Naming of Cats" which addresses the idea of these furry friends having three names: their Family names ("Peter, Augustus, Alozo or James"), their Peculiar Names ("Names that never belong to more than one cat...") and their True Names which are secret.  I will (obviously) never know what Ronan and Pandora's True Names are but I refuse to give them silly and undignified Family names.  And as for Peculiar Names, well, that's between the three of us.

Ronan Jamieson Fenriz

Ronan is a traditional name associated with both Nordic and Celtic roots, although my Israeli friend Shiri informs me it is also name found in the Hebrew language.  
In the Nordic language, however, it means "Little Seal" which is extremely appropriate if you've ever seen Ronan try to run on a slippery tile floor.

Jamieson was the original name his Fostermom Joannie and Fosterdad Roy called him.  Lovely Irish lady Joannie is married to Newfoundland-born gentleman Roy and the tradition of excellent whiskey is alive in both Ireland and the Canadian east coast.  He has also been called "Jimmy" for short by them at various points in his foster-stay in their home.  I felt it was appropriate to honour these wonderful people by keeping this name as part of Ronan's full title.

Fenriz.  Here's where my music geek comes out in full force.  Any self-respecting metalhead will know immediately that Fenriz is the drummer/lyricist of Norwegian Black Metal band Dark Throne.  Avid musicologist and unwitting humourist, Gylve Nagell aka. Fenriz is a hardcore softie through and through.  He is simultaneously bad-ass and adorable.

***

Pandora Rune

Pandora was the name given to her originally by Fosterdad Roy who took one look at her and said, "That's Pandora".  And thus she was.  She uncompromisingly refused to answer to any other name since that day and seemed secretly pleased when Joannie or Roy would commend her with "Oh, Pandora, you're so dark and mysterious!"  Traditionally, it is a Greek name meaning "Gift to all".

Rune is what I had chosen as her name when i discovered I was applying to adopt two kittens and not just one (story to follow in a future post), but she just wasn't down with it.  She would steadfastly ignore me if I tried any name on her but "Pandora".  For that she would turn her keen eyes towards me as if saying, 'Yes, THAT is my name.  Not this "Rune" person you keep calling'.  But "Rune" is so lovely, Scandinavian (Nordic and Celtic) in origin (Joannie was again pleased), and means "secret lore" (thereby appropriately paired with a "dark and mysterious" kitty).  I also like to think of Rune as being associated with the idea of Truth because of its use in ancient and modern divination practices to determine clarification of situations past, present or future.