While strolling along the train tracks towards the Life Learning Center in Covington, Kentucky, a man’s attention was suddenly caught by something unusual.
There was a cardboard box, secured with tape, placed on the tracks, seemingly left there on purpose.
Feeling a sense of unease, the man hurried over to the box and opened it.
The contents inside left him utterly astonished.
Cruelly Abandoned
Inside the box were five kittens, no more than six weeks old, huddled together.
“A staff member at The Learning Center shared their plight on a local [Facebook] page, seeking rescue assistance, which eventually led them to Stray Haven,” shared Shelly Conner, volunteer cat coordinator at Stray Haven Pet Rescue, in an interview with The Dodo.
Fortunately, these adorable kittens from Covington were quickly placed in foster care, thanks to the efforts of Stray Haven.
As they adjusted to their new environment, the foster mother observed that they had certain peculiarities.
“Initially, the foster who took them in set them up in her bathroom, but soon felt that something was ‘off’ with most of them. She sent me videos, worried there might be neurological issues. I immediately recognized CH. They came to me that same evening,” she recounted.
It was discovered that four of the five kittens had cerebellar hypoplasia.
Cerebellar hypoplasia, commonly known as wobbly cat syndrome, is a developmental disorder that affects both cats and dogs, resulting from improper development of the brain’s cerebellum.
As the cerebellum governs motor skills and balance, pets with this condition exhibit unsteady movements, tremors, and a lack of coordination.
This issue can arise when the mother cat contracts panleukopenia (commonly referred to as kitty parvo) during pregnancy.
Fortunately, Shelly had prior experience with cats suffering from CH, making her eager to foster these kittens.
In A Foster Home
Adjusting swiftly to their new surroundings, the kittens were given some charming names.
The kittens diagnosed with CH were named Rocky Road, Cherry Garcia, Pistachio, and Sherbet, while the healthy one was called Chunky Monkey.
These four kittens exhibit mild to moderate CH. Shelly explained that upon arrival, they were unable to stand at all and had issues with loose stools.
This made the situation more difficult and led Shelly to worry they had a more severe case of CH.
“As they gained strength with age, they eventually learned to stand on all fours. Within three weeks, they became stable enough to drink on their own and manage the litter box. They have truly made remarkable progress within just five weeks,” she noted.
Ultimately, these charming kittens are not even aware of their differences. All they know is that they are five lively siblings who enjoy playing together.
Shelly aspires for the rescue team to locate the parents of these kittens, ensuring they have the proper experience with CH.
Despite everything, these delightful kittens are set to lead a joyful life filled with playfulness, love, and cuddles!
