Cerebellar hypoplasia (CH) means that the cat's cerebellum is smaller than normal. The cerebellum is at the back of a cat's brain and is a key part of the central nervous system. It provides the semi-automatic control of body movements, particularly the fine movements that allow cats to move in a coordinated way. That is why their movements seem so stiff and uncoordinated. CH is not a progressive disease, and so they live an otherwise normal lifespan. 

Help them feel safe and secure-

It’s best to take your cat or kitten to quiet location in your home.

(Maybe a small room/ bathroom, etc .) Show them their litter box and

give them food and water. Let them acclimate to the sounds of your

home. They may be frightened and want to hide at first. Give them a

box or some other place to hide, so they feel safe.

Be patient. Give them time to adjust-

Don’t be alarmed if your cat or kitten hides for a while. This is totally

normal. They’ve been through a lot. Go in the room and talk to them.

Don’t force them to come out or try to hold them before they are

ready. Treats are a great way for them to warm up to you,

Pet stores sell calming treats that are made with natural ingredients

and help cats feel more relaxed. These may help.

Start slowly when it’s time to meet the family-

If you have other pets, let them smell each other through the door. This

allows time for them to get used to each other. We recommend keeping

the new cat separate for up to 2 weeks. Some cats take longer to feel

comfortable than others. You’ll know when they are ready.

Stay close when they first meet and watch how they react to each other.

Let them get acquainted slowly. You may want to keep the new cat

separated when you sleep or leave the house until you’re sure they all

get along.If you have dogs, we recommend leashing them when they first

     meet the new cat. Let them sniff each other out for a bit. Monitor their

interactions for the first week or so.

Feed with cat food, not milk-

 Never give a kitty milk or dairy products. Most times milk will cause

 digestive upset. Buy a reliable brand of cat food - some dry and some

 wet. If they need encouragement to eat, try different brands of food -

 most cats have their favorites.

Cat proof the house-

Treat your new pet as you would a crawling toddler, who thinks

 everything is “mine” and puts it in their mouth. Please make sure all

 tiny items in your home are put away -tacks, nails, pins, ribbons,

 string, dental floss, and other small objects they can swallow.

Keep electric cords tucked away, so they don’t get chewed. You can

 buy a spray called Bitter Apple and spray it on electric cords to make

 them taste bad and prevent chewing. Many houseplants are toxic to

 cats. Research your plants and put the toxic ones out of reach. You

 may find out that your cat is not even interested in things that may

 harm them, but some cats are. It’s best to think ahead and remove

 the things that are dangerous to cats.

Choose a veterinarian-

Always establish a relationship with a veterinarian of your choice. Have them check over your new pet, and establish a schedule for vaccinations and general health care. Be sure to ask if they have an emergency number, or where the nearest emergency vet clinic is.

Enjoy your new kitty-

Most of all, enjoy your new cat or kitten. You can build a relationship

 with your cat by offering treats and playing with them. Cats especially

 like toys they can chase around – even a crumpled up piece of paper,

 or the lid from a milk carton. Just don’t let them play with ribbons or

 strings, as they can ingest these and have serious problems.

Leave out shoe boxes, baskets, or bowls for them to nestle in, cut

 some holes in a larger box for them to crawl into, let them play with

 paper bags, or toilet paper rolls. You’d be amazed at what they like to

 play with.

You will enjoy watching them play. Take lots of pictures!