We’d like to introduce you to a very special cat named Bowie. In many regards, Bowie is like most young cats – he loves to play wrestle, he enjoys a good snuggle with his mom, he sometimes teases the dog, and he’ll happily sell his soul for a Churu treat. However, there is one major difference between Bowie and other cats…Bowie has an extreme case of Cerebellar hypoplasia.

Cerebellar hypoplasia (CH) is a neurological condition that affects a cat’s balance and mobility. Cats with CH generally have a wobbly walk, lack coordination, and have body tremors. There is no treatment for CH. And while Lawrence Humane has had kittens and cats with mild cases of CH before, we had never seen a case as severe as Bowie’s.

Bowie was brought to Lawrence Humane in deplorable condition. Bowie’s CH is so bad that he is completely unable to stand, walk, or sit upright on his own. This also means that he can’t use the litterbox, eat, or drink on his own. Yet Bowie had been kept in a small kennel without any accommodations made for his needs. He arrived covered in urine and feces, so matted that the only option was to shave off his fur. He was also emaciated, weighing half of what a cat his age should weigh. Bowie seemed dejected and broken hearted…the light in his eyes had been put out. But Lawrence Humane staff were undeterred.