As part of the celebration, we will be continuing our series on cerebellar hypoplasia. If you’ve missed the first two posts (“What is Cerebellar Hypoplasia?” and “How We Help Sophie with her CH”), feel free to check them out. Today, in celebration of Sophie, we will be focusing on how Cerebellar Hypoplasia makes Sophie a uniquely special kitty.
As I have mentioned in the other posts, Sophie can’t jump very well, which is a common characteristic of cats with CH. She also can’t run very fast (or in a straight line ;), and she stumbles and falls a lot. Because of all of these characteristics, she has developed into a fearless cat. She is uninhibited and just goes for anything and everything she puts her mind to. She isn’t scared of anything. Though some might see these characteristics as “problems,” I see them as blessings in disguise. Because Sophie can’t jump or run like a normal cat, and because she isn’t scared of anything, she is able to do many things that normal cats don’t get to do or wouldn’t even want to do. We can take her outside in the back yard to play without worrying about her running off or jumping the fence. We can take her to the pet store without her freaking out and getting scared. We can even take her on boat rides…
Sophie just needed one vaccine – the FVRCP vaccine (which, ironically, is the vaccine that prevents panleukopenia – the disease that most likely caused Sophie to develop CH in the womb). Then she got her clean bill of heath and recommendation from Dr. Caldwell! Here she is posing with her evaluation form:
So, here’s to many more years of fun and awesome adventures with Sophie!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GIRL! WE LOVE YOU!
Sophie we wish you a very happy Purrday and we are so glad you got your certification!
Thank you!!
Happy birthday and happy Gotcha day to Sophie! She is really incredible. Love the boat ride photo where she is steering the boat 🙂
My boys would freak out if they are taken on boat ride or concert for sure! Therapy cat sounds perfect for her. Sophie is such a lucky girl to have wonderful parents who understand and love her so much!
Haha, my other cats would have freaked out on the boat or at the concert too. Sophie is a weirdo! We call her our dog-cat 🙂 She is special for sure, and we love her lots!
A very Happy Briuthday and Gotcha Day, Sophie! You are one amazing kitty and we are so grateful to know you. You will do a pawsome job as a therapy kitty and we are sending encouraging purrs your way.
Thank you! I hope that I make a good therapy kitty. I’m very excited about it!
Happy birthday, beautiful Sophie! You are such a wonderful pet owner, Emily, and I think it is AMAZING that you’re having Sophie be a therapy cat – she will be a great one! As always, this is a super inspiring post 🙂
Thank you 🙂 I’m excited about the therapy cat thing. Several people have suggested it to me, and after realizing how calm and relaxed Sophie is, I think it is a good idea. She will love, and so will everyone who gets to meet her (hopefully 😉
Happy Happy Sophie Day!!
😀
All of us here wish you a very Happy Birthday Sophie!
You are so very brave! One noise and I am under the couch. And going to the vet I sing the song of our people to Dad so he knows I am a bit put out.
We love you girl and wish you and your family good luck on your quest to be a therapy kitty
Say Hi to Sampson fur me
Purrs
Timmy
MOL! You sound like Sassy – she is very good at singing the song of our people! Thank you for your encouragement, Timmy. I’m excited about my new journey!
Sampson says hi and waves!!
What an incredible kitty she is! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOPHIE!! xooxoxo
Thank you, Caren & Cody!!
sophie…a veree happee gotcha//birthday day two ewe ♫♫♫♪♪♪♫
best fishes, mice creem dishes N happee day wishes for manee yeers oh happee nezz & health….we hope yur mom & dad getted ewe a mega huge catnip cake and we hope ewe ENJOY yur day & haz FUN ♥♥
conga rats two ewe all sew on yur journey ta bee comin a therphy kitteh !!! how kewl iz that !!!
Thanks, guys!!! We enjoyed your beautiful singing! And we are hoping for a mega huge catnip cake too! You will be invited to come over for a piece!
She is an absolutely beautiful girl. Very relaxed. I hope she gets her certification. She seems like an amazing kitty. Happy Birthday!
Thanks, Winter!
Happy birthday sweet girl! You will make a brilliant therapy cat, congratulations on taking the first step!
Happy Birthday/Gotcha Day, Sophie! Good luck on getting your certification!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET AND BEAUTIFUL SOPHIE. What an exciting adventure you are about to set out upon. You will be purrfect at it. We can imagine all the pleasure you are going to bring to others. You truly are a special girl, and we hope you had a spectacular birthday. The photos of you at the concert are so adorable. Astrid wants Sampson to know that their date was the best day of her life. He gives her so much confidence. Today she chased Calista Jo all the way up the stairs and even went out on the ratio a couple of times for several minutes. It makes our Mom so happy to see her coming out of her shell. Astrid is sending Sampson kisses, and we are sending all our love to all of you. XO, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Happy Meowday Sophie and ConCatulations!!!!! Meez wulda been hewe soonew, but da last time meez wus hewe mommy wus cwyin’ tu hawd tu help meez type. Wees fink you’s wunnewful ad we’s so purroud of yous. Yous will make a wunnewful Therapy kitty. Meez is so honowed and glad tu be yous furiend. ☺
Luv and Hugs and Kitty kisses ♥♥♥
Dezi
Happy Birthday Sophie! You are adorable! It’s so cool that you get to take her all over. Our Autumn purred hard and the vet and the stupid vet thought it was a heart murmur. Suffice to say we have a new vet for me.
PS
We should have a nice big pawty next year Sophie
Miss Fitz
Such a sweet and special girl. Happy birthday!
I love that you can take something that could be seen as a negative (her condition) and turn it into a positive on so many levels: being able to educate others, taking Sophie places, appreciating her unique qualities. What a wonderful tail!
–Wags (and purrs) from Life with Dogs and Cats
Naturally, we are terribly late, as usual! But that doesn’t mean we don’t wish Sophie any less of a very very happy birthday! We wish you to have many more too, pretty girl!
I have fallen in live with Sophie. I just adore her and I haven’t even met here!