Can Kittens Get Trisomic?

[Unreacheabledreams]

My 4 weeks old kitten, Macy, has been acting weirdly ever since birth. She's always shaking her head, and one of her eyes is bigger than the other, and i recently found that her tail looks deformed (like it's straight, but at the end of it, it looks like it's broken or something)
Is it possible for her to be trisomic? Or is it something else?

 

[FeebysOwner]

When you say trisomy, are you specifically referring to Down's Syndrome or just genetic disorders in cats in general? I think since your kitten is so young a complete check up by a vet would be in order to rule out other things first. The head shaking can be a sign of many things, including ear infections. Are the eyes different in size, or are you talking about the pupil size? Different pupil sizes also can be connected to many different conditions. The tail could be connected, or an entirely different issue - if an issue at all.

There are also numerous other forms of genetic disorders that can replicate Down's Syndrome. Some require special care in order to reduce/prevent advancement, others do not. You might want to consider asking your vet if there are any specialists you could go to that could help either rule out or narrow down the field of genetic disorders that may or may not apply to your kitten.

 

[Unreacheabledreams]

I meant genetic disorders in general. I've read about ear infections, and their symptoms, but other than shaking her head, my kitten has none of these symptoms. That's why i was asking if cats can have genetic disorders like humans...
And alright then, thank you very much

 

[FeebysOwner]

Tbh, in looking further into trisomy in cats, the biggest thing that pops up is in fact Down's Syndrome-type anomaly. So many of the other inherited disorders that are often connected to cats don't appear to fit what you are describing. That is why I suggested finding a specialist that would be interested in taking a look at Macy.

Oddly enough, I found this TCS article about Down's Syndrome in cats - and, I also found another non-TCS article about the most common inherited disorders in cats. Just sharing them with you in case they might provide you with some information that you could discuss with your vet. (see below for links)

The other aspect to consider is one of a neurological disorder, not necessarily related specifically to genetics. That is another perspective I think you might want to consider having a discussion about with the vet as well.

Can Cats Have Down Syndrome? (a Definitive Answer And Pictures Too!)

Inherited disorders in cats | International Cat Care

The other thing is if she eats/drinks/uses the litter box/plays well, the entire issue with her may be a non-issue altogether. It would only be if she needs extra nutrients/supplements to help her along. Another discussion to have with the vet and possibly a vet specialist!

Whatever you do, please keep us posted. We would love to follow Macy and know how things go with her!!

 

[Unreacheabledreams]

I'll be sure to check these articles out. Thank you very much for your help, you're so kind I'll try to take her to the vet this week and see what we can do about her condition.
And sure thing
Once again, thank you for your help!

 

[FeebysOwner]

Sending Macy and you good vibes - and our support!