Symptoms of CH include ataxia (staggering, jerky gait), and a tendency to overshoot or undershoot when pouncing or reaching for objects. Because of their lack of coordination, cats with CH can have trouble eating or using the litter box. The good news is that the disease is not progressive, and cats can easily adapt to their condition with a little extra care to meet their special needs.

Cats with CH should never be let outside, because they have trouble avoiding predators or oncoming vehicles. Use dishes that can’t be tipped over, such as rubber-bottomed steel bowls, to help a CH kitten eat more easily. A litter box with high sides and a low opening can make it easier for a CH cat to support himself while using the toilet.

This sweet video shows the story of Charley, a cat with cerebellar hypoplasia. Cats with CH don’t suffer or have pain as a result of their disease. They live long, healthy lives and can fill your life with just as much joy as a non-disabled cat. All a CH cat needs from you is a safe and loving home and some minor accommodations for his special needs.

Cat expert and animal communicator JaneA Kelley is the webmaster and chief cat slave for Paws and Effect, a weekly cat advice column by cats, for cats and their people.

One in 400 cats has Diabetes and they can live fairly normal lives for many years. But their owners must expect some changes.

Be prepared to: give insulin injections (your vet can show you how this is done) or oral hyperglycemics; modify your cat’s diet (a high-fiber diet is recommended); and monitor their health by checking for excessive urination or water intake, noting your cat’s weight and behavior, and watching for urinary tract infections.

Above all, establish a good relationship with your vet so they can help you identify these and other hypoglycemic indicators. And keep a positive attitude – Diabetes is something that can be managed with a little extra care.

Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

The areas to clip short are in the armpits, inside the back legs and chest area, or anywhere you have noticed matting on your cat in the past.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

White cats are particularly vulnerable. Though it may be difficult to keep kitty out of the sun, you can apply small amounts of sunblock to sensitive areas.

1) Visitors leave doors open and windows that are open just a crack allow egress. Cats are Houdinis. ‘Nuff said.

2) ID tags facilitate a quick reunion. Microchipping is a fallback when the collar is lost. You need both.

3) In a fire or natural disaster, your cat could survive initially but be lost afterward.

4) Most disaster shelters require that dropped-off pets have ID tags or microchips. When you’re evacuating, will you have time to have tags made?

5) If your indoor cat escapes from the home, a bell can give you an audio indication of your cat’s location.

But first, consider going through a rescue group or a local shelter. Shelters often have purebreds for adoption, and rescues often have foster purebreds that are awaiting furever homes. Most purebred rescues work closely with local shelters, and many rescue cats are straight from breeders.

In addition to getting exactly the breed characteristics you’re looking for at a fraction of the cost, you’ll give a discarded cat a new lease on life. Rescue groups have no shortage of kittens, either.

To find a breed’s rescue organization near you, google “[breed name] rescue” (example: Burmese rescue). You’ll save a life and get just the kind of cat you want.