Expert: Jessica - 1/19/2012

Question
On the last 4th of July, we found 4 kittens while walking along a country road__Actually they found us.
My question is about a nice female kitten. The kitten is as sweet as can be, but displays some strange behavior.
1st of all, she always tilts her head sideways when looking at a human, has difficulty with walking on furniture without falling off, and has been caught lapping up clorox water when the floors are cleaned.
Is there something we should be looking for, or is there a serious problem. The kitten was spayed about 3 months ago and there was no indication of any problems. The kittens were about 5 weeks old when found, and probably dumped.

Answer
Hi John,

It's difficult to say if this is of any concern. I would tend to think that if a physical exam has shown that she is neurologically normal, there's nothing to worry about. A head tilt can be associated with Vestibular Disease, a condition which causes a loss of balance. This would also explain her difficulty climbing on furniture. It has a number of root causes and usually resolves on its own. The head tilt is typically noticeable at all times. Still, it's possible she had a bad bout of Vestibular Disease, and she is now only suffering the residual effects, which are mild and have no effect on quality of life or health. Another possibility could be Cerebellar Hypoplasia, which kittens are born with, due to their mother's being infected with distemper while pregnant. Not all kittens in the litter may be affected. It causes poor motor skills and clumsiness. While a head tilt is sometimes seen, a characteristic head bob is much more common. This condition is usually pretty apparent on an exam.


As for lapping up bleach water, this is common. Some cats find the scent attractive and will roll in it or lick it. However, it's toxic, so you need to ensure surfaces are well rinsed before she comes in contact with them.