Kismet is a very special kitten.  She suffers from a moderate case of Cerebellar Hypoplasia (CH aka Wobbly Cat Syndrome).  Sounds scary, but all it means is that the part of her brain that controls her balance didn't form properly before she was born. So when she walks, she keeps her little legs spread out further to keep a lower center of gravity.  She stumbles a lot, but she never lets it get to her.  CH kittens never seem to realize that they are different, and no matter how many times they may fall, they always get right back up again like nothing ever happened.  What an inspiration and a great life lesson!  These babies have no idea that they are different and never let it hold them back. Kismet can eat just fine on her own, and uses the litter box like a pro.  She is always the first one to meet me at the door as she can't wait to be scooped up and snuggled. Kismet loves being in her cat tunnels. She spends her days taking naps with her siblings and playing with her favorite toys.  Crinkle balls and soft toys are her favorites. She loves a good cuddle puddle and is very affectionate.      

CH is not a progressive disorder and won't get any worse or any better.  Over time she will learn to adjust to her wobbles and will become more steady on her feet.  CH doesn't mean a shorter lifespan either.  Kismet can live just as long as any non-CH cat.  At least you'll never have to worry about Kismet jumping up on your counters, or running out of a door that was left open.  However, stairs will be an issue for her as she can not climb up or down them.  An easy fix to this if she is upstairs is to install a baby gate.  Also, it is typically recommended that unsupervised CH kittens are somewhat contained when nobody is around to supervise them to make sure they stay out of trouble.  Their shaky limbs can sometimes get them into situations that they can't easily get themselves out of.  Having a designated room for them to be in (such as a bedroom or even in a pet playpen) when unattended or home alone is a great solution.  As she gets older, this will probably no longer be necessary.

Kismet is a very social baby and would love a home with another kitty or gentle doggie.  She craves attention and having the companionship of another four legged friend would help keep her company and out of trouble.  She does great with gentle kids of any age.  

We encourage you to consider adopting kittens in pairs!  There are several reasons why Kismet would do good with a friend, including:

-Two kittens keep each other entertained - they will play and get all their energy out on each other in time for snuggles with you!

-Having two kittens to play with each other prevents "I'm lonely and bored" behavioral issues.

-Watching two kittens wrestle is quite possibly the cutest thing you will ever see.

-The kittens will teach each other "how to cat" and learn to be more social with humans and people.

-You'll save two lives instead of one!

Kismet is microchipped, up to date on all vaccinations, spayed, and litter box trained.

Kismet's adoption fee is $135.  Please note A.R.F. does not approve applications for any kitten under 6 months of age to families that live outside of Illinois and/or beyond 100 miles of Wheaton or Glen Ellyn, IL.

If you are interested in meeting Kismet, please fill out our  online kitten adoption application at https://www.arf-il.org/adopt/application/ today!

Once your application has been approved, an A.R.F. volunteer will be able to contact you to arrange a meeting.