Happy Tails: Zelda & Camila

In this instalment of Happy Tails, Camila tells us the story of how she came to adopt Zelda, a special needs kitty with a condition called cerebellar hypoplasia (CH), a noncontagious, nonprogressive condition that causes problems with balance and coordination. Zelda, then known as Heidi, was featured in a special article about CH kittens in “The wonderful world of wobblers”.

When Camila met Zelda

We adopted Zelda (a.k.a Zildo or Beaver Tail) in July 2020 so she’s now 1 year and 8 months old.

The decision to adopt Zelda was actually made before we met her in person. My husband and I already had two cats we brought with us from Brazil when we moved here six years ago and I've always wanted a third, but we weren't actively looking for a cat. 

One day I was scrolling through my Instagram feed when I saw a picture and some videos that VOKRA had shared of Zelda and her sisters. Zelda's face immediately caught my attention. Then I read her story, how she and her sisters have a neurological condition that affects their coordination, known as CH. The video was one of the most adorable things I've ever seen and I knew right away I wanted to adopt her. Meeting her in person was just a confirmation that she was meant to be a part of our family. 

I did a lot of research about her neurological condition because I didn't know anything about it before I met Zelda. I knew I would have to make adjustments to our home and our routine so I checked blogs and articles with tips from people who have CH cats.

When we first brought her home it amazed me how smart and quick she is, and how she can do pretty much everything my other cats can. Also, how resilient and strong she is.

She's brought so much more love into our lives. Having a special cat is amazing. My other cats are more independent, but Zelda requires a lot of care, which we find incredibly fulfilling. She gives us a new sense of purpose. 

Her brother Pinot loves her - he used to be very lonely before she came because my other cat Olivia is like a Buddha who achieved Nirvana and doesn't care about mundane things, but Zelda plays with Pinot all the time. He's much more active and happy now. 

What Zelda loves the most

Zelda’s super funny and adorable! She makes us laugh everyday. She makes the funniest faces when she's playing and her tail gets all fluffy like a squirrel. The Beaver is her absolute favorite toy. 

She's not that into treats, but last week we bought those Churu lick able tuna treats and she approved!