I met Jessica Roper last week in her Seattle home with her two cats, Rudy & Clover, who's portraits I am going to paint. I learned during our visit that Jessica also volunteers as a foster parent for rescued  cats while they wait for adoption. One cat currently in her foster care, Daisy, and her own Rudy, have a neurological condition called cerebellar hypoplasia. 

     "It is caused when a kitten, either slightly before or after birth, is exposed to the feline distemper (panleuk) virus.  For some reason, the virus causes the development of the cerebellum to stop.  The cerebellum controls balance and coordination, so that is what these cats lack.  The condition doesn't get better or worse with age and the cats live a normal life span. Some cats are more affected than others."