I have this two year old cat, who seems to have down syndrome. He is very delayed in learning and not the brightest. He is very emotional. Also his face looks like a Down Syndrome person's, it is very flat and wide with large eyes. I cant seem find any information! Please help!!!!

I’m not sure that cats can have Down Syndrome, though I suppose anything is possible with chromosomes. To find out, you would probably have to have a prohibitively expensive test and then still be at a loss because how do you treat a cat with Down Syndrome? Just like any other cat, I’d imagine, except you should have some more patience if you suspect the cat is developmentally delayed in some way, whether Down Syndrome or not.
That said, some cats are just dumb, but we care for the hand we’re dealt -or, in this case, the hand we chose when we adopted a pet.

I had an extremely stupid cat. I rescued him as a kitten from tow huge attacking dogs and he hadn't even had his eyes open yet and someone dumped him by the road into a bog.

My dad named him "Elmer" and I was surprised he could learn to breathe he was that dumb. But I loved him and he was the sweetest HUGEST cat (at 30 pounds) I ever had!

Aleda Cheng, D.V.M.
Chester - NJ, Feb 26, 2008 05:54PM

There is no kitty equivalent to the Down's Syndrome in humans. There are congentital and infectious disorders in the feline in which their brain fail to develop normally and the outcome is death, inability to walk or balance, for example.

So if your cat is acting normally in every way, and , seems to have normal eyesight I probably would not worry too much right now. However, I would have her examined by a vet, (which you should do anytime you get a new pet), and have all the routine tests performed and any other tests deemed necessary by your vet just in case.
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by ireneo
55 years old
Portland - OR, Feb 26, 2008 09:06PM

Perhaps it's a normal variant or mutation. It's been years since I've been following cat breeds. I recently borrowed a CFA book from the library and was amazed at the new varieties out there. There are a few that have unusually round eyes, kind of cute but also a bit eerie. Hope the kitten is fine and you have a happy new member to your family. - http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/447186

hey sherasi-i also have a cat that weighs 30#. i don't know why he weighs so much more than my other cats, but he is hugh.