Meet Gizzmo the Super Kitty
Meet Gizzmo the Super Kitty
Who is Gizzmo?
She is a cat.
What makes Gizzmo special?
She has cerebellar ataxia, which makes her wobbly like Moki, but unlike Moki she was born with it.
Where did the name Gizzmo come from?
A Gizzmo be da strange or unusual toy or ting. When dad first saws me, himz say I be a Gizzmo. Soz I bes da Gizzmo eber since.
A Gizzmo is a strange or unusual toy or thing. When dad first saw me, he said I am a Gizzmo. So I’ve been a Gizzmo ever since.
Gizzmo and the Grassy Patch
Gizzmo, do you have siblings, if so how many and are they like you?
Yups, Iz gots da two sisters, Morgan who be wobbly likes me, an Keoki, herz not wobbly, but hers no can jump.
Yes, I’ve got two sisters, Morgan who is wobbly like me and Keoki who’s not wobbly but she can’t jump.
Do you require a special diet or any additional care?
No special noms, but Iz do lub da bacon gravy. I eats da normal kitty food jus like all da oder kittys. Special care, dat be a bit different. Because Iz fall down a lot some tings are a bit harder, like usin da litterbox, not good to fall downz when yuoz go poo. Drinkin water, Me head bobs a lot soz I keeps dunkin me nose in da water when I drinks. Dad say hims gona gets me da toy football helmet soz I don’t bonks me head so much when Iz fall playin.
No special food, but I love bacon gravy. I eat normal kitty food just like other kitties. Special care, that’s a bit different. Because I fall down a lot some things are a bit harder, like using the litterbox, it’s not good to fall down when you poo. Drinking water, my head bobs a lot so I keep dunking my nose in the water when I drink. Dad says he’s going to get me a toy football helmet so I don’t bonk my head so much when I fall playing.
Gizzmo and the puff of a tail.
Were you born with your disability or did something happen like it did with Moki?
I be born wid it, I let me dad expalne..
I was born with it, let my dad explain..
Gizzmo has Cerebellar ataxia
This is caused by problems with the cerebellum which is an area of the brain involved in controlling balance and coordination. Affected cats often stand and walk with their legs far apart and may be described to have a high stepping gait (goose stepping). Cats with cerebellar problems find it difficult to make accurate calculations when jumping and so often do this in a very exaggerated way. Tremors, which in some cats get worse when they go to do something such as eating (referred to as an intention tremor), may also be seen. Hers came from her mother, a feral cat from a recycling plant, that got Feline Distemper.
Definition of cerebellar ataxia
Ataxia characterized by defects in rate, range, force and direction of movement of limbs. There is a broad based stance, inability to maintain the head in the proper position so that it oscillates, there is hypermetria or hypometria, direction cannot be maintained and the animal falls easily, often in an exaggerated way.
(taken from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/cerebellar+ataxia)
Are there any videos of you walking/running?
Yups, I don’t run bery often cuz I fallz lots. Dad habs da MP4 videos ob me eatin and playin in da Grassy Patch.
Yes, I don’t run very often because I fall a lot. Dad has MP4 videos of me eating and playing in the Grassy Patch.
Gizzmo walking in the grassy patch (the link will take you to Gizzmo’s facebook page)
Gizzmo singing to Ms Buttons
Where do you like to sleep?
On da blanky in front ob da fire place or on dads bed. Hims has to carry me up der cuz I don’t do da stairs bery good.
On the blanket in front of the fireplace or on dad’s bed. He has to carry me up there because I’m not good with walking stairs.
What are your favorite toys?
Buggys, I lubs chasin da buggys. I also likes to chase da feather, or da little red dot dad makes on da floor.
Bugs. I love chasing the bugs. I also like to chase the feather or the little red dot dad makes on the floor.
Can you jump/climb like other kittens?
I no can jump, I bounce, Dat kind ob like jumpin but I neber knows where Iz gona land. I can climbs a bit, like from da floor to da chair or couch, but dat be bery hard. Just climbin in an out da glass door I falls down lots.
No, I can’t jump. I bounce, it’s kind of like jumping but I never know where I’m going to land. I can climb a bit, from the floor to the chair or couch, but it’s very hard. Just climbing in and out the glass door, I fall down a lot.
Does you require any therapy or medication?
Nope, I is jus da way I is, Gizzmo jus says no to drugs.
No, I’m just the way I am. Gizzmo says no to drugs.
What about your sister Morgan?
Hers no talk much, pretty much da same story likes me.
She doesn’t talk much, we have pretty much the same story.
How did you come to have a human guardian?
Me next door neighbor works at da recycling plant. Himz found us three babys about 6 weeks old on da conveyor belt goin to a cardboard crusher. Iz 2 years old now.
My next door neighbor works at the recycling plant. He found us three babies about 6 weeks old on a conveyor belt going to a cardboard crusher. I’m 2 years old now.
Do you talk a lot, Gizzmo?
When Iz wants, sometimes I talk lots, oder times I no talk, just smiles.
When I want to, sometimes I talk a lot, other times I don’t, just smile.
Gizzmo’s campaign poster.
What is a typical day for you like?
Well you can tells lots from me Face Book page, dat be da Life an Times ob Gizzmo da Wobbly Kitty. Iz runnin fur Presdedent you knows… But normally sleeps da night wid dad or on me blanky, gets up wid dad an gets da noms an gets me pets an rubs from hims. Den when hims at work I plays wid da Zombies, ( oder kittys round da house) Snoozes an waits fur dad to gets home. Den Iz goes out back to play in da Grassy Patch, noms da grass, chases da buggys an watch da TV wid dad getting rubs from himz. Den be night, night time, den doz it all again in da morning..
Well, you can tell a lot from my Facebook page, that’s the life and Times of Gizzmo the Wobbly Kitty. I’m running for President you know. But normally I sleep with my dad at night or on my blanket. I get up with dad and get food and get pets and rubs from him. Then he goes to work I play with the Zombies (other kitties around the house). I snooze and waits for dad to get home. Then I go out back to play in the Grassy Patch, eat some grass, chase bugs and then watch t.v. with dad and get rubs form him. Then it’s night night time and I do it all over again in the morning..
Gizzmo with the Zombies (other kitties)
Gizzmo’s Graby (Gravy)
(submitted by Gizzmo & dad)
It’s fairly simple, I don’t measure anything it’s done more by watching. I generally make about 4 cups of gravy when I make it and any of the leftovers go in the refrigerator for the next day.
Ingredients:
Bacon or ground sausage, 8 strips of bacon or 1 cup of ground pork sausage.
Flour, ¼ cup, approx..
Salt, Pepper.
Milk, up to 4 cups, give or take.
Misc. seasonings, up to you on what flavor you are looking for.
Cooking:
In a two quart sauce pan cook the bacon or sausage until done, remove the meat and leave the grease.
Whisk in flour one tablespoon at a time until the grease is absorbed; continue whisking the rue for several more minutes to fully cook the flour.
Slowly whisk the milk in ½ cup at a time. It will thicken up very fast, keep on adding milk until you get the thickness you want. Reduce the temp to a low simmer.
Salt and pepper to taste, this is where you can add other spices, garlic, cumin, paprika, onions, etc.
Continue simmering for about 5 min; add more milk if it starts getting too thick.
Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking.
(To learn more about Gizzmo the Super Kitty, check out her facebook page http://www.facebook.com/GizzmoTheGreat or read the animal article on her )
Dedication:
In loving memory of Baby
This post is dedicated to the loving memory of Baby one of Gizzmo’s siblings who crossed the rainbow bridge May 2012.
We miss you Baby and hope to see you one day on the other side of the Bridge.
(here is the full length poem on the image)
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….
Author unknown…
(taken from http://petloss.com/rainbowbridge.htm)
Author’s Note: I want to thank Gizzmo and her Dad for the taking time to answer my questions. All videos and pictures have been used with permission.
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