Cerebral Cortex Tumors in Cats
The cerebral cortex of a cat is the gray matter on much of its brain's immediate surface. This cortex controls many processes, including memory and perception and some motor skills. It is not common for cats to have tumors in this area or in the brain in general. However, there are some signs and symptoms that any cat owner should be aware of in order to get the appropriate medical intervention if a tumor is present.
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Causes
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Most of the time cerebral cortex tumors in a cat do not have a known cause. However, according to nativeremedies.com, it is commonly believed that there is a genetic predisposition since these tumors tend to occur more often in young cats.
Symptoms
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The NC State College of Veterinary Medicine reports that symptoms such as apathy and confusion indicate a possible tumor in a cat. The presence of seizure activity specifically indicates a tumor of the cerebral cortex. Other symptoms may include loss of training, decreased activity and infrequent purring.
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Inflammation
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Inflammation caused by the cerebral cortex tumor may also cause other behavioral and health changes. Some of these include your pet pressing his head against hard surfaces, irritability, lethargy, walking in circles, excessive grooming and loud meowing. Any of the symptoms merit an examination by a veterinarian.
Diagnosis
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When there are neurological symptoms, especially that of seizures, the veterinarian will complete a physical examination and routine blood work. This is to rule out any other possible health problems. Your pet may need to undergo a CT scan or MRT of the brain (under general anesthesia) to confirm a diagnosis.
Treatment
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If a cerebral cortex tumor is the diagnosis, the treatment will focus on eliminating or decreasing the size of the tumor. Radiation treatments are used for this purpose. Surgery to remove the tumor is not performed regularly due to the specialized training necessary and the high risk to the animal. Corticosteroids are often prescribed for inflammation and phenobarbitol can be administered to address the seizures.
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References
- Photo Credit cat face image by Viktor Korpan from Fotolia.com
