Although the exact cause of brain tumors in cats is unknown, brain tumors that aren't the result of cancers spreading from elsewhere in the body are more prevalent in young cats. This leads some experts to believe that some cats have a genetic predisposition to develop brain tumors. Still, a brain tumor is a relatively rare condition for a cat. A cat with a brain tumor may display specific symptoms.
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General Symptoms
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Typical symptoms of a brain tumor in a cat include general disorientation, less frequent purring, loss of trained abilities and lethargy.
Tumors By Location
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Different types of tumors may cause different symptoms to manifest, such as: blindness (a tumor on the optic nerve), shaking and instability (tumor on the cerebellum), facial paralysis (tumor on the brain stem) and seizures (a tumor on the cerebral cortex).
Changes in Behavior
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A cat with a brain tumor may walk in circles, have mood swings and display bouts of frenzied grooming.
Primary and Secondary
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Brain tumors in cats may be primary or secondary, meaning, it is either an isolated problem (primary), or an extension of a cancer elsewhere in the body (secondary). A cat may be symptomatic of other types of cancer if his tumor is a secondary condition.
Time Frame
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Brain tumors in cats may grow slowly, so new symptoms may present themselves over long periods of time.
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