Stroke in Cats
Written By hannah hollinger
Published: 01/09/2017Updated: 05/29/2021
Veterinary reviewed by Dr. Linda Simon, MVB MRCVS
Stroke in Cats - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, Management, Cost
What is Stroke?
Strokes in cats can be either ischemic (the blood supply is cut off) or hemorrhagic (blood is leaked out into the brain). Blood vessel blockages often occur because materials have broken off elsewhere in the body and become stuck in the veins or arteries leading to the brain. Blood clotting problems can also create obstructions of blood to the brain. Trauma from injury may lead to the rupturing of blood vessels, allowing them to bleed out into the cranial area. Both genders seem to be affected by strokes equally. A stroke is a medical emergency and immediate veterinary care should be sought.
The brain of all mammals needs constant and consistent blood flow to operate properly. When a rupture or obstruction decreases the amount of blood supply to the brain, this depletes the brain's oxygen levels and leads to brain damage. In cats, this occurrence is often referred to as a Feline Ischemic Encephalopathy (FIE), or a stroke. It was long thought that cats did not experience strokes, however, advances in medicine have made it very clear that feline strokes do happen and are not uncommon. However, they can be over diagnosed by owners and it is important a cat is seen by a veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis.
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Stroke Average Cost
From 238 quotes ranging from $500 - $5,000
Average Cost
$2,500
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Symptoms of Stroke in Cats
The signs of a stroke happening in a cat differ greatly from symptoms commonly noticed during a stroke in a human. Symptoms will rapidly manifest, with conditions holding steady after 24 hours. Signs to watch for are listed as follows:
  • Loss of balance 
  • Ataxia (unbalanced gait)
  • Circling
  • Confusion 
  • Depression 
  • Head tilting 
  • Aggression 
  • Fearfulness 
  • Behavioral changes 
  • Loss of appetite 
  • Vomiting
  • Loss of vision
Causes of Stroke in Cats
For a number of reasons, strokes happen more often in outdoor cats during the summer. There are many underlying diseases that increase a cat's risk of stroke including:
  • Trauma to the head
  • Trauma to the body that dislodges fat or cartilage parts 
  • Genetic defects
  • Heart disease
  • Liver disease 
  • Kidney failure 
  • Diabetes 
  • Parasitic infection 
  • Ingestion of toxins
  • Hyperthyroidism 
  • Hypertension 
  • Hyperadrenocorticism 
Diagnosis of Stroke in Cats
If you suspect your cat is exhibiting signs of a stroke, take it to a veterinary clinic or animal hospital at once. Be sure to provide the veterinarian with your cat's full medical history to assist in identifying possible underlying causes of the stroke. If your cat has suffered significant trauma from an injury, multiple life-threatening problems may need to be addressed at once to stabilize the animal. The veterinarian will perform a physical examination, checking for other injuries, enlargement of organs and other symptoms that may be present. 
Full blood work including a complete blood count and a biochemical profile will be needed to assess the cat's condition and identify potential underlying problems. Urinalysis can help reveal issues with the kidneys or the liver. Thyroid levels in the blood should be measured to see if hormonal disorders exist. Blood pressure must be measured. For a complete diagnosis, a CT scan or MRI will be needed to get a close and clear view of the compromised blood vessels. This may not be available in some areas. If a parasitic infection is suspected, a fecal sample may be collected for microscopic examination.
Treatment of Stroke in Cats
The cat may need to be kept for observation to watch for possible signs of a second stroke occurring. If an underlying cause has been diagnosed, further treatment is generally required to address the issue. 
Supportive Care 
During the stroke and in the hours that follow, keeping the cat's condition stable can greatly affect the outcome of a stroke in a cat. This may involve administering intravenous fluids and giving anti-inflammatory medications to the cat. Hospitalization is required for this process. The goal is to keep the cat as comfortable as possible to promote healing.
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Recovery of Stroke in Cats
The prognosis of a cat who has experienced a stroke will vary depending on the primary issue that has caused the event to happen. Many health issues such as heart or liver diseasehyperthyroidism and diabetes will require life-long treatments. Kidney failure can carry a very guarded prognosis. Long-term medication prescriptions may be needed and the costs can add up. Any damage to the brain that has taken place in the first 24 hours is often permanent. If a vital area of the brain has been destroyed, the cat may need to be euthanized.
If the stroke has been identified and treated quickly, there is a good chance of a full recovery taking place. It may be best to keep your cat indoors to lower the chance of injury or parasite and poison exposure. Ensure all toxic materials are kept out of your cat's reach within the home. The recovery process may take a prolonged period of time and include a lot of vigorous physiotherapy and ongoing at-home care. 
Stroke Average Cost
From 238 quotes ranging from $500 - $5,000
Average Cost
$2,500
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Stroke Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
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Feline
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dog-age-icon
Fifteen Years
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4 found this helpful

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4 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Hearing Loss
A few days ago my cat slept in the better part of the day, which is usual for her and woke to looking, acting groggy and weak. Walked in circles, could not jump or walk up a stair, head down, walked into walls, could not see my hand in front of her face and suddenly deaf. Took her to the vet who checked her eyes and gave her a couple of shots and said it could of been a stroke. Took her home and monitored her. Next day her vision was better but she still struggled, hearing still gone. Walking and managing steps and eating fine. Been to 2 more vets for tests.
Sept. 25, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
4 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. I apologize for the delay in my reply, this venue is not set up for urgent emails. I'm sorry that happened, and it does seem likely that it may have been some sort of vascular event as it happened so suddenly. It would be best to follow up with your veterinarian, as they can examine them, see what might be going on, and get any testing or treatment taken care of that might be needed.
Oct. 20, 2020
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tabby
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Grace
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16 Years
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9 found this helpful

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9 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Excessive Drinking, Not Eating
We recently had to put my cat down. 16 years old. Was very healthy 5-6 days before this whole thing happened. All of a sudden she started drinking a lot two bowls if possible then not eating and lost 2 pounds within 2 days. She didn’t act as if she was in pain at all but lost muscle in butt and looked sick in in the flanks. And acted not like her typical self. I just want to know if you think a stroke could have caused this. Also when we took her to vet she had a fever on top of that.
Sept. 24, 2018
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short hair
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Oliver
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13 Years
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4 found this helpful

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4 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Circling
Incontinence
Loss Of Balance
Loss Of Appetite
Trouble Walking
Engorged Organ
Behaviour Change
My cat oliver has been acting different for the past month or so, not cuddling or begging for food like usual and will lie on the couch in the same spot for hours on end. Sometimes he'd be unresponsive and recently obsessively cleaned himself. Seems that overnight something had happened, where he peed and pooped everywhere in the house and would sort of pee as he walked. He wouldn't eat, and hadnt drank water in two days. He seems to be dragging his back legs and cannot sit or lie down comfortably. We brought him to his vet and his condition appeared to deteriorate. His bladder was the size of a grapefruit and he was completely unresponsive, just stared blankly and seemed confused. He wouldn't even notice or smell food placed in front of him, respond to voice, or respond to pats. The vet thinks he has some major neurological issues possibly from stroke or disease. Oliver seems to be in quite a bit of pain too. Would you think that these symptoms could be from stroke? How likely do you think recovery would be?
Aug. 22, 2018
4 Recommendations
Stroke is a possibility but other conditions including trauma, poisoning and neurological disorders should be ruled out; without having a specific diagnosis I cannot give an indication of prognosis since we’re not sure what is causing these symptoms. Once a diagnosis has been made, you’ll get a better picture of the long term prognosis; it may be worth consulting a Neurologist to help narrow in on a diagnosis. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 22, 2018
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Mix
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Ferris bueller
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15 Years
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17 found this helpful

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17 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Losing Balance, Walking In Circles,
Last night my cat I believe had a stroke. He lost his balance fell off a table and could only walk in circles. Today he’s eating and drinking a lot walking fine. Is it possible there’s something else wrong that would cause those systems?
Aug. 19, 2018
17 Recommendations
A loss of balance and circling may be related to a few different conditions which may include vestibular disorders, inner ear infection, head trauma, stroke, poisoning, liver disease (hepatic encephalopathy) among other causes; keep an eye on Ferris Bueller for the time being and visit your Veterinarian if the symptoms persist or other symptoms present. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 20, 2018
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Cat
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Simon
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14 Years
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18 found this helpful

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18 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Loss Of Balance
Dilated Pupils
No Vomiting
Behavior Change
Not Circling
No Circling
My 14 yr old cat Simon the Cat of Hate came inside last night dragging his back legs and he twitched occasionally. He seemed in no pain, he was purring and acted cuddly and affectionate - this is unusual as he doesn't normally like to be held, he's normally a rather aggressive biter. His pupils were dilated, his fur was falling out, his breathing slowed at one point during the night when we thought he was gone. Then gradually he seemed to perk up. His back left leg still drags, but he's had surgery 8 yrs ago and has a plate and screws in his hip after surviving a car accident. He's used all 9 lives and most of my savings already on previous care and he was diagnosed a few months ago with thyroid disease and takes methimazole. I wonder if we didn't accidentally give him too much medicine? Is it cruel not to seek care now, and instead just keep him comfortable? He's not in any discomfort and he seems to be able to eat, drink, use the little box (all with help) and get around on his own, though he's still wobbly.
Aug. 14, 2018

Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
18 Recommendations
I"m sorry that that happened to Simon - it is difficult to know what happened since he was outside. He could have had a trauma, a poisoning, or a stroke. I'm not sure if it is cruel to allow him to live like that, as I can't see him and have a hard time commenting. It would be best to have him examined by a veterinarian, as they can evaluate him, see what might be going on, and let you know what the best solution is for him.
Aug. 14, 2018
Hi I wanted to give an update. We kept Simon comfortable the following day and he appeared to improve slowly. The next day he hopped to the countertop and ate from his dish (we keep it counter height to keep the dog from eating cat food). It's now been 6 days and Simon is totally back to normal. I think perhaps he got into something intoxicating (or maybe we double-dosed his thyroid meds) but he's back to his mean old self. I wouldn't want to repeat this experience, it was terrifying, so I'll store his week's worth of thyroid pills in one of those daily pill dispensers so at a glance we'll know he's gotten his meds. Thank you again for your speedy response when we were so worried.
Aug. 21, 2018
Elizabeth K.
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DOMESTIC
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Squeaky
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15 Years
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0 found this helpful

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0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Crying, Back Legs Not Moving
I don't know what to think. Two days ago, I found my cat laying next to her bed and crying. I realized her back legs couldn't move and I think she had a stroke. I rushed her to the animal hospital. She was quiet in the car on the way there, almost like she wasn't in pain. When I got her to the hospital, they took her in and gave her a sedative to examine her. The doctor came out and told me that I was right, it was a stroke. She said the prognosis was not good. She said my cat had a heart murmur and the prognosis was not good. She said it was likely she would have another stroke again and that they could try to keep her there and give her blood thinners and treat her, but didn't know what would happen with her back legs and that she might have another stroke within 24 hours. They said the prescription would be $700 and the treatment $2000. They said the other option was to euthanize her. This cat was my child. I had her for 15 years and she never had any health problems prior to this. I did not have to money to pay for treatment, so I let them put her down, but I am questioning now if I did the right thing. My heart is broken and I will always wonder if she could have been saved. Has anyone else had this experience? I don't think I made the right decision and I am sick about it.
Stroke Average Cost
From 238 quotes ranging from $500 - $5,000
Average Cost
$2,500
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