Key Points
Feline saddle thrombus is a terrifying and often life-threatening blood clot condition in cats that can cause sudden weakness, paralysis, cold hind legs, and severe circulation problems. It is commonly linked to feline heart disease, especially cardiomyopathy in cats.
I had never heard of feline saddle thrombus before September 2022. Then one ordinary day, my 16-year-old cat Joey went from acting completely normal to fighting for his life in just a matter of hours.
This is Joey’s story, the symptoms we experienced, what our veterinarian told us, and the things we learned about feline heart disease, taurine, nutrition, and recovery along the way.
Disclaimer: This article shares a personal experience and should not replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian regarding feline saddle thrombus, cardiomyopathy, blood clots, or any medical condition affecting your cat.
Feline Saddle Thrombus. I had never heard of it before, then one morning in September 2022, my 16-year-old cat, Joey, ate breakfast and cleaned his plate. He was absolutely fine. I left for work and got home around 3:00 pm to find him by the door as he always is and dashed off when I came through it, as he always does.
Joey’s Sudden Symptoms
At 6:00 pm when I fed my cats again, he didn’t show. I thought, well, that’s weird but he did clean his plate this morning so maybe he’s just not hungry. By the time 10 PM rolled around and he hadn’t come out, I went hunting for him.
I found him in the closet and when I pulled him out, I knew something was wrong. When I tried to get him to stand, he would put all his weight on his front legs and hunch down. He could walk but did not want to. I had no idea what was wrong with him.
Not knowing what to do, I took him into the kitchen and fed him. He ate pretty well but at 2:00 am he projectile vomited. I know what time it was because he was in bed with me when it happened. From that point on, he was not interested in eating. The problem is if cats don’t eat for 24 hours, fatty liver disease can set in. I pulled out my feeding syringe and began hand-feeding and watering him.
Alicia and I got him to the vet first thing Monday morning. We had to leave Joey there because he didn’t have an appointment. I got a phone call about an hour later from our veterinarian (who has been doing this for a very long time). He has seen everything under the sun, and I wholeheartedly respect his professional opinion.
What Is Feline Saddle Thrombus?
He told me, “In my opinion, Joey has thrown a Saddle Thrombus (blood clot) and probably suffers from Cardiomyopathy. His tail is nonresponsive, he can walk but not well, his back feet are cooler in temperature than his front, his ears are cold, and I can’t detect a femoral pulse in either hind leg.” He also said his cardiogram had detected a skipped beat in his heart. He told me his condition was grave and he suggested I put him down.
Common Symptoms of Saddle Thrombus in Cats
One of the scariest things about feline saddle thrombus is how suddenly it can happen. Cats may appear perfectly normal and then suddenly lose strength in their back legs, struggle to walk, hide, cry out, breathe heavily, or develop cold hind feet because blood flow has been restricted. In Joey’s case, the signs were subtle at first, which made the situation even more scary.
My first question was, “Is he in pain?”
He didn’t think so because Joey never cried out, but he did say if the saddle thrombus began cutting off the circulation to his hind legs, he would be. He also said Joey may go on his own. If his heart skipped a couple of beats, that would be the end. There was no way we would put him down in a vet’s office. If we were going to do it, it would be done in our own home.
The Link Between Cardiomyopathy and Blood Clots in Cats
I quickly learned that feline saddle thrombus is often connected to cardiomyopathy in cats, especially hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Many cat owners do not even realize their cat has heart disease until a blood clot occurs. That was definitely the case with Joey.
So, I went and picked up my boy and brought him home. Anyone who knows me knows I believe wholeheartedly in the body’s ability to heal. Once I got him home I got to work. I spent the entire day researching and researching some more about feline saddle thrombus, what causes it, and what to do about it.
Joey’s Recovery Journey
I immediately gave him concentrated liquid trace minerals in water with a syringe because the heart runs on electrical impulses and liquid trace minerals conduct electricity. Not only that, but the heart needs magnesium and liquid trace minerals have lots of it. I didn’t want his heart to stop before we got a chance to give him a chance.
Based on my existing knowledge and my research on feline saddle thrombus, I started focusing heavily on hydration, vitamins and minerals, wild salmon oil, circulatory support and probably the most important, Taurine.
I also started him on Nattokinase (an enzyme extracted from fermented soybeans that is shown in studies to dissolve blood clots) to help dissolve the saddle thrombus.
Can Cats Recover From Feline Saddle Thrombus?
One of the first things I searched for was whether cats can survive a saddle thrombus. Many stories online are heartbreaking, and the prognosis can often be poor depending on the severity of the clot and the underlying heart disease. But I also found stories of cats who fought their way back, and I held onto that hope with Joey.
He was a sick little boy and Alicia and I both told him, “If you want to go, Joey, you can go.” Then I told him, “But if you want to stay and fight, I’ll fight with you.” He chose to fight. I watched this boy go from a shell of himself who wouldn’t eat, drink, or even walk, to eating like a horse in just 10 days.
Every day, I watched as a little more of him came back as the cat saddle thrombus dissolved. I felt the warmth return to his feet and ears. I watched his ability to walk return and the life return to his tail.
On night eight, he woke us up at 5 AM meowing in the living room. I thought, “OH NO!” But Alicia went to check on him and found him playing with his toy and vocalizing at it.
I will say this…I’ve known the power of nutrition for a long time, but this even shocked ME! The rapidness of his return is mind-blowing. I think the influx of massive amounts of nutrition helped his entire body heal. Every day he gets better and better.
I don’t ever want my boy to experience a feline saddle thrombus again or any of my other cats. They all eat raw food mixed with wet food, I mistakenly thought that provided enough nutrition. I was wrong. I have since added a supplement mix to their raw food and extra Taurine to it as well as wild salmon oil.
Taurine and Feline Heart Health
I read that if Cardiomyopathy is the result of a Taurine deficiency and hasn’t progressed too far, it may reverse itself when the deficiency is corrected. Studies have found no upper tolerance level for Taurine in cats. What their bodies do not use they flush out. So I am loading them up on Taurine as Taurine is crucial for their heart health. Cats can not produce Taurine on their own, much like humans can not produce Vitamin C. They HAVE to get it from an outside source.
Preventing Cardiomyopathy and Saddle Thrombus in Cats
If you have cats, know that Cardiomyopathy and the feline saddle thrombus that results from it are a major issue for them! Even young cats can suffer from these blood clots. What I have learned about this is horrifying!
Cats as young as six months old are getting heart disease and suffering from debilitating feline saddle thrombus. Many cats suffer paralysis in their hind legs and severe pain as a result. Joey was really lucky in that way, perhaps because he was on a raw food diet.
From now on, my cats get extra Taurine, and a good vitamin and mineral supplement! An ounce of prevention is still worth a pound of cure! With any luck, no more episodes with saddle thrombus or cardiomyopathy.
Have questions? Join our community so you can ask them in the chat below. I will personally respond and help wherever I can.
UPDATE: January 10, 2023.
Joey continues to be in good health. He is a very active 17-year-old boy cat. The only difference is that he is way more attached to me now than he ever was before he suffered a saddle thrombus. Looking back, this episode occurred after I had been out of town for seven days.
My gut tells me he wasn’t eating enough and certainly wasn’t getting enough taurine. He is an interesting eater. He likes to stalk his food, the only problem is, the two other cats who scarf it down while he is busy stalking. I think they stole a few too many meals from him.
UPDATE: March, 29, 2024
Joey is 18 now and still doing well. As a senior cat, he sleeps a lot. He still stalks his food, but we make sure he always gets his extra taurine, liquid minerals, and added vitamins! If you have cats, no matter how old they are, start them on these few supplements and make sure they eat a healthy diet.
UPDATE: May 18, 2026
You may be surprised to learn that Joey is still with us and still pretty healthy! No sign of heart disease, blood clots, or other ailments. He’s nearly 20 years old and you would never know how close to death he came just a few short years ago. As an old cat, he does way more sleeping than he used to, but he’s here and he’s healthy. There is hope, friends!
Frequently Asked Questions About Feline Saddle Thrombus
1. What are the first signs of saddle thrombus in cats?
Many cats suddenly develop weakness or paralysis in their back legs. Other signs can include cold hind feet, difficulty walking, hiding, pain, vomiting, rapid breathing, or crying out unexpectedly.
2. Is feline saddle thrombus painful?
It can be extremely painful for some cats, especially if circulation to the hind legs becomes severely restricted. In Joey’s case, our veterinarian did not believe he was in severe pain initially, but every case is different.
3. What causes blood clots in cats?
Feline saddle thrombus is often associated with underlying heart disease, especially hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Poor circulation and changes within the heart can contribute to clot formation.
4. Can cats survive saddle thrombus?
Some cats do survive and recover, while others sadly do not. Prognosis depends on the severity of the clot, heart function, circulation, overall health of the cat, as well as your nutritional response to it.
5. What is taurine and why is it important for cats?
Taurine is an essential amino acid that plays a major role in heart health, vision, and overall function in cats. Cats cannot produce enough taurine on their own and must get it through diet.
Additional Resources on Feline Saddle Thrombus and Cardiomyopathy
If your cat is showing symptoms of feline saddle thrombus or heart disease, it is important to seek veterinary care immediately. These veterinary resources provide additional information about feline cardiomyopathy, blood clots, and emergency symptoms in cats:
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