If you have landed on this webpage, your beloved feline companion may have recently been diagnosed with a blood clot. Let us be the first to tell you that you are not alone. Everyone here at Ten Lives has been through the painful experience of watching our four-legged friends suffer from this devastating condition, also known as Feline Arterial Thromboembolism (FATE), or Saddle Thrombus, and we are here to support you. The good news is, there is hope. Several members of our community have successfully treated their furry friends, and they are sharing their stories to help other cats like yours.
About Blood Clots in Cats
Diagram of cat with Saddle Thrombus.
A blood clot, as defined by healthline.com, is a clump of blood that has changed from a liquid to a gel-like or semisolid state. When a blood clot forms within an artery or vein, it is called a thrombus, and when that blood clot obstructs blood flow, it’s known as an embolism. Therefore, a thromboembolism occurs when a blood clot travels from one location to another and obstructs blood flow within a blood vessel. Blood clots can go undetected until they obstruct blood flow, at which point symptoms can begin to present themselves and matters become very serious.
When a blood clot forms and travels through the aorta to the “saddle” of the cat, it is known as Saddle Thrombus or Saddle Thrombosis. The saddle is where the aorta forms two branches leading to the hind legs in the lower abdomen. A cat with Saddle Thrombus may be in extreme pain and discomfort, present hind leg paralysis, or have difficulty breathing.
When a blood clot forms and travels through the aorta to the “saddle” of the cat, it is known as Saddle Thrombus or Saddle Thrombosis. The saddle is where the aorta forms two branches leading to the hind legs in the lower abdomen. A cat with Saddle Thrombus may be in extreme pain and discomfort, present hind leg paralysis, or have difficulty breathing.
CausesBlood clots are often caused by underlying heart disease. In cats, the most common form of heart disease is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and which there is no known cure. HCM affects the left ventricle's ability to pump blood through the heart and causes the left atrium to become enlarged from blood build-up. This results in the blockage of blood flow and is typically when clots tend to form. Feline arterial thromboembolisms are one of the most severe complications associated with HCM. Other causes of blood clots in cats can include Hyperthyroidism and cancer.
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Symptoms
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Recovery
Recovery largely depends on the severity of the case, and whether or not the cat does in fact have heart disease. Feline arterial thromboembolisms or saddle thrombus is a serious and sometimes fatal complication of heart disease in cats, and often strikes suddenly without warning. It is a very painful condition and due to the uncertain outlook, cat parents and veterinarians often choose humane euthanasia rather than conventional treatments that are costly and often unsuccessful.
Luckily, there are various studies investigating newly developed novel treatments for blood clots in cats that have shown promising results. Visit our Novel Treatments and Success Stories pages to learn more about these treatments.
Luckily, there are various studies investigating newly developed novel treatments for blood clots in cats that have shown promising results. Visit our Novel Treatments and Success Stories pages to learn more about these treatments.
Terms & Definitions
Thrombus: A blood clot that has remained stationary in its place of formation.
Embolism: The blockage of a blood vessel due to a blood clot.
Thromboembolism: The obstruction of blood flow within a blood vessel due to a blood clot that has travelled from one site to another; a moving blood clot.
Arterial Thromboembolism (ATE): The obstruction of blood flow within a blood vessel due to a blood clot that has travelled from one site to another through the aorta.
Feline Arterial Thromboembolism (FATE): The obstruction of blood flow within a blood vessel due to a blood clot that has travelled from one site to another through the aorta, specifically within felines.
Saddle Thrombus: A blood clot that has travelled to the lower abdomen area where the aorta branches off into the hind legs, known as the “saddle”.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM): A heart condition that affects the left ventricle's ability to pump blood through the heart and causes the left atrium to become enlarged from blood build-up.
Aneurism: The enlargement of an artery.
Embolism: The blockage of a blood vessel due to a blood clot.
Thromboembolism: The obstruction of blood flow within a blood vessel due to a blood clot that has travelled from one site to another; a moving blood clot.
Arterial Thromboembolism (ATE): The obstruction of blood flow within a blood vessel due to a blood clot that has travelled from one site to another through the aorta.
Feline Arterial Thromboembolism (FATE): The obstruction of blood flow within a blood vessel due to a blood clot that has travelled from one site to another through the aorta, specifically within felines.
Saddle Thrombus: A blood clot that has travelled to the lower abdomen area where the aorta branches off into the hind legs, known as the “saddle”.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM): A heart condition that affects the left ventricle's ability to pump blood through the heart and causes the left atrium to become enlarged from blood build-up.
Aneurism: The enlargement of an artery.
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