Heatstroke in cats – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

See a vet now

This is an emergency – contact your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Heatstroke is a very serious condition in cats.

What to do now

What you can do now

  1. Contact your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now.
  2. Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
  3. Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
  4. Keep fresh water available.
  5. Let your cat rest somewhere calm.

Don't

  • Do not give any human medicine.
  • Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Heatstroke is a very serious condition in cats.[1] Persian cats are listed as predisposed to heatstroke.[1]

Signs

  • Panting and fast breathing
  • Bright or dark red, or sometimes very pale, gums
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea, sometimes containing blood
  • Weakness
  • Confusion
  • Wobbliness and collapse
  • Seizures
  • Blindness
  • Unconsciousness

Causes and risk factors

  • Persian cats

How a vet finds out

  • Urine tests

How vets treat it

  • Fluids or a drip
  • Oxygen
  • Medication

Breeds prone to this

Veterinary charities list these breeds as more likely than others to get this condition. Each breed page lists the inherited conditions documented in the breed.

Persian cat

What the experts say

“Panting and fast breathing ; Bright/dark red or sometimes very pale gums ; Vomiting ; Diarrhoea (sometimes containing blood) ; Weakness ; Confusion ; Wobbliness and collapse ; Seizures ; Blindness ; Unconsciousness”

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

Get it on Google Play

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Common questions

What signs can heatstroke cause in cats?

Signs can include panting and fast breathing, bright or dark red or sometimes very pale gums, vomiting, diarrhoea sometimes containing blood, weakness, confusion, wobbliness and collapse, seizures, blindness and unconsciousness.[1]

How may a vet find out what is happening?

A vet may use urine tests.[1]

How may a vet treat heatstroke?

A vet may use fluids or a drip, oxygen and medication.[1]

Sources

  1. PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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