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My cat collapsed and seemed dead. What happened and is it serious?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 7 months and 18 days old

My 7 month old neutered cat was sleeping when out of no where he made a little growling sound, head fell back, then he went lifeless. I thought he died. A few seconds later he came to and was very confused. What happened to my cat? Can I expect it to happen again? Will this kill him?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 22nd, 2018

This very concerning. Your kitty could have had an epileptic seizure or a so-called syncope. Syncopes are caused by the brain not getting enough oxygenized blood, which in turn causes the cat to get unconscious, or a seizure like episode. These syncopes are often caused by heart disease or, in a case of a young animal, it could be a sign of a congenital defect. I suggest you make an appointment with your veterinarian for an exam, and do mention this episode to your vet. You may want to write down the particulars, so your vet gets as accurate a description as possible from you.
This said, it also may have just been a one-time occurrence, with unknown cause.
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