Cerebrovascular disease, which has high prevalence; high disability, mortality, and recurrence rates and is associated with high costs, is a major disease affecting human health. Ischemic stroke occurs in approximately 80% of cases. Animal model studies are essential if we want an in-depth understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease, therapeutic response mechanisms, and how to develop neuroprotective drugs. Animal models of ischemic stroke can be divided into global and focal ischemic stroke models, and there have been deeper explorations of focal ischemia models. Given the diversity of models, researchers can also choose an animal model of cerebral ischemia according to the research aims and other needs. The advances made in the production of animal models of focal ischemic stroke, the selection of animal models of focal ischemic stroke, the advantages and disadvantages of various models, and matters needing attention in the making of focal ischemic stroke rat model by intraluminal suture middle cerebral artery occlusion are briefly described. This review provides a reference for the production of and research using subsequent cerebral ischemia models.