High Blood Pressure: is Your Cat at Risk?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common problem among certain cats If high blood pressure goes undetected it can cause blindness, fits or even a stroke. However, the early warning signs can be subtle and difficult for an owner to spot. This short article outlines which cats are at greatest risk and the teIl-tale symptoms that should alert an owner to call his or her veterinarian.
Cats are such relaxed creatures that it may surprise you to learn they can suffer from high blood pressure. Some cats, such as those with certain medical conditions and those over the age of seven, are at greater risk than others. The symptoms of raised blood pressure, or hypertension, can be subtle and difficult to spot but if undetected can lead to organ damage, blindness or even a stroke. With this in mind it is important to know if your cat is at risk, the warning signs too look for and when to call your veterinarian. 

 Why is High Blood Pressure Dangerous? 

 If blood is forced through vital organs at too high a pressure it can result in haemorrhage, or cause swelling, within those tissues The outward signs of damage will depend on which organ is affected: for instance in the eye,
bleeding can lead to blindness; and in the brain it can result in a stroke or in severe cases, a seizure. 

 What Are the Risk Factors? 

 Certain common diseases in older cats have a proven link to hypertension, the most prevalent of which is kidney disease or having overactive thyroid glands. Other conditions such as diabetes mellitus or obesity are also associated with raised blood pressure, although the mechanism by which this happens is not fully understood. If your cat has been diagnosed with one of these ailments it is a good idea to discuss with your veterinarian, getting your pets blood pressure measured.

Even if your cat is fit and healthy, once over seven years of age, the chances of developing raised blood pressure go up. This is because a cat's organs, especially the kidneys, function less effectively which predisposes him or her to hypertension. However, this is nothing to be alarmed about because the majority of cats won't have a problem. Veterinary experts advise measuring blood pressure once a year until the age of fifteen and then twice a year thereafter.