What Is Hypertension in Cats?
Hypertension is persistently high blood pressure. It’s surprisingly common in older pets, particularly cats with kidney disease or an overactive thyroid, and it usually develops secondary to another condition rather than on its own. Because it causes almost no outward signs at first, it’s often called a silent condition, which is exactly why screening matters.
Hypertension and the Heart
When blood pressure stays high, the heart has to pump harder with every beat. Over time the muscle wall of the heart thickens to cope, a change known as hypertensive cardiomyopathy. On a scan, this thickening can look very similar to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common heart disease in cats. The difference is the cause: HCM starts in the heart muscle itself and is often inherited, while hypertensive changes are the heart responding to pressure from outside. That distinction matters, because a thickened heart caused by high blood pressure can often improve once the pressure is brought under control. This is why we check blood pressure in every cat with a heart murmur or a thickened heart before reaching a diagnosis, and why we keep a close eye on the heart in cats with high readings. Some cats have both conditions, and keeping blood pressure in the safe range helps protect a heart that is already working hard.
How We Detect and Treat Hypertension
We screen at-risk pets routinely: older cats, and any pet with kidney disease, thyroid disease or heart disease. We manage high readings with daily blood pressure medication and regular monitoring. Because hypertension usually travels with another condition, we treat the two together as one joined-up plan. Where we see signs the heart has been affected, we may recommend a heart scan to understand what’s happening and track progress. Most pets respond well, with pressures back in the safe range within weeks.
Screening and Ongoing Management
A blood pressure check is quick, painless and stress-managed: a small cuff on the leg or tail, a quiet room and a few minutes of patience; no sedation, no needles, no overnight stay. We take several readings and use the settled ones, because clinic nerves can raise blood pressure in pets just as in people. Ongoing management is daily tablets at home and periodic recheck appointments to confirm the dose is right.
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Dedicated Cat Consult Rooms
We know that trips to the vet can be stressful for your pet. That’s why our clinics feature calming lighting and welcoming spaces to help keep anxious animals at ease. Our specially dedicated cat consult rooms are designed with:
Climbing wall mounts
Calming pheromones
Cosy spots
Scratching posts
Quiet spaces
Tasty treats
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Usually you wouldn't, that's the danger. Occasionally pets show dilated pupils, sudden blindness, disorientation or restlessness, but most cases are found through routine screening of at-risk pets.
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Cats over about ten, and any pet with kidney disease, an overactive thyroid, heart disease or diabetes. We'll recommend a sensible screening schedule for your individual pet.
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No; it's a soft inflatable cuff, just like in people, done in a calm room with plenty of reassurance. Most cats tolerate it very well.