Hypertension in cats – signs and when to see a vet
Book a vet visitBook a vet appointment if you think your cat has this – a vet needs to confirm it and plan the treatment. Hypertension is high blood pressure in cats.
What you can do now
- Contact your vet.
- Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
- Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
- Let your cat rest somewhere calm.
- Do not wait if it gets worse.
Don't
- Do not give any human medicine.
- Do not wait if it gets worse.
What it is
Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure.[1] It is a common condition in senior cats.[1] Feline hypertension is often seen as a complication of underlying conditions such as chronic kidney disease and hyperthyroidism.[1]
Signs
Causes and risk factors
How a vet finds out
- A physical examination
- Blood pressure measurement
- Blood tests
- An eye examination
What the experts say
“Depression ; Lethargy/tiredness ; Becoming withdrawn ; Bumping into objects ; Changes inside the eye e.g. bleeding ; Blindness”
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.
OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.
Common questions
What is hypertension in cats?
Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure.[1]
What signs can hypertension cause?
Signs can include depression, tiredness, becoming withdrawn, bumping into objects, changes inside the eye such as bleeding, and blindness.[1]
How does a vet check for hypertension?
A vet can measure blood pressure with an inflatable cuff around your cat’s leg or tail, examine the eyes and take a blood sample to test for underlying disease.[1]
Sources
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