How High Blood Pressure Affects Cat’s Health

Unlike humans, cats cannot develop high blood pressure as a result of stress. They can have high blood pressure, but only as a byproduct of some other disease such as renal failure, heart disease or hyperthyroidism. Thus, hypertension in cats can appear only as a secondary problem. However, it does not mean that hypertension is less dangerous than in humans. On the contrary, it is more dangerous because it is difficult to discover in time. In older cats, high blood pressure is not a rare phenomenon and therefore, it is important to check regularly blood pressure in older cats. Veterinarians recommend regular high blood pressure check-up twice a year for cats that are more than seven years old. To learn how high blood pressure can affect the health of our cats if it remains undetected, the article “Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) in Cats” describes the common effects of neglected hypertension in cats.

Eyes: Swelling and bleeding into the eyes can result in blindness. Detachment of the retina can also occur and cause blindness.

Kidneys: The kidneys act as filters to rid the body of wastes. Over time, high blood pressure can narrow and thicken the blood vessels of the kidneys. The kidneys filter less fluid, and waste builds up in the blood. The kidneys may fail altogether.

Arteries: Over time, the arteries may harden, this, in turn, causes the heart and kidneys to work harder. Brain: High pressure can cause a break in a weakened blood vessel, which then bleeds in the brain. This can cause a seizures, stroke or coma. If a blood clot blocks one of the narrowed arteries, it can also cause a stroke.

Heart: The heart has to pump harder and over time this can cause the heart muscle to become enlarged and thickening of the left ventricle, and increase the risks of developing congestive heart failure.

Symptoms of hypertension in cats are hard to acknowledge, and many cats are diagnosed with hypertension and the primary illness when it is too late. The only signs we can spot in cats with high blood pressure are their behavior. If a cat appears lethargic, withdrawn and disinterested in regular activities, it can be a sign that the cat suffers from hypertension. When detected early, it will not do a lot of damage to a cat’s inner organs. The cats, which too long have hypertension, can experience problems with arteries, hearts, eyes, kidneys and nervous system. To prevent them from developing hyperthyroidism, we should observe their behavior carefully and do regular checkups, especially when our cat gets old.