Symptoms of Feline Hypertension

Feline hypertension (high blood pressure) is more common in older cats and usually occurs in conjunction with another disease such as chronic renal failure (kidney disease) or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). Hypertension is extremely dangerous in cats as it can cause blood vessels to leak or rupture, causing blindness and stroke. It can also put a further strain on the heart and kidneys, which can be deadly for those animals already suffering from kidney disease or hyperthyroidism.

  1. Early Symptoms

    • Veterinarians often do not diagnose hypertension in cats until serious symptoms, such as sudden blindness, occur. Since this disease is often the result of another ailment, such as hyperthyroidism or kidney disease, the symptoms to watch out for are those of the underlying condition. With hyperthyroidism and chronic renal failure, early symptoms include excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, weight loss, increased heart rate, dilated pupils and appetite changes.

    Late Symptoms

    • If feline hypertension progresses, more serious symptoms begin to appear in the affected cat. These can include head tilt, disorientation, seizures, difficulty walking and loss of vision. Appearance of these symptoms can often mean the hypertension has caused detached retinas or bleeding in the brain.

    Blindness and Stroke

    • Often, pet owners do not notice the early symptoms of hypertension. If routine wellness exams do not detect it or the underlying medical conditions causing the high blood pressure, it takes blindness or a stroke to occur before a diagnosis. Sometimes if veterinarians treat the hypertension immediately, they can restore partial eyesight for cats suffering from blindness. Recovery from a stroke is more variable. The key is to avoid these late stage symptoms of hypertension by being aware of any behavioral changes in your pet and taking your cat for regular veterinary checkups. Feline hypertension and the underlying conditions that cause it are treatable ailments if caught early.