High blood pressure (hypertension) is common in older cats and causes severe organ damage — particularly blindness, kidney disease, and heart problems — often before any symptoms are noticed by owners.
Feline hypertension is a welfare crisis that unfolds silently. Cats do not show the visible signs of cardiovascular distress that might prompt early owner concern. The first indication is often sudden blindness — a catastrophic welfare event that is frequently preventable with regular monitoring. Beyond blindness, chronic hypertension causes progressive kidney damage, cardiac hypertrophy, and neurological signs. The suffering associated with sudden blindness in a cat — disorientation, fear, loss of independence — is significant. With treatment, retinal detachment caught early may resolve with vision recovery. The case for routine blood pressure monitoring in senior cats is compelling: the test is non-invasive, inexpensive, and the consequences of detecting and treating early hypertension are enormous in terms of welfare protection.