Systemic hypertension in cats is common and under-diagnosed, causing target organ damage including blindness, stroke and kidney failure that is preventable with early detection and treatment.
Hypertension welfare is primarily a detection problem - the disease is treatable once identified, but the absence of routine blood pressure monitoring means many cats experience preventable strokes, retinal detachment and accelerated kidney failure. Sudden blindness from hypertensive retinopathy is a traumatic welfare event - cats experience acute visual loss and the associated disorientation and anxiety. Preventative monitoring from age 9-10 years, particularly in cats with known hyperthyroidism or CKD, enables early treatment before target organ damage occurs. The welfare gain from routine senior blood pressure measurement is significant - prevention of blindness and stroke through inexpensive medication is one of the highest-value interventions in senior cat care.