{"id":47643,"date":"2021-12-14T09:30:57","date_gmt":"2021-12-14T14:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=47643"},"modified":"2023-05-08T10:03:01","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T14:03:01","slug":"high-blood-pressure-in-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/high-blood-pressure-in-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"How to treat high blood pressure in cats"},"content":{"rendered":"

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a dangerous health condition in which the force of your heartbeat makes the blood pushing through your veins too strong for a sustained period of time. In humans, a healthy blood pressure is one of the most important factors for overall health. It is also an important measure for your pets, including cats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>How to manage high blood pressure in dogs<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What is normal blood pressure for a cat?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cThe normal blood pressure for cats is around the same as it is for humans, 120 mmHg,\u201d says <\/span>Chyrle Bonk<\/span><\/a>, DVM, a veterinarian working with Excited Cats. \u201cAnything over 160 mmHg will have your vet concerned.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The discrepancy in range between a healthy blood pressure (120) and a concerning number (over 160) is because some cats get higher than normal blood pressure at the vet\u2019s office because they\u2019re in a new, potentially scary environment. Over 180 is considered severe hypertension.<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you check blood pressure in a cat?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Checking blood pressure is common practice at your veterinarian\u2019s office. \u201cBlood pressure can be measured with a cuff, similar to humans, except [it\u2019s sized] for a cat\u2019s leg or tail,\u201d Dr. Bonk explains. \u201cJust like in humans, it is completely painless and most cats will tolerate having it done.\u201d Also like humans, it is an important part of the picture of complete health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to measure your cat\u2019s blood pressure at home, you can. \u201cOwners can use human blood pressure machines, but will need to special order a small cuff,\u201d says <\/span>Michelle Burch, DVM<\/span><\/a>, a veterinarian with <\/span>Safe Hounds Pet Insurance<\/span><\/a>. \u201cCuffs are placed on the tail to obtain the most accurate blood pressure reading on a cat at home.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Having the peace of mind that your cat is healthy might make this purchase worthwhile, but make sure to still schedule regular visits for your cat with your veterinarian.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What causes high blood pressure in cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Hypertension in cats can be caused by a few factors including:<\/span><\/p>\n