What Is the Normal Blood Pressure Range for a Cat?
Healthy blood pressure in cats ranges from 110 to 160 mm Hg (millimeters of Mercury). Your cat has low blood pressure, also known as hypotension, if his blood pressure is less than 80 to 90 mm Hg. Your cat is hypertensive, meaning he has high blood pressure, if his blood pressure is more than 170 to 180 mm Hg.
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Risks of Hypotension
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Periodic or chronic hypotension can lead to serious health concerns, including impaired blood flow and decreased oxygen delivery which can causes organ damage or failure, according to veterinary researchers D. C. Silverstein and F. A. Wininger. In their 2008 study, they found that the mortality rate in sick cats with hypotension was "significantly" greater than in sick cats with healthy blood pressure. Silverstein and Wininger concluded that it was important to check for and address low blood pressure in hospitalized and very sick cats.
Risks of Hypertension
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According to the Long Beach Animal Hospital, high blood pressure accelerates the progress of disease in your cat's organs, particularly the liver, eyes, kidneys and heart as well as predisposes your cat to blindness. Abnormally high blood pressure in your cat will result in blood vessel damage, which will cause the blood vessels to bleed, clot, have fluid build-up, and tissue death. The eyes, kidney, heart and brain are particularly prone to this. High blood pressure also puts an undue strain on your cat's heart, causing further deterioration.
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Hypotension Causes
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Low blood pressure is an important warning sign in that cats are deathly ill or have suffered trauma, according to Veterinarian David T. Roen. Catching hypotension in cats is important because it can be caused by shock, internal bleeding, or certain medications they are receiving. Monitoring and reversing low blood pressure especially during surgery can save a cat's life.
Hypertension Causes
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High blood pressure in cats is usually caused by kidney failure or hyperthyroidism, an increase in the level of the thyroid hormone, according to the Long Beach Animal Hospital. Have your cat monitored for hypertension every three to six months if he has been diagnosed with one or both of these diseases. Call your vet if you observe a sudden onset of blindness, preceded by weight loss, excessive drinking and urinating, vomiting, change in appetite and an elevated heart rate. These are symptoms of kidney failure and hyperthyroidism.
Treatment
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Unhealthy blood pressure in felines is treated by addressing the underlying cause or disease. Discuss the option of blood pressure medications with your veterinarian if your cat's blood pressure does not return to a healthy range after the underlying cause has been dealt with. According to the Long Beach Animal Hospital, a lower sodium diet could help your cat if he has high blood pressure, although there is no scientific evidence to support this theory.
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- Photo Credit Sally at the Vet (Flickr Photo/theogeo)
