In humans, hypertension is related to several factors, including a stressful lifestyle. Although not all causes of feline hypertension have been identified, stress does not appear to play a role in the development of this disorder in cats. However, kidney, thyroid, and heart disease are known to cause feline hypertension and will be described in detail.
Visual abnormalities are the most common clinical findings with feline hypertension.
These abnormalities can include dilated pupils which do not constrict with light, blood within the chamber of the eye, and blindness. Blindness develops because high blood pressure in the eye causes the retina to detach. These cats run into objects in their path because most of them have no vision at all. Some cats will also have neurological signs such as seizures, vocalizing, paresis or paralysis. In some cases, hypertension is suspected because of a heart murmur or kidney-related signs, such as increased water intake or urination.