Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure – a common condition in senior cats. Feline hypertension is often seen as a complication of other underlying medical conditions (known as ‘secondary hypertension’) such as chronic kidney disease and hyperthyroidism. Occasionally, hypertension occurs without any other disease being diagnosed.

Hypertension is damaging to your cat’s body. The most serious effects can be seen in the: 

Eyes – bleeding into the eyes and changes to the retina may damage your cat’s sight and even cause blindness 

Brain and nervous system – bleeding can cause neurological (nervous system) signs such as unusual behaviour, a wobbly or drunken gait, seizures (fits), dementia and coma 

Heart – over time, the heart muscle becomes thickened in cats with hypertension, and in severe cases, it can lead to heart disease. Breathlessness and lethargy/tiredness can also be seen in affected cats 

Kidneys – high blood pressure damages the kidneys and may increase the risk of kidney disease developing. In cats with kidney disease, hypertension is likely to worsen the disease over time

As hypertension is often seen as an effect of other diseases, cats with hypertension may be showing signs related to their underlying problem. For example, in hyperthyroid cats with high blood pressure, weight loss (despite eating more than usual) and hyperactivity may be the main signs of illness.

In most cats, there are no signs of hypertension until the condition is advanced, causing eye problems that can lead to sudden blindness. Making an early diagnosis can help to minimise or prevent the damaging effects of high blood pressure on the eyes and other organs.  

Where signs of hypertension are present, they can include: 

Depression 

Lethargy/tiredness 

Becoming withdrawn 

Bumping into objects 

Changes inside the eye, e.g. bleeding 

Blindness

The most common cause of secondary hypertension in cats is chronic kidney disease. It can also be seen secondary to other diseases, such as hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) in cats.

How your vet will diagnose hypertension
Measuring blood pressure only takes a few minutes using an inflatable cuff placed around one of your cat’s legs or tail. It is completely pain-free and is well tolerated by most cats. Your vet will also examine your cat’s eyes and is likely to take a blood sample to test for underlying disease.  

How is hypertension in cats treated? 
Hypertension is treated using drugs to lower your cat’s blood pressure. If your cat has an underlying disease (e.g. hyperthyroidism), this will also need to be treated, and doing so may resolve the high blood pressure. 

Ongoing Care
Your cat’s response to treatment will need to be monitored regularly. This will include repeat blood pressure measurements, along with blood and urine tests, if another disease is suspected.

What’s the outlook for cats with hypertension? 
In cats with primary hypertension (where there’s no underlying disease that has caused high blood pressure), it’s usually possible to manage the condition and prevent future complications such as damage to the eyes. 

In cats with secondary hypertension, the long-term outlook depends on how severe the disease that caused the high blood pressure is. 

Ah, the age-old question of why our feline companions indulge in a spot of greenery! It's a curiosity that has perplexed the minds of scientists for quite some time. However, a recent investigation may have finally unravelled this peculiar habit. But before we delve into these novel findings, allow me to recount some of the more established theories surrounding this feline idiosyncrasy.

One long-held notion posits a nutritional imperative. It has been suggested that felines consume grass to supplement deficiencies in their diet, perhaps lacking certain vital nutrients or enzymes. While it is true that grass contains folic acid, the notion that cats possess an innate understanding of this need remains open to debate.

Another prevalent theory centres on the relief of gastric discomfort. We have all observed, I am sure, the subsequent regurgitation following a cat's verdant indulgence. This has led some to believe that cats possess an intuitive understanding of grass as an emetic, employing it strategically after consuming something disagreeable or when feeling generally unwell.

Furthermore, the possibility of a natural laxative effect has been considered. Grass, being rather fibrous, might indeed aid in easing constipation or facilitating the expulsion of those rather unpleasant hairballs.

However, recent research from the  University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine has shed new light on this behaviour. An online survey encompassing over a thousand cat owners, meticulously documenting their cats' proclivity for consuming grass and other flora, yielded some fascinating insights. The findings, presented at the annual gathering of the International Society for Applied Ethology in Bergen, Norway, during the summer of 2019, revealed that the consumption of plant material is remarkably common amongst our feline friends. Indeed, a significant 71 percent of the cats surveyed had nibbled on plants at least six times in their lives, with a substantial 61 percent having done so on ten or more separate occasions.

Intriguingly, the study also revealed that the vast majority of these botanical excursions – a remarkable 91 percent – were preceded by behaviour deemed normal, with no apparent signs of illness. Moreover, of all the cats observed to partake in plant matter, only approximately 27 percent exhibited frequent vomiting thereafter.
Based on these compelling results, the researchers have proposed a revised hypothesis. Rather than a self-medicating response to an upset stomach, they now surmise that this behaviour may be an instinctive act, serving to rid the animals of troublesome intestinal parasites. This is a behaviour observed in their wild carnivorous cousins, as well as in primates. The ingestion of vegetation may well trigger the digestive tract to physically expel these unwelcome inhabitants.

Regardless of the precise underlying motivation, it is clear that many cats do, with some regularity, partake in a grassy repast. This naturally leads one to question whether such behaviour should be a cause for concern.

The answer is nuanced. While grass itself is not inherently dangerous to felines – indeed, the right sort of grass can even be a perfectly safe and nutritious little snack – the potential danger lies in what may reside upon that verdant blade. Lawn fertilisers, weed killers, pesticides, and other chemical treatments commonly employed in our gardens can pose a significant threat to our feline companions, even in minuscule quantities.

Therefore, should your cat engage in a spot of lawn grazing, it would be prudent to observe them closely for any signs of ill health. This is particularly important if you employ any chemical treatments on your lawn, be it fertiliser, herbicides (weed killers), or pesticides.

Should your cat vomit after their grassy interlude, do make a mental note of the frequency. It would be wise to consult your veterinarian if the vomiting persists, or if they exhibit any other concerning symptoms such as diarrhoea, a loss of appetite, lethargy, seizures, tremors, foaming at the mouth, or any other indication of illness.
Finally, while grass itself may not be a cause for alarm, it is crucial to remember that many other plants are highly toxic to cats. Felines with a penchant for grass might also be tempted to sample our houseplants and floral arrangements, which can, regrettably, have fatal consequences.

Some plants cause mild issues in cats, like mouth irritation or stomach upset; others can cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea, seizures, kidney failure, and death.
Many plants and flowers are toxic to cats, but some of the most dangerous include all types of lilies, autumn crocus, azaleas, rhododendrons, oleander, cyclamen, and daffodils. Keep only non-toxic plants, greenery, and flowers in your home.
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If you suspect your cat may have eaten part of a toxic plant or flower, or even just licked water from the vase of a dangerous plant, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison-control hotline immediately.

These antenna-like growths, mostly on your cat’s face, do indeed serve as a sort of antenna, detecting things in the world around your cat. Here are eight fun facts about this intriguing feline body part.

Two dozen: Cats have about 12 whiskers on each side of their face.

Location, location, location: Most of a cat’s whiskers sprout from the facial pads on each side of the nose. But cats also have a few on their foreheads, and at the bottom of their legs near the paws.

Keratin: The protein called keratin–the same substance that makes up a cat’s claw sheaths– makes up whiskers, which scientifically are called vibrissae.

Super sensitive: Whiskers are so sensitive that they can detect tiny environmental changes, along with tiny specks of dust and dander. This lets cats shake their heads to ward off debris before it reaches their eyes.

Mum cats trim their kittens: Mother cats, fiercely protective of their babies, often chew on a kitten’s whiskers to shorten them. This protects the kittens from exploring too much before they are ready.

Multi-sensory: A cat’s whiskers are sensitive to four things: vibrations, sound, air pressure, and touch. This is why you should feed cats from wide and not too deep bowls; otherwise, their whiskers rub against the sides of the bowls, which can be irritating.

Proportional size: Bigger cats tend to have bigger whiskers. And the whiskers grow with them, whether from growth as kittens mature or growth as a cat gains weight.

Delicate: Whiskers are embedded in the skin three times deeper than the hair, and pulling on them would cause discomfort for your cat. And never cut whiskers for any reason: That would cause the cat pain!

The tail is an extension of the spine: while the human spine stops at our pelvis, in animals, including cats, the spine continues backwards for another 18 to 23 small bones, or 20 to 30cm.

The average female cat’s tail measures 25cm (10 inches), and the average male cat’s tail measures 28cm (11 inches), with larger breeds like Maine Coons having tails up to 40cm (16 inches) long. The tail can be narrow (in smaller, short-haired cats) or it can be thicker (in larger, long-haired cats like Persians).

The bones of the tail are covered in layers of connective tissue, blood vessels, muscle, skin, and fur. The tail has a rich supply of nerves, giving cats the ability to make their tail move in small and large ways. A cat’s tail can twitch or quiver almost invisibly, or it can move like a whip to strike with strength.

Domestic cats use their tails in a range of different ways to communicate with other cats and with humans.

Cat tail language can tell you about a cat’s moods, emotions, and intentions, allowing you to understand and predict a cat’s behaviour. The movement of the tail can tell you as much as a purr, a meow or a yowl.

A tail can move in an almost infinite range of combinations of movements, but the following tail positions are the most common ways that a cat may use their tail to communicate.

What does it mean when a cat’s tail is up? When a cat holds their tail straight up vertically, this is a friendly invitation to engage: anatomically speaking, the cat is exposing their anal sac region, inviting other cats to sniff this area as a type of intimate social engagement.

Sometimes the tip of the tail may be curled, creating a characteristic question-mark appearance.

Pet owners can relax when cats approach them with their tail high in this position: it’s a friendly greeting. Your cat is saying, “I’m your feline friend”. A question mark tail may be accompanied by purring.

If a cat uses their tail to wrap around your leg, or perhaps another cat’s tail, this is a sign of close affection.

At a biological level, a cat’s tail includes scent glands, so the tail is used to swap scents with other creatures. This is similar to head-pressing and cheek-rubbing, and it’s as if the cat is petting you, in the same way as you pet them when you want to engage.

Flicking the tip of the tail is a sign that a cat is feeling irritated or fascinated by something. Cat owners should scan the cat’s environment to see if they can spot the source of the cat’s attention. This can be a sign of early annoyance if there is a threat to a cat in the vicinity, or a sign of playfulness if there is a toy close by.

When a cat wags their tail (moving the tail rhythmically from side to side), they are expressing ambivalence about what to do. If they could talk, they would be saying, “I am not sure about this”.

So if a cat is in confrontation with another cat, the tail wags as if to say “will I attack or will I run away?” If a cat is stalking prey, their tail will switch from side to side before they pounce: the message is “will I keep moving slowly or will I leap on them now?”. A tail wag can be a prelude to pouncing, or a cat may back away after due consideration.

A lashing or swishing tail is similar to a wagging tail, but with more speed and strength, like a whip. This indicates a higher level of emotion and a prelude to more dramatic action.

It also acts as a warning to other cats (and people) not to come any closer. If a cat lashing their tail is approached, or if other cats (or people) do not back off from a cat that is lashing their tail, the cat is likely to attack. The cat will often use vocalisation to reinforce the lashing tail, with a yowl or a loud meow to add to the warning.

When a cat is crouched with their tail wrapped around themselves, this is like humans standing with their arms folded. The message is “I am contented here by myself, and I don’t need any engagement”.