If your cat is getting older, you probably already know to ask about weight, teeth, kidneys, and thyroid levels. Here is one more simple question to add to the list: “Can we check her blood pressure?”

That question matters because high blood pressure in cats is easy to miss from the couch at home. A cat may eat, nap, and act mostly normal while pressure is quietly stressing the eyes, kidneys, heart, or brain. By the time an owner notices sudden blindness, disorientation, weakness, or other scary signs, the problem may already be advanced.

A recent FDA approval is a good reminder that feline blood pressure deserves a regular place in senior-cat care. On April 29, 2026, the FDA approved Amodip, a chewable amlodipine tablet for controlling systemic hypertension in cats. The approval does not mean every older cat needs medicine. It does mean the condition is common and important enough that cat owners should know to ask about screening, monitoring, and follow-up.

Why older cats are different

High blood pressure in cats is often tied to another health problem. Cornell’s Feline Health Center notes that chronic kidney disease is the most common underlying condition associated with feline hypertension, and that cats with kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, or heart disease should have their blood pressure monitored regularly.

That is why a blood pressure check is especially worth discussing if your cat is 7 or older, has lost weight, drinks more, has kidney values your veterinarian is watching, has thyroid disease, seems confused at night, or has any sudden vision change. International feline hypertension guidelines recommend at least annual blood pressure monitoring for healthy senior cats ages 7–10, and every 6–12 months for healthy geriatric cats 11 and older. Cats with risk factors may need checks more often.

Those age cutoffs are not meant to worry you. They are meant to make care more practical. A senior cat’s wellness visit is not just a vaccine stop. It is a chance to collect small numbers — weight, body condition, lab trends, and sometimes blood pressure — before your cat is in crisis.

What the test is like

A cat blood pressure check is not dramatic. It is usually done with a small cuff on the leg or tail while your cat rests as calmly as possible. The tricky part is that cats can run high at the clinic simply because they are stressed — the feline version of “white coat” blood pressure.

Good veterinary teams know this. Cornell recommends taking measurements before more stressful procedures, in a quiet room, after the cat has had 5–10 minutes to settle in. Sometimes your veterinarian may repeat the reading on another day before calling it true hypertension, unless your cat has clear signs or a known risk factor.

That is one reason a trusted local veterinary team matters. A practice that knows your cat can compare today’s number with past visits, notice whether the carrier ride was unusually stressful, and help you make a plan that fits your cat instead of treating one number in isolation.

Ask for the number, not just “fine”

You do not need to become a medical expert. But it is reasonable to ask, “What was her systolic blood pressure?” and “Do we need to recheck it?” Cornell describes readings below 150 mmHg as low risk, readings over 180 mmHg as high risk, and the 150–180 range as mild or moderate hypertension. Your veterinarian will interpret those numbers in context, including stress level, eye exam findings, kidney values, thyroid results, and your cat’s overall health.

If your cat is diagnosed with hypertension, the next step is usually not just a prescription. Your veterinarian may recommend bloodwork, urinalysis, thyroid testing, eye evaluation, or follow-up pressure checks to look for an underlying cause and protect organs. The FDA notes that cats treated with Amodip should have blood pressure monitored regularly, and bloodwork watched early in treatment for possible kidney or liver value changes.

The cost conversation to have early

Blood pressure screening is also a cost-awareness issue. Emergency care for sudden blindness, neurologic signs, or advanced kidney complications can be frightening and expensive. A planned senior visit gives you more room to ask for an estimate, prioritize tests, and understand what is urgent versus what can be staged.

Try this at your cat’s next appointment:

  • “Is my cat old enough for routine blood pressure checks?”
  • “Does her kidney, thyroid, or heart status make blood pressure more important?”
  • “What number did you get today?”
  • “Could stress have affected the reading?”
  • “When should we recheck it?”
  • “If treatment is needed, what monitoring should I budget for?”

Independent local vets are often at their best in exactly this kind of ongoing care: knowing the patient, explaining the tradeoffs, and helping you avoid surprises. If you want to support privately owned veterinary medicine, bring your senior cat in before there is an emergency — and ask for the blood pressure number while you are there.