Dear friend,

Early diagnosis of high blood pressure (hypertension, HT) can be difficult in cats due to the lack of routine blood pressure (BP) screening/availability of necessary technology and the “white coat syndrome” that occurs in many cats in the hospital setting.

White coat syndrome refers to situations in which patients have normal BP but undergo elevations of BP due to excitement when they are in the hospital setting. White coat syndrome is very common in both cats and people.

Given the potentially negative impacts of HT on the heart, kidneys, eyes, and central nervous system of affected cats, early identification of and intervention in HT in cats is an important part of preventive feline medicine.

To address this issue, a recent study analyzed the urine and plasma (the liquid part of blood that is obtained when cells like red blood cells and white blood cells are removed) from cats with normal BP, cats with HT, and HT cats receiving antihypertensive therapy (high blood pressure medication) for certain molecules that result from the breakdown of other molecules during metabolism (metabolites) to determine whether this type of analysis can distinguish healthy cats from HT cats.

The results of this study have important implications for the future of HT diagnosis and management in cats, and here at the Cornell Feline Health Center, we are focused on keeping our cat-loving partners up to date on new developments such as this.

If you would like to receive more in-depth monthly feline health updates, including the results of important studies like this, please consider joining us as a  supporting member. 

We encourage you to reference the health topics section on our website to assist you with providing the best care for your feline friend. If there is a topic that you don’t see and you would like us to address, please let us know by sending us an email at FHC@Cornell.edu.

Stay tuned for more updates and tips on feline health!

Warm purrs,

The Cornell Feline Health Center Team

H5N1 (Bird Flu) in raw cat food - Update

The FDA released a statement on September 3rd, 2025, notifying pet owners of a case in San Francisco in which a cat that consumed RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats (Lot CCS 25 093) became ill with signs consistent with HPAI infection and was subsequently euthanized.  

The Cornell Feline Health Center has information on how to keep your cat safe, including recalls on raw pet food diets at the link below.

New hope and compassionate care for animal patients in pain - The Comparative Pain Program is now available at Cornell University Hospital for Animals

The goal of the new Comparative Pain Program is to offer unique treatment for pets with chronic pain or severe acute pain, while contributing to research that will advance our understanding of pain, test novel drug treatments and generally advance animal and human health. 

Advancements in pain management wouldn’t be possible without dedicated research. Thanks to financial support provided by the Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center and the Cornell Feline Health Center, such groundbreaking studies are making meaningful strides toward improving the lives of the pets we hold so dear. You can learn more about this exciting program and how it has already helped patients here at Cornell at the link below. 

If you would like to make a donation in support of this (and the many other) important health initiative(s) supported by our Centers, please visit the Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center and/or the Cornell Feline Health Center websites today.   

Are you taking advantage of your member benefits? 

 Unique among the many valuable benefits of membership we offer are our exclusive webinars tailored toward both veterinary professionals and the cat loving public. These quarterly live webinars, presented by senior residents from the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, discuss the latest in cutting edge research and clinical care of cats in language that is understandable to each of these member groups.  You can take a glimpse at the video below for a sneak peek at these valuable membership offerings.  

The Cornell Feline Health Center is a nonprofit organization, and we rely upon partnership with cat-lovers like you to fund the health studies, educational efforts, and outreach activities that are at the core of our mission. One of the simplest, most effective ways you can help is by becoming a supporting member of our team. 

Interested in learning more about the benefits of membership? >>>

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