Objective This study aimed to observe the dynamic variation of blood lipids and the pathological features of cardiovascular complications induced by a high-fat diet in a new type of hyperlipidemia-susceptible (WSHc)rats, and to provide a reference for the application of WSHc rats. Methods Twenty female WSHc rats and 10 Wistar rats,aged 7-8 weeks, were fed with a high-fat diet. Another 10 WSHc and Wistar rats of the same age and sex were given a normal diet as a control group. Dynamic changes of blood lipids in the rats were observed at 2, 4, 8,12, and 16 weeks.After feeding for 16 weeks, the cardiac function of the rats in each group was tested using a cardiac ultrasound, and pathological changes of the heart and aorta were observed by histopathology. Results After 2 weeks of the high-fat diet feeding, the serum total cholesterol (TC) of WSHc and Wistar rats was significantly higher than that of the control group.The levels of TC and LDL-c in high-fat-diet-fed WSHc rats were (6. 34±2. 12) and (2. 56±0. 94) mmol/ L, while the levels in the Wistar rats fed with high fat diet were only (2. 93±0. 23) and (0. 63±0. 12) mmol/ L, respectively; during high-fat diet feeding, the TC of WSHc rats remained at a high level. After 16 weeks of high-fat diet intervention, the cardiac ejection fraction of the WSHc rats was increased. Furthermore, the left ventricular wall was thickened, and myocardial fibrosis occurred. Additionally, the aortic intima was thickened, and the arrangement of elastic fibers was disordered, forming early atherosclerotic lesions. However, lesions and cardiovascular disease were not apparent in the Wistar rats after the high-fat diet. Conclusions WSHc rats are sensitive to exogenous cholesterol, and are prone to hyperlipidemia and related cardiovascular complications after high-fat diet feeding. Additionally, the TC and LDL-c levels are close to those in clinical hyperlipidemia. Compared with normal rats, they are more suitable for studying hyperlipidemia and related cardiovascular complications.