Anyone else have a hyperthyroid cat?

[CatOfTheDay]

My nearly 14 year old cat is off to the vets in a couple of hours.

She first started showing symptoms earlier this year - diarrhoea and weight loss despite eating loads. Since then she's been on Vidalta every other day. She had a bit of a bad reaction at first, but after a short break on the vets advice we continued and it's seemed to work. Until now!

She can't seem to keep the pills down anymore - on pill nights she's fine for a couple of hours then up comes whatever food she's had and a semi-digested pill! She isn't sick on the alternate nights when she doesn't have the pill.

We're hoping there's an alternative medication she can take, but I'm also wondering about the possibility of surgery.

Does anyone else have any experience?

The new vet now has the notes from the old vet, and thinks the levels on her last tests aren't consistent with how she is now (still losing weight despite the Vidalta staying down for a while, and her Thyroxine levels were only slightly above normal then)- so wants to do full bloods and the T4 test again. So Motley's booked in on Monday - getting worried it may be something more serious :(

Best to know, CatOfTheDay, whatever the situation. Then you can treat it if there's a problem.

Best of luck on Monday.

My 19 year old lady has been on Felimazole for about 3 years now. During that time the dose has been adjusted following blood tests and she is now on 2 a day. She seems to enjoy life and seem happy.

I've never been offered any other options from the 2 different vets she's seen during this time but she seems okay on it. Had I known about surgery when my cat was younger I would have plumped for that, but she's probably too old now. She also has high blood pressure and is on medication for that.

She does vomit from time to time and if it becomes to frequent seems to be linked with the need to increase her medication, which definitely helps.

Nessalina: please check with your vet about crushing your cats' pills You don't say what your cats are on but I know that you must not crush Felimazole as apparently it can be harmful for the person administering it.

Nessalina - Pigs is right. You should check with your vet about crushing the tablets. As well as being harmful to humans if handled when broken, they are a slow release medication, so not effective unless swallowed whole.

Motley was very brave for her blood tests. She's put on 0.03kg. :)

I have to ring tomorrow for the results - then back again Wednesday morning with our young rescue cat who has the shits!
(Well, he HAD the shits - until this evening when I have to get a sample, now he just won't go!)

Until then I am chasing cats round with sample jars. I need to get some wee from Motley too - I have some plastic balls to put in a litter tray to catch it, so she can spend tomorrow in a room by herself I think (with special food as a treat!)

Bumping to see if anyone with hyperthyroid cats need any Vidalta - I have about a month's supply (maybe more) left and I'm happy to send it on. I don't think Motley will want any more! :)

Hi again! Wolfiecat has seemed fine on the pills. (Sick once but then she is occasionally sick.)
Back to see the vet next week. I'm sure she's put on weight. I'm sure they will retest and then want to discuss staying on tablets, op or diet.

Good luck Wolfiecat! :)

My 15yr old cat has an overactive thyroid and has been on Felimazole for a month, no trouble. Last week the dose was increased to 2 tablets daily. She (Stella)has been distressed by having 2 tablets shoved down her throat, so today I got some Felimazole in GEL form - it is applied to the ear, and is absorbed into the blood stream. I'll start that tomorrow and see how she gets on.