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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

My cat is in hospital

45 replies

Gettingbysomehow · 06/12/2023 12:18

My cat is in the veterinary hospital 3 hours drive away for 3 weeks.
She is having radioactive iodine treatment for her thyroid which will cure her problem.
But I miss her so desperately. She is a velcro cat and always on my knee,
The kitten is even worse she is going round the house wailing and looking for the older cats, she is looking for her in all the cupboards. She will not be consoles.
It's awful 😪

OP posts:
HappyHamsters · 06/12/2023 12:32

Oh dear, poor you. Can you visit her in hospital or try and set up a video call so you can see her, with the kitten can you put her on older cats blanket, plug in feliways, extra cuddles they are so special and she will be home soon.

Jasmin1971 · 06/12/2023 13:20

Hugs

Toddlerteaplease · 06/12/2023 18:18

Hopefully she's home with you soon! The house is so quiet without them.

Original poster
Gettingbysomehow · 12/12/2023 12:39

Well it's been a week and a half and there is a possibility that she may be able to come home on Friday if her radiation levels are low enough.
I can't take any more of the kittens carry on, kitten has never been alone before without another cat and doesn't like it one bit. If I look at a cat video she comes running, if she hears a cat outside she is out after it, she sits by the cat flap looking mournful. Its horrendous.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 12/12/2023 13:27

Fingers crossed. Be prepared for some bidding and spitting. As your other cat will smell different.

RosesAndHellebores · 12/12/2023 13:31

Crikey. When humans have it,nits a quick drink and no close contact with other humans for a few days. Poor cat

lovelybouclecardi · 12/12/2023 13:32

My cat had that treatment. I was worried about her but she came back a completely different puss, hyperthyroidism cured. They rang me every day, so much so I started avoiding the calls because there's only so much you can say about a cat who is perfectly well just radioactive!

CrunchyCarrot · 12/12/2023 13:36

Awwww hang in there, she'll soon be home with you again. Maybe she will glow in the dark! Just kidding!

One of my now long gone kitties had hyperthyroidism but fortunately didn't need that isolation treatment, it was managed with carbimazole. It would be very hard not seeing them for so long!

SomeoneYouLoved · 12/12/2023 13:43

Cats do miss one another, l had two young cats and one sadly died whilst being spayed at the vets. It was heart breaking to see how the other one reacted. They had separation anxiety If not together. After a while I got another young pair of kittens and it worked out really well, we are almost two years on now and the three of them are extremely close.
People automatically think cats are loners but this isn't always the case.
Good luck with your cats and hopefully they will be back together very soon. It's really difficult watching them search continuously and calling out for the abscent one.

SunnieShine · 12/12/2023 13:53

I really feel for you and your kitten, I would miss my cat like crazy too. Fingers crossed she is back home where she belongs soon. x

Original poster
Gettingbysomehow · 12/12/2023 14:09

RosesAndHellebores · 12/12/2023 13:31

Crikey. When humans have it,nits a quick drink and no close contact with other humans for a few days. Poor cat

I know right!!! I'm an ex nurse. Its a far smaller dose and I really cannot see how she will be glowing like a nuclear reactor after such a small dose. They want her to be isolated for a further 2 weeks when she comes home. It seems crackers to me. And poo to be collected in my shed for 6 weeks before being disposed of 😮

OP posts:
Original poster
Gettingbysomehow · 12/12/2023 14:11

lovelybouclecardi · 12/12/2023 13:32

My cat had that treatment. I was worried about her but she came back a completely different puss, hyperthyroidism cured. They rang me every day, so much so I started avoiding the calls because there's only so much you can say about a cat who is perfectly well just radioactive!

Well let's hope no spiders or flies crawled into her cubicle while she was radioactive 😂

OP posts:
lovelybouclecardi · 12/12/2023 14:14

The kids thought the whole developing superpowers thing was a huge joke. The only superpower she has is being able to sense when I'm about to sit down so she can pester me for a head scratch and steal my warmth.

Catsmere · 13/12/2023 01:56

Hope she's home soon, OP!

Original poster
Gettingbysomehow · 15/12/2023 20:53

I brought her home today. Her bloods show everything is normal. The other cat saw her and went crazy miaowing and rubbing up against her. Then they ran round the house a few times and started playing. It was adorable. The young cat is giddy with happiness.
Then I had to put her in the spare toom for two more weeks of isolation. They are now both miaowing like crazy either side of the door trying to reach each other. But at least she is home 🙄

OP posts:
Catsmere · 15/12/2023 20:56

So glad to hear that, @Gettingbysomehow !

CrunchyCarrot · 16/12/2023 11:03

Awwwww! That's great news OP! 😻

Lonecatwithkitten · 17/12/2023 08:35

RosesAndHellebores · 12/12/2023 13:31

Crikey. When humans have it,nits a quick drink and no close contact with other humans for a few days. Poor cat

It's health and safety at work when it's a human it's felt the risk of exposing other humans is acceptable compared to the disadvantage of shutting the human away. Though I believe you are told not to cuddle children etc.
When it's a cat it's felt the risk to humans is felt unacceptable particularly as cats are notorious for not being able to follow non-cuddling rules.

Original poster
Gettingbysomehow · 17/12/2023 15:20

They have been singing the song of their people all morning either side of the door. They are doing my head in. I let them have half an hour contact which the hospital said was ok.

OP posts:
Jasmin1971 · 18/12/2023 12:10

I am so glad she is home xx

Toddlerteaplease · 23/12/2023 21:49

@BiggerBrighterBetter.

BiggerBrighterBetter · 23/12/2023 21:57

@Gettingbysomehow my cat has just been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and I'm currently weighing up the different treatment options. How has it been since you brought her home? I don't have a spare bedroom so would have to put mine in the living room which isn't ideal. She also has real attachment issues and I'm worried about her being away so long.

Did you consider the operation at all?

Sorry to ask so many questions, I'm finding it stressful trying to make the right decision

purpleme12 · 23/12/2023 22:01

I'd do either the radioactive treatment like OP or the medicine (in our case thyronorm).
I wouldn't choose the operation.
Radioactive treatment cheaper in the long term (unless the cat is really old in the first place maybe).

They sound like such lovely cats OP.
I feel so bad for you waiting!

BiggerBrighterBetter · 24/12/2023 03:48

@purpleme12 why wouldn't you choose the operation?

crimsonlake · 13/02/2024 17:25

BiggerBrighterBetter - can I ask what treatment you decided to go with in the end as I am in the same position.
Initial blood test at £267 including consultation, we now have one months worth of medication. Second blood test in four weeks is going to cost another £245. I was already still in shock from the first blood test charge.
My cat is 17 years old and appears in good health apart from the weight loss.
The cost of repeated testing and medication is going to add up quicky, however I was quoted £2,500 for the iodine treatment.