Cat Chat Feline Forum

Let me run something past you. A 10+ years cat, Seemingly ever hungry (but picky at the same time), losing weight, shedding coat (a lot), prefers an outside window-ledge to a place by the fire and has frequent attacks of 'the zoomies' - racing around like a looney. Hyperthyroidism?

I'm talking about Tommy. We did think the pickiness and weight loss (not dramatic, just a loss of 'tone') was down to teeth problems as he doesn't like food he has to chew too much. When he had his recent jabs and healthcheck, our vet said he needed dental work 'soon'. Last autumn was an expensive time for us kitty-wise. So we said we would let our bank account heal. We are now at a point we can book him in for his teeth. But over the weekend I started to wonder.

I will ask the vet what he thinks and get a blood test. But I would value the opinions of the 'experts' out there. I need to know if I'm going to have to kiss goodbye to my new shed - AGAIN!

One of these days I'll open the door and just be left holding the latch as the rest of it crumbles to matchwood. Everytime I have a few pounds saved, the health of one of the cats takes priority - either that or something drops off the car!

It does sound like some of the symptoms of hyperT. Lily was much the same, and your boy's about the right age for this. The only way you'll know for sure is blood tests, so get them done when you take him in for his teeth. Some vets just manually check the thruyoid glands, but that's not reliable, so do ask for a blood test.

certainly sounds like HyperT

but medication doesn't cost the earth, though the condition does require fairly regular vet visits for bloods, especially early on, whilst the right dosage needs sorting

Thanks for your replies. I've been reading up about it and the pieces seem to fit.

I have just finished cleaning the house and have sat down to have something to eat. Tommy came around the corner and I said 'hello there little man'. He looked at me and promptly threw-up! I can't be cross with him but, honestly, I do feel like I'm painting the Forth Bridge sometimes.

He is nodding in the sunshine now and seems content. He seemed more surprised than distressed, so I think I might book him in early next week and take it from there.

Thanks for your help, I'll let you know how he goes on.

Sorry, I've no experience of thyroid conditions, from what I'd read I suspected my old Minnie, and Pugwash when I got him, might have it but blood tests said not. Hope he's OK.

I feel for the shed, I've an old 1950s Ford Popular that I keep meaning to get on the road, but Daz's urinary problems and then the move have meant it's still mouldering in the garage!

IT sounds a lot like hyper-t, but I'd get him bloodtested before his dental, as doing a dental on a hyper-t cat is very risky, and most vets want to get the levels down first

Thanks for that booktigger, I had not considered that. I would have thought it important to get his teeth sorted to get him eating again. But then the weight loss might be more to do with the hyper-T than his teeth?


Helen - I told my OH about your Ford Poplar. He got very excited and said, 'Oooh, that's nice, tell her I'll fix it for her.' I think he forgets the mileage involved - but the offer is there!

Offer appreciated .......

You might find that they will want to do a blood test before a dental anyway, my vets like to do that before a dental or GA for senior kittizens.

Ah yes, our dear cats.

Our very very dear cats!

Good luck to Tommy - and hope you get your shed

I was thinking the same as Crewella, I would presume the bloods will be done anyway. My vets have always done full bloods before dentals as routine. On senior cats e.g. they also need to check kidneys in case a drip is needed during ops.

Janey wrote:I was thinking the same as Crewella, I would presume the bloods will be done anyway. My vets have always done full bloods before dentals as routine. On senior cats e.g. they also need to check kidneys in case a drip is needed during ops.

Vets will offer bloods before a dental, but not all can do thyroid in house, and as it is risky doing a dental on a hyper -t cat due to the extra strain on the heart, personally I would get bloods done separately and early so that if he is, you can start medicating to get his levels down to make a dental safer.

booktigger wrote:
Vets will offer bloods before a dental, but not all can do thyroid in house, and as it is risky doing a dental on a hyper -t cat due to the extra strain on the heart, personally I would get bloods done separately and early so that if he is, you can start medicating to get his levels down to make a dental safer.

I've had quite a few hyperthyroid cats (including myself lol) and my vet doesn't do thyroid or any bloods in house (as in the clinic) but at the main surgery, but will get them all done before dentals/ops.

I don't know if you remember Desley but when I first adopted my Pepper he was hyperthyroid and needed a dental badly, and they still did the dental but they did all the bloods first, got his thyroid level down, of course, then did the op. He was also on a drip for his kidneys - and the op went very well

Lily was very pukey until we got her thyroid levels sorted. She hasn't done it for so long I can't remember now. And she was skinny. And bonkers. And yowly. And horrible fur. A cat only a mother could love!

Your boy will feel so much better once the condition is under control (assuming the bloods confirm it is HyperT of course!). It can be a bit trial and error with the meds, as some can make them dopey or pukey again, but Lily is now fine on Vidalta, once we got the doses right. You'll need to go back for repeat bloods for a while to get the levels right, and periodic checks, as the condition can change. Lily eventually had both glands out, after which she went Hypothyroid (not enough thyroxine, so very dopey), but eventually grew her own new thyroid glands in her chest cavity, which went into overdrive, (typical Lily!), so she's on meds for life, but doing ok on them, 7 years after first diagnosis.

My understanding is that the hyper T test isn't included in the 'routine' pre-op tests. It's something that needs to be done separately.

Just want to say, I know your shed may be in tatters but your heart is sound....
Bless you for caring...

Eliz x

Just an update on Tommy. I took him into the vets this morning. It was a real struggle getting him in the crate and when we got there he was hyperventilating and growling at the same time - REALLY stressed.

Louis, the vet is going to do a full blood test and let me know the results before they do anything. He did say that IF the tests were OK and Tom was up to it, it might be an idea to do his teeth now rather than stressing him out with another visit.

We are lucky that our vet, (which may be in another country) has all the facilities to hand, with no need to 'send away' for tests.

I'm just looking at a photo of Tom, fast asleep on the car roof, with his full Cheshire Cat face. It makes me realise just how much weight he has lost! Really hope the old man will be OK.

That does sound like a sensible plan, but you must be sitting by the phone chewing your nails. I hope he's OK, and it's all over and done with quickly. All paws here crossed for you both. xx

Well he is back home, a little groggy but OK, considering. The good news is there is nothing wrong with his Thyroid. The bad news is it's his kidneys.

He is anaemic and he has Chronic Kidney Disease. We are going back tomorrow to collect meds. and to talk about diet etc.

So now I'm asking all you lovely folks out there for your advice on management of his condition and things to look out for.

It puts things into perspective. Now I don't mind if I EVER get a new shed, as long as my boy has a happy life, however long or short that is.

Poor Tommy, though several of my oldies pottered along for a few more years after being diagnosed with dodgy kidneys. The renal diets do work, if Tommy will eat them - I'm guessing your vet will recommend that. Never had a cat with aenemia.

Let us know how the chat went today, and give him a fuss from me. Hopefully he's brighter today?