Anybody have a cat with thyroid problems?

FlorayG · 8 Oct 20, 07:18 AM

The last 4+ weeks Little Lily has been constantly hungry. As I'm working from home I'm able to feed her 6 times a day and she's eating about twice as much as she normally would and not putting on weight. I read this is often a symptom of overactive thyroid
She's 19 though and I'm a bit loathe to put an old lady (in her equivalent late 90's to humans) through a trip to the vets and examination and all that while she feels absolutely fine.
So I thought I would ask here first - if you have a thyroid cat what were the symptoms, how was it diagnosed? Did your cat get poorly?
It's quite a long drive to our vet and she hates the car. If it wasn't for COVID I would happily pay the callout fee for the vet to come to me but they're not doing home visits.

**Disney Bear** · 8 Oct 20, 07:40 AM

My cat was diagnosed with this - they had to take a blood test. He was eating very well too. They said he could also have other issues which this problem could be masking. They said we could have tablets or gel - we went for the gel you rub on his ears but to get the dose right we started small and he had a blood test even month - took four months to get to the actual amounted need. He�s 20 and hates cat journeys but there is no other way to be sure and get the medication. You may be lucky and if she only needs a small amount of medication you might get the right dose in only two trips. This was over a year ago.

One think to do is weigh her daily and see if she is stable, losing or adding weight. A healthy cat should be stable, a thyroid cat might be losing weight - although ours was minimal - it was a lose despite eating a lot!

lovedisney · 8 Oct 20, 07:55 AM

My sisters cat had this recently she became very ill quite quickly. I would take your cats to the vets if possible, I think there is medication they can have,

Elmhurst 5 · 8 Oct 20, 12:37 PM

Get your cat to the Vets asap

Wismgari · 8 Oct 20, 03:48 PM

My cat is on meds for his thyroid. It presented as intense hunger and weightloss. He was always a hungry cat and would steal food if you turned your back... but it progressed to stealing food from my hand and howling for food all the time. The did a blood test which actually showed his levels were fine, however, as all his symptoms fit (and he has heart disease so we have to be super careful about his health) we treated him anyway and it has helped a lot - he has put weight back on and is less hungry.

My boy hates going to the vet now after all the emergency trips, over night stays and heart scans, but it was definitely the best thing for him and he is much happier now. Can you speak to your vet on the phone first to describe what is going on? I imagine they will want to see him but it could be worth a quick chat first if they will do that?

Let us know how you get on

FlorayG · 8 Oct 20, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Wismgari

My cat is on meds for his thyroid. It presented as intense hunger and weightloss. He was always a hungry cat and would steal food if you turned your back... but it progressed to stealing food from my hand and howling for food all the time.

I do wonder if it's just her age and being unable to digest food efficiently. She's not 'food crazy' it just that she follows me hopefully into the kitchen and sits looking at me until I give her some food. But she won't eat large amounts. She hasn't lost any weight
maybe I will wait another week and see how she goes. She seems so content otherwise I don't want to upset her

windsor_hills · 8 Oct 20, 06:25 PM

Both my cats had thyroid problems as they got older. I can�t remember exactly how old they were but I think probably around 16. They needed blood tests to start with just to get the Medication dosage Right. Whilst ever they were stable and maintained weight I don�t remember them having tests, but eventually the dosage ended up needing increasing. They were both on the medication for years, until we lost one at 18 and one at 20, but the medication gave them a number of good extra happy years.

frances01 · 8 Oct 20, 06:37 PM

One of my cats developed an overactive thyroid when she was about 16/17. This was diagnosed by a blood test. Her symptoms where always hungry and drinking a lot. Once on the tablets she was a lot better. She never liked going to the vets but if she had to for her health then I took her. She lived until she was 21.5 years old. Definately take your cat to get checked.

8 Oct 20, 07:40 AM	#2
	8 Oct 20, 07:40 AM Disney Bear VIP Dibber ✓Premium Member
Disney Bear VIP Dibber Join Date: Feb 16 Location: Berkshire	My cat was diagnosed with this - they had to take a blood test. He was eating very well too. They said he could also have other issues which this problem could be masking. They said we could have tablets or gel - we went for the gel you rub on his ears but to get the dose right we started small and he had a blood test even month - took four months to get to the actual amounted need. He�s 20 and hates cat journeys but there is no other way to be sure and get the medication. You may be lucky and if she only needs a small amount of medication you might get the right dose in only two trips. This was over a year ago. One think to do is weigh her daily and see if she is stable, losing or adding weight. A healthy cat should be stable, a thyroid cat might be losing weight - although ours was minimal - it was a lose despite eating a lot! Edited at 07:44 AM.

8 Oct 20, 06:25 PM	#7
	8 Oct 20, 06:25 PM windsor_hills Imagineer
windsor_hills Imagineer Join Date: Mar 11	Both my cats had thyroid problems as they got older. I can�t remember exactly how old they were but I think probably around 16. They needed blood tests to start with just to get the Medication dosage Right. Whilst ever they were stable and maintained weight I don�t remember them having tests, but eventually the dosage ended up needing increasing. They were both on the medication for years, until we lost one at 18 and one at 20, but the medication gave them a number of good extra happy years.