I’ve just found out a few hours ago that my little Sorcire, who is 12, has hyperthyroidism.
Obviously, I can’t just leave her like this, so we need to get her started on treatment.
I’ve got two choices: prescription dry food that already contains the medication, or tablets to be given once or twice a day.
Regarding the food, we have two other healthy cats and Sorcire can’t stand being kept indoors...
So we’re leaning towards the medication; for now, the vet is going to give us the once-a-day dose.
Now I’m starting to worry about the 'practical' side of things. How do you cope with a cat that needs regular meds? First off, actually getting her to take the tablets is going to be a challenge – Sorcire is quite feisty when it comes to being handled for medical stuff...
But I’m also wondering how people in our situation manage, for example, for going on holiday... Up until now, we’ve always used an automatic feeder and water dispenser, and someone would pop in every two or three days to top them up and give her some cuddles. I can’t see myself asking friends to give her medication, especially not asking them to come over every single day (none of my circle have cats). So, what do you do? No more holidays? No more weekends away?
I’m feeling really lost (on top of how upset I am that my poor little girl is so poorly...).
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Translated from French
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You don't have to force Felimazole or Apelka into her mouth; it’s a real hassle for both you and the cat. It’s available in a liquid form, so you can just put the drops in her food. It doesn't seem to have any taste, otherwise my girl wouldn't touch it.
Hello,
I need some help. Charly, my 14-year-old cat, has severe hyperthyroidism and is being a really fussy eater. He begs and cries for food but then refuses everything I put in his bowl (raw BARF diet, cooked meat, wet food like Almo or Yarrah, etc.).
I’m having to change his food almost every day... it’s such a struggle.
On top of that, he wouldn’t take the Felimazole, so we’ve switched to Apelka to give him by mouth... but he’s totally fed up with it now.
Does anyone have any experience with this, or know if there are treatments available like the ones humans get?
Thanks for your help.
Nathalie
Hi,
It’s been a while since you posted, so I’m not sure how you’re getting on.
It’s a bit of a nightmare. I’ve got a 15-year-old cat who has been ill for three years. The treatment is very expensive—far too expensive. I’ve opted for a "human" medication that’s 10 times cheaper at the chemist’s with a prescription from the vet. The dry food isn’t enough on its own, and the cat has to eat the right amount :(
You have to be consistent; mine is twice a day. There’s no other way but to have a trustworthy cat sitter. He’s become very fussy and vomits every night; I reckon his thyroid is bothering him. I'm happy to help if you have any other questions.
Best,
Isabelle
Hi Isabelle,
Could you tell me which human medication you mean, please? I’m finding it harder and harder to get the Apelka into my little Charly’s mouth; he’s 14 and has severe hyperthyroidism.
Many thanks,
Nathalie
When you're on holiday, if you can't take your pet with you, the solution is a cattery: the staff will give the meds for you... it’s an extra cost, but you’ve just got to deal with it.
Catteries aren't really suitable if he’ll only take them from you.
Hi there,
It’s been a while since you first posted, so I’m not sure how you’re getting on now.
It’s all a bit of a nightmare, isn’t it? I’ve got a 15-year-old cat who has been ill for three years. The treatment is very expensive—too expensive, really. I opted for a “human” version of the medication which is ten times cheaper at the chemist, using a prescription from the vet. Dry food isn’t enough on its own, and the cat has to eat the right amount :(
You have to be consistent; mine needs his meds twice a day. I had no choice but to find a reliable cat sitter. He’s become a very fussy eater and vomits every single night. I reckon his thyroid is bothering him.
Let me know if I can help with anything else.
Best,
Isabelle
When you're away on holiday, if you can't take your pet with you, a cattery is the best solution. The staff will administer any medication for you... it isn't cheap, but it's just part and parcel of being a responsible owner.
Hi everyone, my 13-and-a-half-year-old cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism six months ago. After her initial tests, she was started on Apelka and I was told to completely overhaul her diet, switching her over to y/d dry and wet food—only she hates it. She was born in New Caledonia, and back then there weren't many options for decent cat food there. Because of that, she got used to one particular brand of dry food and has become a very fussy eater whenever I’ve tried to switch her to something better. From reading your posts, I’ve noticed that many of you weren’t actually required to change your cat's diet. So, I was wondering, what wet food do you mostly give yours? Thanks, Delphine
Sandra04, I’m wishing you strength and I hope your cat gets back to full health for the New Year!
Yes, Eolia, Happy New Year to you too. There is actually a specific diet that cats can have without needing medication, provided they eat absolutely nothing else at all—no treats or scraps whatsoever. It’s called y/d, but you still need your vet to monitor them. You have to transition to this food gradually without stopping the meds straight away, but your vet will explain how to do it.
I've had this issue twice with my old cat. His lipase levels increased while on Thiafeline, so he was actually starting to develop acute pancreatitis; every time we tried him on two 2.5mg Thiafeline tablets a day, his lipase shot up again. You could try switching to y/d food for a week, it won't do him any harm, but definitely don't leave him like that—get him to the vet straight away. If our cat had been younger, I would have gone for radio-iodine treatment, but it’s only available at a few specialist referral centres which were too far away, and with Covid, it was just impossible to get there.
Hi everyone,
I really need your help.
My cat is 13 years old and has hyperthyroidism. He’s lost a lot of weight and was down to only about 5 lbs 4 oz. The vet put him on a 10mg treatment which seemed to suit him really well and brought his thyroid levels down. However, the vet then decided to increase the dose to 15mg, and since then my cat has lost a huge amount of fur and even more weight... After stopping the treatment briefly, he still didn't seem right, so the vet decided to go back to the 10mg dose. But since we started it again, things have got even worse... He’s very weak, his eyes are almost shut, and he isn’t able to go to the toilet, other than to do a wee...
I’m at my wits' end... I just don't know what to do to help him get better...
Thanks in advance.
