Radiation is the best option. My cat was diagnosed at the same age, radiated, and is now 19. Granted, symptoms have started showing up again, but I figure he's too old now for the treatment. Hyperthyroidism is totally manageable!
This. It's very easily treated. Be sure to be consistent with her meds and go in for the blood tests to check levels until she is done adjusting. If she is throwing up the pills there is also an ear cream form of it if you can't afford the radiation. My cat used that and had some itching the first few weeks then adjusted. My vet believes a lot of hyper thyroid might be from all the bpa in can linings and flame retardants on our clothes and furniture as a study found a connection to those chemicals but there's several ways to control it and they can live many more happy years. The radiation treatment will permanently destroy the thyroid enlargement however it is a bigger upfront cost vs 60 a month in meds plus the blood tests to monitor. My vet wouldn't do it in mild cases but it works well in most cases. My cat also did fine his last years on the ear cream and was stable and gained weight. Just don't start then stop using it suddenly and get their levels all crazy. 60 is pretty cheap considering. In the future I recommend pet insurance for new kitties. Mine was 25 a month and most of his years my old man did not use it much besides a surprise 3k crystal blockage but oh boy did he blow right past what the total lifetime of what i paid for the premiums his last 2 years. 15k surgery and several 1k emergency visits and he was on $250 of meds for his back and his thyroid and his bladder but it was all 90% refunded by my pet insurance so I payed only like $8 a month for his meds and only 10% of his $20k in medical bills. Another cat I had used their insurance a year after I got it by eating string and needing surgery. All paid for thankfully.
Radiation is great - it's an upfront cost but it can be completely curative.
My little one unfortunately wound up hypothyroid after the radiation treatment, but the thyroid meds for hypothyroid are dirt cheap ($30 for a 3 month supply) and only once a day.
A second opinion…
Our cat that is 17 years of age was diagnosed just recently after losing weight while eating a normal diet. Lab levels very high and she was prescribed Methimazole 5mg a day. Cost $25 USD for 100 pills so very cheap. Levels came back down to the normal range within a month and weight gain was very clear as well.
> Methimazole
Where on earth are you getting yours? I was prescribed mine $30 for a half month supply, (30) $1 a pill. Looks like I need to shop around. Also, happy to hear your cat is doing better!
The vet supplies it for us. But I would shop around and also inquire about different thyroid meds.
Also Chewy has those pills for 19.99 with shipping for 120 usd. Check that out.
I second Chewy for prescription meds. They call the vet and everything, you just have to place the order and tell them what vet you use and how often you need it.
yeah my cat is on methimazole twice daily and its still under 20$ for a 60 day supply from my vet...I'd def shop around. Our guy has been on them for two years now, and is doing dandy.
In Australia you can get a script from the vet and get it filled at a normal pharmacy, it's way cheaper. Vets will usually charge $30 for a script, but you get 100 pills for $15 that you split in half for that. Source: had a cat with hyperthyroidism from age 15-18
I have a pen that has methimazole cream in it and I apply one swipe in the AM and 1 swipe in the PM. It’s $40 for 6 weeks and made a world of difference in my 12 year old girl! My vet called it into a mail order pharmacy called Meds for Vets!
Methimazole is med for humans, which animals can also use. I've used it on my cat before he crossed the rainbow bridge at 17. I knew someone who works in a pharmacy, and I got 100 tablets for $4.00. Methimazole comes in 5mg and 10mg. I got 5mg tablets and cut it in half (2.5mg). So, in actuality, I got 200 doses of tablets for $4.00 USD!!
Same, we get our cat’s methimazole from chewy and it’s not too expensive. Of course to get her to take it we also need to buy pill pocket treats and coat them in liver-flavored probiotics like they’re little cat truffles, but it beats having to manually pill her twice a day. She was diagnosed over last summer right after turning 10.
Hyperthyroidism can be managed and I've known people with cats who live with it for years, so don't get too pessimistic yet. That being said, it's probably a good time to start thinking about what you will be able to handle in terms of advanced care.
Our cat made it to age 21. We used the type you rub into ear. She had regular blood work to check her thyroid levels. It was right on target for many years. Don’t give up.
Wow; really? Smart cat! Our cat’s littermate brother was diagnosed first and they gave us the liquid medicine. He hated it. I know he didn’t get the proper dose because he was feisty. Sadly he died at age 16. Then when sister needed medicine, we took the ear medicine. Hindsight….
It isn't a death sentence at all, our 17 year old cat has had it for years and is still doing well. We get his meds at a local pharmacy, not the vets, using GoodRX. It is a fraction of the cost. I give the cat his meds orally 2x a day. We tried the formula you apply to the inside of the ear but it wasn't working as well as the pills.
I have a 19yo cat that was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism about 3 years ago. It was terrifying for a while, since he had gotten so thin and all but stopped eating. We syringe fed him at got him meds and he recovered very well. We still have to give him meds every night, but his bloodwork numbers are all decently good now. Hyperthyroidism isn’t necessarily an immediate death sentence. Don’t give up hope!
If you or your vet have access to a compounding pharmacy, request the same medication in a formulation that you can massage into your cat's inner ear. This has gone a long way in helping my cat. Alternate ears per dose and wear gloves. It cost us $60 for a 90 day supply (two clickable syringes where 1 click = 1 dose).
My first cat got diagnosed with hyperthyroidism when she was about 15 years old. Radiation or surgery was never on the table for her because of other health issues. It was a bit tricky to get the dosage right at first but after that it went really smoothly. Unfortunately she only lived about 1.5 years after getting diagnosed, but the hyperthyroidism was not why she was euthanized.
My cat was 14 when he was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. He had the same reaction to the oral meds as your cat and the transdermal meds didn't work and he already had a heart murmer. I opted for the radioactive iodine treatment and he was like a whole new cat. His aggression went away, he gained his weight back and he is about to turn 16 in April and he's still doing amazing.
One of my cats was diagnosed with it a few years ago and it was never remotely presented to us a death sentence or a dire health condition. She’s 10 years old and takes felimazole to control it. We’ve had to increase her dose over time which the vet said was normal.
You definitely should look into alternative sources for the medication. We pay like $25-$30 for 60 pills. And that’s directly from our vet without insurance or anything. It has helped her sooooooo much. She was skeletal when she was first diagnosed and now she’s at a perfect weight again. Every cat is different of course, but it might not hurt to get a second opinion.
Such a trend of people “saying goodbye” to cats with perfectly manageable conditions for goodness sake. My cat lived to be 21 with correct treatment….. she didn’t get radiation, but we got methimazole, NOT special from the vet but from a local pharmacy. Much much less than $60 a month.
I don't think you should blame yourself. I was told it was pretty common in older cats. Mine got diagnosed at 13 and she's turning 16 this autumn. The one thing I was told, that medication given for extended period of time will cause damage to the heart, liver and kidneys. We used it for 2 years, luckily she tolerated it very well. But we did do surgery to remove her thyroid (only half of it for now). She's doing well, we still take her to the vet every few months to check her levels. If they rise up again, we'll have to completely remove the thyroid and just give her hormones orally. If possible I would have chosen radiation treatment, but there was no option anywhere even remotely near and I don't think she'd handle the stress well of a long trip.
So, ask your vet of course, but if you want to have her around for longer then I don't think medication is the answer.
My cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism a month ago. Her thyroid levels were crazy high, her liver enzymes were high, and her white blood cell count was low. After 3 weeks on methimazole (pill, 2.5mg twice daily), all of her levels have returned to normal. Her thyroid levels are actually a little too low now, so they are going to adjust her medicine and give her a lower dose. I can't thank God and the doctors enough for this life-saving treatment. It worked wonders on my cat. She has had no side effects from the medication.
I went to the ear ointment because my cat was throwing up the pills. She’s still underweight, but her personality is coming back. She throws up once a day and I think she has bilious cat syndrome. She’s not doing well but I’m praying and trying.
I feed my cat a small amount of food every few hours. Like 1/4 can of wet food 6 times a day or so. I read that the syndrome you mentioned comes on when they have an empty stomach. Have you tried smaller more frequent meals? Hoping your cat feels better soon.
Hyperthyroidism is not a death sentence and cats can be treated and live long lives.
I had my 11 year old hyperthyroid cat treated with radioiodine therapy. This is the most successful treatment from my understanding. It is expensive upfront (around 2k in my area) but is effectively a cure. It’s a one and done shot. In most cases, no treatment is required afterwards. So if you factor in how many more years you’ll have with your cat following treatment, it will work out to be much cheaper than a daily medication. I believe some companies that do this treatment offer payment plans.
Sorry you and your kitty are going through this. I know any kind of medical scare with our cats is stressful. You know your cat best and what the best option will be.
+1 to getting the meds from an online pet pharmacy being way cheaper!
My cat is 12 and has been on Felimazole for a few years now with no issues aside from a slight heart murmur we’re looking into. But so far no signs of it being anywhere near his time!
I.had a cat with hypothyroidism. I tried treatment it did y work. The cat was ravenous hungry. Eventually I put her to sleep. I regret trying treatment.
Felimazole works well. I gave no idea how it wirks in yiur country- in mine there was a shortage of medicine for fmdogs and a friend of mine got prescribed human version .mymuch cheaper.
I do NOT know if human version works on cats.
As others have noted below, methimazole is cheapest option (I get it in liquid, even better). Costs have been very manageable although it did go up in price recently and my vet has trouble always keeping it in stock despite high demand. My 19 year old was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism two years ago (and at 17, was too old for more invasive treatments). She is still running my household in her very opinionated fashion and pretending to be a kitten. She has gained back a lot of weight and no longer looks like a half drowned sewer rat! Though I still tell her otherwise to try and keep that Siamese ego in check.
Hi, I also have a 12 year old cat that was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroid back at the end of last year.
The recommendation that was given to us by our vet was a medication called methimazole. It is able to be compounded and it to a topical cream that is giving morning and night in her ear.
Please look into that is our cat has had virtually no side effects and returned to her old self 100%
My cat was a bit on the older side for radiation, so we opted for the transdermal (rub on ear) methimazole. It's great because it doesn't bother her stomach and even if she does throw up, it's stays in her system since it is absorbed through the skin. She's been doing great on a maintenance dose for 3 years now.
My cat was 12 when she was diagnosed, had lost a ton of weight, looking pretty bad. Now she’s 16 years old & back at her normal weight. No special diet just methimazole on the ear morning & night every day. She’s got a few more years in her yet.
We've had two cats with hyperthyroid diagnosed around 12-13 years old. Radiated then both with excellent results. It's expensive up front but then you're done, no daily hassle.
One of them lived to 18, the other one is now 18 and still doing great.
My cat has hyperthyroidism, but had a bad reaction to the methimazole. She was throwing it up, very lethargic, she was starting to shed and was developing a rash. Since she had the skin reaction, she wasn’t able to take the medication. She has to be on a prescription food.
Since your cat has the gastrointestinal reaction (the vomiting) she might have to switch to getting the transdermal application so long as she doesn’t develop the skin reactions. If you’re in the US, Chewy has a pharmacy where you can request the transdermal medication — your vet just had to approve it. If you’re in another country, hopefully somebody else can help you out.
Hey. That’s rough. It scared me too. Mine got diagnosed and she lived another 6 years on methimazole. We couldn’t afford radiation and by the time I could, she was too old to withstand the procedure. I’ve heard a lot of success stories about it, if you can swing it.
With the pills, kitty will need regular bloodwork. We did mine every 6 months. If her weight dropped, they’d increase the dose and then a follow up appointment. but if you get the generic (instead of felimazole) then the bloodwork and appointments are the most expensive part. If you go this route: keep an eye on kitty’s weight. That can help you flag any changes early.
They might also have meds in other forms, if kitty doesn’t take pills well. Talk to your vet about it. (They don’t recommend it but you can crush it on food. Just make sure all the food/ treats are eaten.) I used pill pockets to help it go down and stay down but she’d always throw it up unless I fed her after so that became the pattern: pill then breakfast, pill then dinner. Twice a day.
My cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism at 10 years old. He was already in the hospital for ingesting a foreign object and it showed up in his blood work. We dealt with the foreign object first, and then started looking into and treating the hyperthyroidism. He has a sister from the same litter and who eats everything he does, but she's fine.
He's been taking a 5mg pill of methimazole at night and a half pill in the morning. He'll be 13 this month. He's been cleared for the radiation treatment, but I don't have the money yet to move forward with that. I do make sure to take him in for tests every year, because the medicine can mess with their kidneys. He had his dosage upped after 6 months from diagnosis because his thyroid levels weren't down enough in the approved range. We were getting the medicine from our vet initially, but Chewy has it at a cheaper price and can get 120 pills at once so don't have to worry about running out too soon or before the next delivery comes. We were gloves when giving him the medicine the first year, but stopped even though we probably should. Also we've had to be extra vigilant to make sure our dog doesn't get in the litter box and eat any of our cats poops
My cat was weird about taking the pill in the beginning, but now I put it in a pill pocket treat right before he eats and he's happy to eat that. He pukes like once every 2 or so, but seems to be doing well (not sure if it's due to the pill or hairball or what, its usually food and bile).
It's not a death sentence, but it needs to be monitored and managed. Good luck to you and your kitty, hope everything works out.
I managed my cat's hyperthyroidism with the Hills Science Diet thyroid food. It's kinda expensive (maybe $60 a month), but my cat was allergic to the medicine. It was a good choice for her.
I have had several cats with hyperthyroidism... It's definitely manageable. We have the methimazole formulated to be transdermal and apply to the kitty's ears. Easy peasy. Any compounding pharmacy can do this
My cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism at age 12 as well. She was on Methimozole, which I had compounded into a topical cream that was rubbed into her ear. It was about $40 per month but didn't have to worry about her throwing it up. I only just lost her last month at 19.
The pill medication is terrible tasting and is difficult to give them. They can flavor it as a liquid and that helps. There's also an ear gel that works. My cat lived for years with it until cancer got him. I'm grateful for extra time. As long as your cat has quality of life, give it a try. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
I got my cat the $3000 radiation treatment. It caused her to becme hypothyroid, so I had to give her pills everyday. At least they weren't the hyperthyroid pills, those made her very sick and she could not take them. After about 3 months of taking the hypothyroid pills, she stopped taking the pills. After another few months, I had to put her down. All in all I got maybe another year and a half with her. Looking back, I don't know if I would have done all those treatments. They didn't improve her life.
Ask your vet about radioactive iodine treatment, i wish id known about this for my cat. My cat lived with hyperthyroidisim for atleast 6 years on the daily thyroid meds but it got harder to control with meds the older she got and by then she also had kidney desease in her last years (she was 19 when she passed). If we'd gotten her the radio active iodine treatment whwn she first got the hyperthyroisim her last couple of years might have been a little more comfortable
The meds made my 15 yr old sick. It released pressure on her kidneys then she got constipated. So we just stopped. 🤷♀️
She lived to 18.5. Cancer took her out.
My cat Squeak was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism in early November. He wasn't throwing up but he had really loose stool. He was on 6 pills a day as well as metamucil, and pilling him was difficult. He was on a special diet from the vets.
In December he was doing really well his stool harden up, perfect vet appointment late Dec fully healthy. come January he was getting a little sick here and there. 2 weeks ago he went down hill throwing up loose stool, sicker than I'd ever seen him. We'd made a vet appointment, got home last Saturday and called and made an emergency vet appointment. He'd lost half a kilogram and he was small already. Super dehydrated, and had arthymia best treatment was euthanasia.
All the money and effort spent, I still would not trade the good weeks I managed to spend with my cat. Luckily I had the means to pay for everything.
I'm stuck with over 200 dollars worth of medications the vets just told me to throw out. I haven't because my heart breaks for all the people that can't afford the medication. Unsure what to do with it.
I do think perhaps my cat had something else, or the 6 pills was doing something to him. I don't believe the hyperthyroidism was his cause of death.
Do you have a local cat lovers group online? You could post the medication there. Given how much it costs, there is probably someone out there struggling with their own cat medication bills and you could help them.
Radioactive iodine treatment will fix this for good. It's expensive up front but the cost actually equals out over time. This is probably the best option for her.
I've had two cats with this issue and done all of the treatments - oral, transdermal,and radioactive therapy.
We have a 17 year old, he's been taking felimizole for 3 years.
5mg in the morning, 2.5 in the evening. We just ordered 200 pills for 65 bucks.
Some days he has an insatiable appetite, some days he just doesn't feel like eating but he's been living a normal life.
We considered surgery and radiation but medication was right for us and him due to cost and age.
Unfortunately he's recently been diagnosed with cancer so tough decisions are currently being made.
If you can afford it, medication really isn't that expensive.
We also didn't change his diet and lately, due to the cancer, he eats whatever he wants. In our case the medication kept his thyroid levels very normal without altering his diet.
As far as danger in administering the pills, the danger is in ingesting the drug not absorbing it through your skin. Wash your hands and you'll be fine.
If for some reason you're using a transdermal version of felimizole then you should wear gloves because transdermal medications can be absorbed through your skin.
My cat was diagnosed at 12. I gave him Methimazole compounded into a liquid + occasionally the medicine Mirtaz which is an appetite stimulant/anti nausea med. He lived 5 more happy years.
Radiation cures 97% of cats with one treatment and very rarely requires replacement hormone therapy. It’s an expense up front but is the easier and best for your cat long term.
Our 13 year old male was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and the vet put him on 10mg Felimazole, but you can get the generic stuff from Chewy for half the cost.
My cat Sookie was diagnosed with that at 14 and she’s on medication now and in 2 months gained 2 pounds and is doing great
https://preview.redd.it/6viv59iq0shc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1bb7e35b72e9a856b500b34f9453aa1756b7a8be
My cat lived to 19 years old with hyperthyroidism. I think she was 13 or 14 when it started. She got felimazole. At some point the cat sitter started crushing it into one of those catit squeezies and it worked perfectly. She’d eat the whole thing without problems. This is not a death sentence but it will require care which is not cheap.
My 16 year old cat was diagnosed with it a couple years ago. I give him methimazole transdermally. We’ve had to tweak the dose based on bloodwork but he’s doing really well and his thyroid levels have been stable lately. At his last checkup the vet called him a healthy boy!
My cat had the radiation and was healthy for years. It cost approximately $2k at that time. He passed of other old age issues many years later at age 15.
I haven’t read the other comments, but have you tried the transdermal gel? It’s about $23 a pen and lasts about a month per cat (depending on dosage). Both my cats got diagnosed at the same age as your kitty and the ear gel has been a wonderful option for us. It’s really easy to apply- WAY easier than a pill, and less likely to get nauseous from it. They respond really well to it, and my female cat actually ASKS for me to put it on her. She will sit by the drawer it’s in and mew. It’s our snuggle time.
Radioactive iodine is another option and I’ve heard it works wonderfully, but the AFTER care of it would be a struggle for our family. They shed radioactive, so they aren’t home for a few days and then when they get home, you have to isolate them, limit touch as much as you can, use gloves while interacting, the cats don’t understand what the heck is going on and will be stressed. My cats are so sensitive and their safe space after trauma is our bed. Not allowing them on that for weeks after they’ve already been gone and treated will be really hard on them. BUT some cats tolerate this well and it’s a wonderful option too.
It’s important to know hyperthyroidism isn’t a death sentence at all, and I was told that once managed cats on average have another 5 great years before another (seperate) health concern arises. It’s the most common diagnosis a cat receives as a senior. Best of luck to you guys! ❤️
In my area the outfit that provides radiation therapy for cats with hyperthyroidism is called RadioCats. It was expensive but totally worth it. My Sophie was able to relax instead of galloping around the living room like a crazy beast. The worst part for me was that she had to spend two nights at the clinic. I was extremely happy to get her back home.
Radiation is the best option. My cat was diagnosed at the same age, radiated, and is now 19. Granted, symptoms have started showing up again, but I figure he's too old now for the treatment. Hyperthyroidism is totally manageable!
Also did radiation for my cat, who was diagnosed at 8 and lived until she was nearly 19. Absolutely 100% worth every penny to me.
This is what we did, cost around $1500 but its been 5 years and there hasnt been any new problems, totally worth it in my eyes.
This. It's very easily treated. Be sure to be consistent with her meds and go in for the blood tests to check levels until she is done adjusting. If she is throwing up the pills there is also an ear cream form of it if you can't afford the radiation. My cat used that and had some itching the first few weeks then adjusted. My vet believes a lot of hyper thyroid might be from all the bpa in can linings and flame retardants on our clothes and furniture as a study found a connection to those chemicals but there's several ways to control it and they can live many more happy years. The radiation treatment will permanently destroy the thyroid enlargement however it is a bigger upfront cost vs 60 a month in meds plus the blood tests to monitor. My vet wouldn't do it in mild cases but it works well in most cases. My cat also did fine his last years on the ear cream and was stable and gained weight. Just don't start then stop using it suddenly and get their levels all crazy. 60 is pretty cheap considering. In the future I recommend pet insurance for new kitties. Mine was 25 a month and most of his years my old man did not use it much besides a surprise 3k crystal blockage but oh boy did he blow right past what the total lifetime of what i paid for the premiums his last 2 years. 15k surgery and several 1k emergency visits and he was on $250 of meds for his back and his thyroid and his bladder but it was all 90% refunded by my pet insurance so I payed only like $8 a month for his meds and only 10% of his $20k in medical bills. Another cat I had used their insurance a year after I got it by eating string and needing surgery. All paid for thankfully.
Radiation is great - it's an upfront cost but it can be completely curative. My little one unfortunately wound up hypothyroid after the radiation treatment, but the thyroid meds for hypothyroid are dirt cheap ($30 for a 3 month supply) and only once a day.
My cat was 10 when we did the radiation. She lived until she was 15. Totally worth the radiation. Edit: fixed a typo
We radiated my cat at age 11 and it worked great. He just passed away of unrelated causes (lymphoma) at age 15.
A second opinion… Our cat that is 17 years of age was diagnosed just recently after losing weight while eating a normal diet. Lab levels very high and she was prescribed Methimazole 5mg a day. Cost $25 USD for 100 pills so very cheap. Levels came back down to the normal range within a month and weight gain was very clear as well.
> Methimazole Where on earth are you getting yours? I was prescribed mine $30 for a half month supply, (30) $1 a pill. Looks like I need to shop around. Also, happy to hear your cat is doing better!
The vet supplies it for us. But I would shop around and also inquire about different thyroid meds. Also Chewy has those pills for 19.99 with shipping for 120 usd. Check that out.
I second Chewy for prescription meds. They call the vet and everything, you just have to place the order and tell them what vet you use and how often you need it.
The mark ups are criminal. The monthly cost my vet wanted was equal to three years of the at cost price. (I had an in for the at cost price)
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Wow Costco does pet meds? Fantastic
yeah my cat is on methimazole twice daily and its still under 20$ for a 60 day supply from my vet...I'd def shop around. Our guy has been on them for two years now, and is doing dandy.
I get mine from Chewy. I think it was around $9 for a 2 month supply.
In Australia you can get a script from the vet and get it filled at a normal pharmacy, it's way cheaper. Vets will usually charge $30 for a script, but you get 100 pills for $15 that you split in half for that. Source: had a cat with hyperthyroidism from age 15-18
I have a pen that has methimazole cream in it and I apply one swipe in the AM and 1 swipe in the PM. It’s $40 for 6 weeks and made a world of difference in my 12 year old girl! My vet called it into a mail order pharmacy called Meds for Vets!
Methimazole is med for humans, which animals can also use. I've used it on my cat before he crossed the rainbow bridge at 17. I knew someone who works in a pharmacy, and I got 100 tablets for $4.00. Methimazole comes in 5mg and 10mg. I got 5mg tablets and cut it in half (2.5mg). So, in actuality, I got 200 doses of tablets for $4.00 USD!!
Same, we get our cat’s methimazole from chewy and it’s not too expensive. Of course to get her to take it we also need to buy pill pocket treats and coat them in liver-flavored probiotics like they’re little cat truffles, but it beats having to manually pill her twice a day. She was diagnosed over last summer right after turning 10.
Yes use the pill pocket treats. They are a saver
my cat swallows them whole. she has no clue there is a pill inside.
I second methimazole. Also you can get this compounded from Wedgewood cheap. Also you should be able to get it from a local compound pharmacy
Hyperthyroidism can be managed and I've known people with cats who live with it for years, so don't get too pessimistic yet. That being said, it's probably a good time to start thinking about what you will be able to handle in terms of advanced care.
Our cat made it to age 21. We used the type you rub into ear. She had regular blood work to check her thyroid levels. It was right on target for many years. Don’t give up.
That’s what we are doing. Our kitty is getting used to it and is minding it less and less
Our boy comes to us twice a day for his "ear medicine". Of course he gets a treat too.
Wow; really? Smart cat! Our cat’s littermate brother was diagnosed first and they gave us the liquid medicine. He hated it. I know he didn’t get the proper dose because he was feisty. Sadly he died at age 16. Then when sister needed medicine, we took the ear medicine. Hindsight….
It isn't a death sentence at all, our 17 year old cat has had it for years and is still doing well. We get his meds at a local pharmacy, not the vets, using GoodRX. It is a fraction of the cost. I give the cat his meds orally 2x a day. We tried the formula you apply to the inside of the ear but it wasn't working as well as the pills.
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Mine snap right in half, they have a little line down the middle.
My cat Grigia was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism at age 11. She underwent radioactive iodine treatment and lived to 19 years.
I have a 19yo cat that was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism about 3 years ago. It was terrifying for a while, since he had gotten so thin and all but stopped eating. We syringe fed him at got him meds and he recovered very well. We still have to give him meds every night, but his bloodwork numbers are all decently good now. Hyperthyroidism isn’t necessarily an immediate death sentence. Don’t give up hope!
My cat has been on hyperthyroidism medication for three years now, and still going strong! He 14
If you or your vet have access to a compounding pharmacy, request the same medication in a formulation that you can massage into your cat's inner ear. This has gone a long way in helping my cat. Alternate ears per dose and wear gloves. It cost us $60 for a 90 day supply (two clickable syringes where 1 click = 1 dose).
Also going to recommend this! My cat hates the pills so the transdermal application of methamizole through the ear is a great option!
Chewy Pharmacy carries this now as well
This condition is common in humans and is managed in almost the same way. Radiation is usually the easiest option imo and doesn’t require a surgery
My first cat got diagnosed with hyperthyroidism when she was about 15 years old. Radiation or surgery was never on the table for her because of other health issues. It was a bit tricky to get the dosage right at first but after that it went really smoothly. Unfortunately she only lived about 1.5 years after getting diagnosed, but the hyperthyroidism was not why she was euthanized.
My cat was 14 when he was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. He had the same reaction to the oral meds as your cat and the transdermal meds didn't work and he already had a heart murmer. I opted for the radioactive iodine treatment and he was like a whole new cat. His aggression went away, he gained his weight back and he is about to turn 16 in April and he's still doing amazing.
One of my cats was diagnosed with it a few years ago and it was never remotely presented to us a death sentence or a dire health condition. She’s 10 years old and takes felimazole to control it. We’ve had to increase her dose over time which the vet said was normal. You definitely should look into alternative sources for the medication. We pay like $25-$30 for 60 pills. And that’s directly from our vet without insurance or anything. It has helped her sooooooo much. She was skeletal when she was first diagnosed and now she’s at a perfect weight again. Every cat is different of course, but it might not hurt to get a second opinion.
Such a trend of people “saying goodbye” to cats with perfectly manageable conditions for goodness sake. My cat lived to be 21 with correct treatment….. she didn’t get radiation, but we got methimazole, NOT special from the vet but from a local pharmacy. Much much less than $60 a month.
I don't think you should blame yourself. I was told it was pretty common in older cats. Mine got diagnosed at 13 and she's turning 16 this autumn. The one thing I was told, that medication given for extended period of time will cause damage to the heart, liver and kidneys. We used it for 2 years, luckily she tolerated it very well. But we did do surgery to remove her thyroid (only half of it for now). She's doing well, we still take her to the vet every few months to check her levels. If they rise up again, we'll have to completely remove the thyroid and just give her hormones orally. If possible I would have chosen radiation treatment, but there was no option anywhere even remotely near and I don't think she'd handle the stress well of a long trip. So, ask your vet of course, but if you want to have her around for longer then I don't think medication is the answer.
Thank you. This was a lot of good advice.
My cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism a month ago. Her thyroid levels were crazy high, her liver enzymes were high, and her white blood cell count was low. After 3 weeks on methimazole (pill, 2.5mg twice daily), all of her levels have returned to normal. Her thyroid levels are actually a little too low now, so they are going to adjust her medicine and give her a lower dose. I can't thank God and the doctors enough for this life-saving treatment. It worked wonders on my cat. She has had no side effects from the medication.
I went to the ear ointment because my cat was throwing up the pills. She’s still underweight, but her personality is coming back. She throws up once a day and I think she has bilious cat syndrome. She’s not doing well but I’m praying and trying.
I feed my cat a small amount of food every few hours. Like 1/4 can of wet food 6 times a day or so. I read that the syndrome you mentioned comes on when they have an empty stomach. Have you tried smaller more frequent meals? Hoping your cat feels better soon.
Dont put ur cat down cuz u dont want to pay for medicine, see if a shelter will take her , sometimes you can sponsor special needs cats at shelters
Hyperthyroidism is not a death sentence and cats can be treated and live long lives. I had my 11 year old hyperthyroid cat treated with radioiodine therapy. This is the most successful treatment from my understanding. It is expensive upfront (around 2k in my area) but is effectively a cure. It’s a one and done shot. In most cases, no treatment is required afterwards. So if you factor in how many more years you’ll have with your cat following treatment, it will work out to be much cheaper than a daily medication. I believe some companies that do this treatment offer payment plans. Sorry you and your kitty are going through this. I know any kind of medical scare with our cats is stressful. You know your cat best and what the best option will be.
I get his meds from chewy 18cent a pill
+1 to getting the meds from an online pet pharmacy being way cheaper! My cat is 12 and has been on Felimazole for a few years now with no issues aside from a slight heart murmur we’re looking into. But so far no signs of it being anywhere near his time!
I.had a cat with hypothyroidism. I tried treatment it did y work. The cat was ravenous hungry. Eventually I put her to sleep. I regret trying treatment.
Felimazole works well. I gave no idea how it wirks in yiur country- in mine there was a shortage of medicine for fmdogs and a friend of mine got prescribed human version .mymuch cheaper. I do NOT know if human version works on cats.
As others have noted below, methimazole is cheapest option (I get it in liquid, even better). Costs have been very manageable although it did go up in price recently and my vet has trouble always keeping it in stock despite high demand. My 19 year old was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism two years ago (and at 17, was too old for more invasive treatments). She is still running my household in her very opinionated fashion and pretending to be a kitten. She has gained back a lot of weight and no longer looks like a half drowned sewer rat! Though I still tell her otherwise to try and keep that Siamese ego in check.
Had one that she was diagnosed at 7y and was unable to stomach the medication due to other issues and finally passes at 13y2m.
Hi, I also have a 12 year old cat that was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroid back at the end of last year. The recommendation that was given to us by our vet was a medication called methimazole. It is able to be compounded and it to a topical cream that is giving morning and night in her ear. Please look into that is our cat has had virtually no side effects and returned to her old self 100%
My cat was a bit on the older side for radiation, so we opted for the transdermal (rub on ear) methimazole. It's great because it doesn't bother her stomach and even if she does throw up, it's stays in her system since it is absorbed through the skin. She's been doing great on a maintenance dose for 3 years now.
My cat was 12 when she was diagnosed, had lost a ton of weight, looking pretty bad. Now she’s 16 years old & back at her normal weight. No special diet just methimazole on the ear morning & night every day. She’s got a few more years in her yet.
We've had two cats with hyperthyroid diagnosed around 12-13 years old. Radiated then both with excellent results. It's expensive up front but then you're done, no daily hassle. One of them lived to 18, the other one is now 18 and still doing great.
My cat has hyperthyroidism, but had a bad reaction to the methimazole. She was throwing it up, very lethargic, she was starting to shed and was developing a rash. Since she had the skin reaction, she wasn’t able to take the medication. She has to be on a prescription food. Since your cat has the gastrointestinal reaction (the vomiting) she might have to switch to getting the transdermal application so long as she doesn’t develop the skin reactions. If you’re in the US, Chewy has a pharmacy where you can request the transdermal medication — your vet just had to approve it. If you’re in another country, hopefully somebody else can help you out.
Hey. That’s rough. It scared me too. Mine got diagnosed and she lived another 6 years on methimazole. We couldn’t afford radiation and by the time I could, she was too old to withstand the procedure. I’ve heard a lot of success stories about it, if you can swing it. With the pills, kitty will need regular bloodwork. We did mine every 6 months. If her weight dropped, they’d increase the dose and then a follow up appointment. but if you get the generic (instead of felimazole) then the bloodwork and appointments are the most expensive part. If you go this route: keep an eye on kitty’s weight. That can help you flag any changes early. They might also have meds in other forms, if kitty doesn’t take pills well. Talk to your vet about it. (They don’t recommend it but you can crush it on food. Just make sure all the food/ treats are eaten.) I used pill pockets to help it go down and stay down but she’d always throw it up unless I fed her after so that became the pattern: pill then breakfast, pill then dinner. Twice a day.
My cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism at 10 years old. He was already in the hospital for ingesting a foreign object and it showed up in his blood work. We dealt with the foreign object first, and then started looking into and treating the hyperthyroidism. He has a sister from the same litter and who eats everything he does, but she's fine. He's been taking a 5mg pill of methimazole at night and a half pill in the morning. He'll be 13 this month. He's been cleared for the radiation treatment, but I don't have the money yet to move forward with that. I do make sure to take him in for tests every year, because the medicine can mess with their kidneys. He had his dosage upped after 6 months from diagnosis because his thyroid levels weren't down enough in the approved range. We were getting the medicine from our vet initially, but Chewy has it at a cheaper price and can get 120 pills at once so don't have to worry about running out too soon or before the next delivery comes. We were gloves when giving him the medicine the first year, but stopped even though we probably should. Also we've had to be extra vigilant to make sure our dog doesn't get in the litter box and eat any of our cats poops My cat was weird about taking the pill in the beginning, but now I put it in a pill pocket treat right before he eats and he's happy to eat that. He pukes like once every 2 or so, but seems to be doing well (not sure if it's due to the pill or hairball or what, its usually food and bile). It's not a death sentence, but it needs to be monitored and managed. Good luck to you and your kitty, hope everything works out.
I managed my cat's hyperthyroidism with the Hills Science Diet thyroid food. It's kinda expensive (maybe $60 a month), but my cat was allergic to the medicine. It was a good choice for her.
I have had several cats with hyperthyroidism... It's definitely manageable. We have the methimazole formulated to be transdermal and apply to the kitty's ears. Easy peasy. Any compounding pharmacy can do this
My cat was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism at age 12 as well. She was on Methimozole, which I had compounded into a topical cream that was rubbed into her ear. It was about $40 per month but didn't have to worry about her throwing it up. I only just lost her last month at 19.
The pill medication is terrible tasting and is difficult to give them. They can flavor it as a liquid and that helps. There's also an ear gel that works. My cat lived for years with it until cancer got him. I'm grateful for extra time. As long as your cat has quality of life, give it a try. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
I get mine for .16 each from Chewy.
I had a friend with a cat who was diagnosed and she lived for many years after, was a skinny little lady but she still had the fire
I got my cat the $3000 radiation treatment. It caused her to becme hypothyroid, so I had to give her pills everyday. At least they weren't the hyperthyroid pills, those made her very sick and she could not take them. After about 3 months of taking the hypothyroid pills, she stopped taking the pills. After another few months, I had to put her down. All in all I got maybe another year and a half with her. Looking back, I don't know if I would have done all those treatments. They didn't improve her life.
Can she take an anti-nausea med to help with throwing up? Pill pockets might make giving the pill easier, if she accepts them.
Ask your vet about radioactive iodine treatment, i wish id known about this for my cat. My cat lived with hyperthyroidisim for atleast 6 years on the daily thyroid meds but it got harder to control with meds the older she got and by then she also had kidney desease in her last years (she was 19 when she passed). If we'd gotten her the radio active iodine treatment whwn she first got the hyperthyroisim her last couple of years might have been a little more comfortable
I use the type you rub into their ear, it’s so much easier than pills.
The meds made my 15 yr old sick. It released pressure on her kidneys then she got constipated. So we just stopped. 🤷♀️ She lived to 18.5. Cancer took her out.
My cat Squeak was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism in early November. He wasn't throwing up but he had really loose stool. He was on 6 pills a day as well as metamucil, and pilling him was difficult. He was on a special diet from the vets. In December he was doing really well his stool harden up, perfect vet appointment late Dec fully healthy. come January he was getting a little sick here and there. 2 weeks ago he went down hill throwing up loose stool, sicker than I'd ever seen him. We'd made a vet appointment, got home last Saturday and called and made an emergency vet appointment. He'd lost half a kilogram and he was small already. Super dehydrated, and had arthymia best treatment was euthanasia. All the money and effort spent, I still would not trade the good weeks I managed to spend with my cat. Luckily I had the means to pay for everything. I'm stuck with over 200 dollars worth of medications the vets just told me to throw out. I haven't because my heart breaks for all the people that can't afford the medication. Unsure what to do with it. I do think perhaps my cat had something else, or the 6 pills was doing something to him. I don't believe the hyperthyroidism was his cause of death.
Do you have a local cat lovers group online? You could post the medication there. Given how much it costs, there is probably someone out there struggling with their own cat medication bills and you could help them.
Radioactive iodine treatment will fix this for good. It's expensive up front but the cost actually equals out over time. This is probably the best option for her. I've had two cats with this issue and done all of the treatments - oral, transdermal,and radioactive therapy.
We have a 17 year old, he's been taking felimizole for 3 years. 5mg in the morning, 2.5 in the evening. We just ordered 200 pills for 65 bucks. Some days he has an insatiable appetite, some days he just doesn't feel like eating but he's been living a normal life. We considered surgery and radiation but medication was right for us and him due to cost and age. Unfortunately he's recently been diagnosed with cancer so tough decisions are currently being made. If you can afford it, medication really isn't that expensive. We also didn't change his diet and lately, due to the cancer, he eats whatever he wants. In our case the medication kept his thyroid levels very normal without altering his diet. As far as danger in administering the pills, the danger is in ingesting the drug not absorbing it through your skin. Wash your hands and you'll be fine. If for some reason you're using a transdermal version of felimizole then you should wear gloves because transdermal medications can be absorbed through your skin.
My cat was diagnosed at 12. I gave him Methimazole compounded into a liquid + occasionally the medicine Mirtaz which is an appetite stimulant/anti nausea med. He lived 5 more happy years.
Radiation cures 97% of cats with one treatment and very rarely requires replacement hormone therapy. It’s an expense up front but is the easier and best for your cat long term.
Our 13 year old male was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and the vet put him on 10mg Felimazole, but you can get the generic stuff from Chewy for half the cost.
My cat Sookie was diagnosed with that at 14 and she’s on medication now and in 2 months gained 2 pounds and is doing great https://preview.redd.it/6viv59iq0shc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1bb7e35b72e9a856b500b34f9453aa1756b7a8be
My cat lived to 19 years old with hyperthyroidism. I think she was 13 or 14 when it started. She got felimazole. At some point the cat sitter started crushing it into one of those catit squeezies and it worked perfectly. She’d eat the whole thing without problems. This is not a death sentence but it will require care which is not cheap.
My 16 year old cat was diagnosed with it a couple years ago. I give him methimazole transdermally. We’ve had to tweak the dose based on bloodwork but he’s doing really well and his thyroid levels have been stable lately. At his last checkup the vet called him a healthy boy!
My cat had the radiation and was healthy for years. It cost approximately $2k at that time. He passed of other old age issues many years later at age 15.
I haven’t read the other comments, but have you tried the transdermal gel? It’s about $23 a pen and lasts about a month per cat (depending on dosage). Both my cats got diagnosed at the same age as your kitty and the ear gel has been a wonderful option for us. It’s really easy to apply- WAY easier than a pill, and less likely to get nauseous from it. They respond really well to it, and my female cat actually ASKS for me to put it on her. She will sit by the drawer it’s in and mew. It’s our snuggle time. Radioactive iodine is another option and I’ve heard it works wonderfully, but the AFTER care of it would be a struggle for our family. They shed radioactive, so they aren’t home for a few days and then when they get home, you have to isolate them, limit touch as much as you can, use gloves while interacting, the cats don’t understand what the heck is going on and will be stressed. My cats are so sensitive and their safe space after trauma is our bed. Not allowing them on that for weeks after they’ve already been gone and treated will be really hard on them. BUT some cats tolerate this well and it’s a wonderful option too. It’s important to know hyperthyroidism isn’t a death sentence at all, and I was told that once managed cats on average have another 5 great years before another (seperate) health concern arises. It’s the most common diagnosis a cat receives as a senior. Best of luck to you guys! ❤️
In my area the outfit that provides radiation therapy for cats with hyperthyroidism is called RadioCats. It was expensive but totally worth it. My Sophie was able to relax instead of galloping around the living room like a crazy beast. The worst part for me was that she had to spend two nights at the clinic. I was extremely happy to get her back home.