Hyperthyroidism in Elderly Cats: Watch for the Signs

Feline Hyperthyroidism (aka hyperthyroid disease) is a medical term that describes a very common condition in elderly cats (usually over 7 years of age). The term derives from the Greek prefix hyper- (excessive) and the noun thyroid, which refers to the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in the neck, on either side of the windpipe. It consists of two parts, two lobes, and this is why the thyroid gland is often referred to as the thyroid glands.

Just as in humans, this gland is very important to the kitty, because it regulates vital bodily functions, such as the metabolic rate, the heart rate, body temperature, etc. It does this by secreting certain hormones into the blood circulation. Balance is of extreme importance here: If the gland becomes overactive, then there is an excess of thyroid hormones in the bloodstream. This is the condition known as hyperthyroidism.

If you have a middle-aged or elderly cat, chances are it may be affected with hyperthyroidism at some point in its life. The key to treating the condition successfully lies in watching for the signs and catching it early. If left undiagnosed and untreated, hyperthyroidism may cost you the life of a dear friend.

These signs can be subtle, especially at the early stages of the disease, so be watchful. Ask yourself the following questions:

Has kitty been losing weight lately?
Has there been weight loss despite increased appetite?
Is kitty thirsty all the time?
Is it excessively active and/or vocal? Restless and/or irritable?
Does its coat look dull and unkempt?
Has it been vomiting frequently or had diarrhea?
Does it display uncommon intolerance of heat and/or panting under stress?
Does it sleep too much?

Now, this last one is tricky, as cats are experts at napping, but it can be the only sign. I know because it happened to me. Our 14-year old cat Rapscallion started spending most of his day on our bed, napping. At first, my husband and I simply attributed this to aging. There were no other suspicious signs, no noticeable weight loss, especially since our geriatric kitty had always been a picky eater and was slightly underweight all his life. His coat displayed the same beautiful shiny smoothness as when he was in the prime of life. He just started sleeping more.

It was weeks later that the excessive napping turned into lethargy. Our cat would barely get up to eat or drink. We rushed him to the vet who performed a medical exam and ran some tests. The results came back as positive for hyperthyroidism.

That was 3 years ago. Rapscallion's 17^th birthday is coming up in a couple months. He is a happy, active kitty who enjoys life, although he's grown a bit creaky. We take him to the vet regularly for blood tests and adjustments of the medication dosage. Other than that, hyperthyroidism has not disrupted his or our lives in the least. Except for the dirty look we get every time we manage to trick him into getting a pill popped down his throat.