Elderly cat has hyperthyroidism - help and support please on pill giving!

skintchick

EDIT: I've added this edit to say that this post isn;t really right any more as the sick was perhaps a re herring - she has been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. But I'd appreciate help and support as I have to give her pills twice a day now, and am also worried generally about her health. Thanks

She has always been a bit sicky, but it is all the time at th emoment! She is a rescue cat, I've had her seven years and she was probably six when I got her.

She doesn;t chew when she eats, so when it comes back up it is just soft, expanded biscuits in goo _pale_

I am fed up of clearing it up, and not sure if anyone has any ideas as to how to stop it?

Her food is down all the time, as is fresh water and she hardly goes outside any more as she is not interested. All she does is sleep really.

Any ideas? She isn;t ill.

cuddlymarm

Hi

Our cat is 14 and brings his food back if he is given a lot so now has 4 small meals throughout the day rather than 2 big ones (the vets suggestion ). Also he hasn't been able to stomach biscuits for a long time and has Aldis own sachets (the more expensive stuff is a bit rich and that can also be thrown up.)

Hope this helps

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

PS If you give small meals you can also keep an eye on how much is being eaten so you tell if illness is setting in.

skintchick

THanks.
She is very fussy and will only eat Purina biscuits - has never eaten wet food and will only eat tuna as a treat, nothing else.

Not sure what else to try really as I do want to leave food down for her while I'm at work.

Bendybops19

hey skinty

I have the same problem with my boy Dizzy. He has hardly any teeth left so doesnt chew.

I seem to have got round the problem now...

Firstly, dont give her too many biscuits - i have stopped them completely as this was a big part of Dizzys problem as he wasnt chewing them at all, so they would come up whole.

I now either feed Dizzy pate type foods which are smooth, or other cat food that i mush up for him so there arent any lumps. Dizzy is a fussy eater too! So, i would mash up the tuna for her as much as possible.

You may need to feed her more of the tuna if you cut back on the dry.

Another option is dry food by (royal canin i think...not 100%) that is softer and made for cats with dental problems. It will be easier for her to chew them. Or, get some kitten dry food which will be smaller.

Hope that helps a bit! xx

JennyW_2

skintchick wrote: »

She has always been a bit sicky, but it is all the time at th emoment! She is a rescue cat, I've had her seven years and she was probably six when I got her.

She doesn;t chew when she eats, so when it comes back up it is just soft, expanded biscuits in goo _pale_

I am fed up of clearing it up, and not sure if anyone has any ideas as to how to stop it?

Her food is down all the time, as is fresh water and she hardly goes outside any more as she is not interested. All she does is sleep really.

Any ideas? She isn;t ill.

it's not normal for cats (or dogs) to bring up their food. And seeing as your cat is elderly, I think you owe her a trip to the vet. You wont be able to just "stop it" - she may need antibiotics.

Both my dogs this year have been to the vets because they were bringing up their food. One had a bacterial infection and the other just had an upset tummy, however they both had to have antibiotics.

WeirdoMagnet

Yep, I've got to agree with Jenny, if it were me we'd be off to the vets. It's best to get the problem diagnosed so you can treat it.

elvis_girl

My cat also throws up (never on tiles, always on carpet - nice) and I only like to give dry food as its better for their teeth. You can get food for cats with sensitive stomachs (Purina I think) in Tescos. Its in a blue packet.

Natty68

We had the exact same problem with my 18y cat. We had her checked over at the vets and everything was fine, it was just that the dry biscuits she was on they didn't agree with her. We now have her on Iams Mature for cats over 11+, and touch wood she has been so much better and is keeping the biscuits down. Poor little lamb was getting deprived when the others were eating their biscuits and she couldn't have any. Now she is happily munching on cat food and biscuits and is even putting a little bit of weight back on again.

skintchick

I have asked the vet and they said she's totally well. She won;t eat wet food, and will kitten biccies give her the right nutrition?

I'll look into softer biccies though, maybe that's the answer.

She threw up in my tool box last night _pale_ serves me right for not putting it away!

cuddlymarm

They always choose the best places to throw up. My George always tries to throw up in my shoes (unfortunately I forgot to check once - yuck :eek: )

Ghost

Great advice so far. :T

I adopted a cat and her two kittens, and I had to feed the mum separate from the kittens whilst they were on the kitten food (on the vet's advice), as kitten food would cause her to put on too much weight.

I would also avoid feeding kitten food to an elderly cat, as your cat's nutritional needs will be different from a kitten's.

I have always found Hills Science Diet to be among the best of the dry foods on the market. They now include in their range a formula for sensitive stomachs, you might want to try that and see how she gets on with it. Ask your vet for a sample before you buy.

I might also be tempted to get another vet's opinion - just to be sure.