Paws
and Claws

Elderly cats may also have impaired kidney function. Treating hyperthyroidism requires close attention to kidney function, both before and during treatment.

Common treatments include surgery, radioactive iodine (RI) or an oral medicine, methimazole. Surgery is rarely performed currently because the other treatment options are much safer. RI may scare off some clients but is often the most effective and easiest long term treatment. With RI, there are several treatment centers in Southern California that will treat the cat and release him usually in three to five days. No further treatment is required.

Oral medication using methimazole is less expensive in the short term but usually requires a pill twice daily for the cat's lifetime. Sometimes this frequent medicating can set up an adversarial relationship between the cat and the owner. Some cats can also be treated with a specially compounded form of the oral medication. This is applied to the inside of the ear to enhance the drugs absorption through the skin.

Follow up blood tests will be required for any of the treatments.  Hyperthyroidism is a "good" old cat disease, as most cats can be successfully treated.