A little worried

We have a ten year old tiger kitty that my husband adopted right before we got married -- she's about 10 years old now --about a year and a half ago, she was diagnosed with hyper-thyroid and has been on meds. Her weight seemed to get better, coat improved, etc.

We've recently noticed that she's been losing weight again. We did change kitty food about a month or two ago because my calico was GAINING weight -it's very hard to feed them separately - but I don't think that's the only contributor.

She's peeing and pooping but doesn't seem interested in food all the time -- though sometimes she IS so we don't know what to make of that -- she has taken to "hiding" now and then, which she does when she's not feeling well. The hiding is definitely NOT normal behavior for her. She is alert, purring, etc. so we are a bit dumbfounded. Sometimes she wants to eat, sometimes she doesn't - sometimes she feels bad and hides, sometimes she doesn't...

I'm thinking a vet visit is in order but my husband is reluctant - he thinks she's just allergic to certain types of food and this could be a result...

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated...

Most definitely get her to the vet. At her age, any changes such as this could be a first indication of something wrong - her way to saying "I don't feel good".

thanks....you are echoing my sentiments, which I will pass along to my husband....

Funny you should say that...right after you guys posted, I hollered down the hall "honey?? Everybody says the same thing I do - take her to the vet!"

Poor baby - she is just the sweetest thing...my calico is such a bruiser, bless her...and our little Tabby Queen has always been tiny - but she was really looking terrific for a while and you can see a DEFINITE difference - her coat feels different to me, etc....

My husband is a health care professional but NOT A VET...he did the SAME THING with my elder statesman (Hemingway, RB 12/10/09), kept saying "no no no, he's FINE, no need for the vet" and I kept trusting him...Love him to death, I do, but when it comes to the "kids", I always have a gut feeling...and from now on? I FOLLOW IT! My calico got saved because of it - I posted about this around Christmas this past year - she was behaving strangely and ended up having a belly full of elastic bands...he didn't want to go to the vet that time either...she's alive because we did....

P.S. - Love your pic of Maverick, bless him....Hemingway was the love of mine....

So, the thing about cats is that, even though they're domesticated, they maintain their instincts that their kin had in the wild. And one of the main things they do when they don't feel well is hide wherever they can find a place they feel safe, or else they know they will be easy prey for a passing predator.

That's why I highly recommend a vet visit anytime anyone's cat goes and starts hiding when they never used to do that before. The only time I think it's ok is when there's a big change in their routine.... Like if you move to a new house, or you bring in a new pet or a new baby. Then it's understandable that they would hide. But if nothing out of the ordinary has happened to change the cat's daily routine and they just randomly start hiding, then it's definitely time to see the vet because that's how they cope with not feeling well.

Trust your instinct and take the cat to the vet. Sending lots of healing prayers and hoping the cat will be fine.

Cats with hyperthyroid disease taking medicine often need their medicine adjusted.

She should be having blood work every six months, to monitor how her thyroid is responding. In addition of course, there are other things that could be going on, her kidneys could be failing, as the two diseases often go hand and hand.

Do get her to the vet, very soon, the earlier things are caught the better her chances.

Your instincts were dead-on accurate when Lois had the blockage from the hair elastics. Time to trust them again, especially because of the hiding: its a clear signal that something's not right. I hope it's just a matter of adjusting her medication.

Good luck, and keep us posted, please!

Yes the speak the truth my friend. Take your kitty to the vet, you might pay more money than you wish but its worth it. Your cat shouldn't be acting like that it sounds like.