Best Food Choices for Hyperthyroid Cats

I have done recent research (1/17/15) into the foods listed below, to be sure they are KELP-free, and they are. See them listed in bold below.

As a cat lover, animal professional, and a woman who has cared for four cats the last sixteen years, I have learned a great deal in that time. Namely, I have learned more about hyperthyroidism in cats than I ever wanted to know, because two of my cat companions became hyperthyroid–a common condition in cats as they age.

Aside from making a homemade diet, cooked or raw, it has been difficult to find a quality canned cat food that does not have the seaweed ‘kelp’ in it, which is a problem for hyperthyroid cats.

By quality, I am referring to foods that are grain free or well balanced, that support superb feline health, bring shine and luster to their coat, and keep fecal odor to a minimum! This last factor is definitely important when living space is in close quarters (fyi–high quality grain free and raw foods lessen odor, and nothing compares to raw for close to odorless).

Kelp is generally good for us and our pets, as it is full of iodine, which stimulates thyroid activity. This is good for cats that are overweight, but is not good for hyperthyroidism, in fact it makes the condition much worse. Due to being overwhelmed with two of my cats passing this year and moving to a new home with my remaining two, finding brands ideal for Gem, the remaining kitty with hyperthyroidism and FUS-kidney failure, didn’t come easily. Now there is a prescription diet available that has medication right in the food, which I have no experience with.

Frustrated that I could no longer give Gem frozen prepared raw food because of his complex condition, I began to search. The fact that most prepared raw food contains kelp, and feeding raw bones was no longer an option (bone-calcium fuels crystals/stones to form in cats with FUS), I was desperate to find canned food that would nourish him without activating either condition, and a food that met all of my above mentioned criteria.

I spoke of my frustration to Pennye, an owner of The Big Bad Woof. She directed me to ~~Annamaet’s new cat food~~, Chicken & Fish-antibiotic, hormone and gluten free food, made specifically without kelp (and with cranberries and DL-Methonine for bladder health). I don’t feed my cats dry food for many reasons, but I was happy to know about this food and decided to take some samples home and try it out anyway.

UPDATE 3/13/16: ANNAMAET NOW HAS KELP – IT IS NOT KELP FREE

I have been feeding Gem and Rosie small amounts of Annamaet every day and they love it, and Gem is doing well with no urinary issues. Generally though, I stay away from dry and lean toward feeding canned or raw, mainly because I notice their coats begin to thin and they throw-up much more.

For canned foods, I used to feed Nature’s Variety regularly, but Weruva is now at the top of my list. Their food is ‘above and beyond human grade’ and my cats love it!!!

Since Hyperthyroidism is one of the top five reasons cats visit the vet, I thought cat food manufacturers would make food without kelp, but the majority of them don’t, especially the healthier ones. Thanks so much to these conscious pet food companies who do, and many thanks to all those that operate with the animals best health in mind.

May your cats be thoroughly fulfilled and nourished, a major task for a cat guardian if the cat has thyroid challenges.

After writing this I decided to do some research to see exactly which cat foods in our store (BBW) are kelp free. There are many foods that are kelp free (listed below), but not many that meet all of my standards listed above (i.e., healthy coat, minimal odor).

Here are the foods I found and also like:

Freeze Dried: Honest Kitchen Prowl and most treats with just meat by Bravo, Halo, etc..

Raw: Aunt Jeni’s Beef contains no bones, Smith Meadows Chicken Hearts (simple and tasty way to increase taurine intake)

Grain Free Canned:

Weruva
Addiction
By Nature (Grain-free canned)
Blue Wilderness (Wild Cats, Healthy Gourmet, Wild Delights)
Go
Evo
Verus
Wellness Healthy Indulgence
Nature’s Variety Homestyle

Grain Free Dry:
Evo, Go, Taste of the Wild, Legacy

Regular Canned:
California Natural, Blue Spa Select, Evolve, Innova,

Regular Dry:
Fromm, Health Wise, California Natural, Blue Spa Select, Sammy Snacks

84 responses to “Best Food Choices for Hyperthyroid Cats”

Sandra

January 12, 2012

Hi there, thank you for sharing your story.

Kaos was just recently diagnosed with hyperthyroid after 4 years of early kidney failure. The vet suggested Hill’s y/d as it just became available and if he ate it, would eliminate the need for medication.

With his kidney issues that increased by ~25% in this past year, I was trying to understand what symptons to watch for that would indicate his health … I am very concerned after some reading.

Is the food you found good for cats with renal issues and is there anyone you could recommend? I am in Calgary, AB, so it may be challenge to find the manufacturer’s but, I want my Kaos to live a lot longer = healthier and good spirits.

thank you
Sandra

venus oracles

January 12, 2012

Hi Sandra,

Thanks for posting your question. I am not a vet and I can share with you what I know. If your cat is hyperthyroid and has kidney failure, you have your hands full, but with holistic care and whole food a great deal of his symptoms can be managed well.

How old is Kaos and what has he been eating most of his life? dry food or grocery store canned? I have my cat on raw food without bone, one because raw food has the most moisture content available, which proves to be more important than lower protein, and second because my cats have always done better on raw food. That said, each situation and animal is different and all symptoms, temperament, etc. has to be considered when making changes.

I recently found this website, and subsequent blog article about food and renal failure, several weeks ago and I like the information and this doctor’s philosophy. Here’s the link to it about moisture content and kidney disease.

Also be sure to steer clear of vaccines, as they further disease processes.

Let me know if I can answer more specifically or help in anyway. I am an animal communicator and offer intuitive readings and wellness consultations.

Reply
1. Sandra
  
  January 12, 2012
  
  Thank you for your response.
  
  Kaos is a Ragdoll and nearly 15 years old – his sister, Mischief I had to say good bye to a few years ago, due to a far gone tumor in her abdomen area, I was so distressed.
  
  They were diagnosed one after the other, nearly 5 years ago.
  
  Primarily on dry food.
  
  After early kidney diagnosis changed to Royal Canin Renal dry food – after trying numerous dry and even wet foods – it was a huge challenge. Adding 1/8 to 1/4 of a wet can per day Royal Canin / MediCal.
  
  Only ~ 6 months ago, did I begin to increase the wet food to almost a can per day after a friend noticed he was big framed – but thin. I figured the dry food was a little hard for his teeth, so he was eating less.
  
  In mid December 2011 was when we had his blood work done – now I’m reading it should be done every 6 months at his age – 15 to check more closely his levels.
  
  He is such a lover, he would hang over my shoulder all day with this legs swinging or tucked into my pant/skirt. I want to ensure he is as healthy as can be without being in any pain.
  
  I will check the link you provided – thank you.

Sandra

January 12, 2012

We just weighed him … he gained .6 lbs in one week, so that is a good thing for a hyper thyroid … it’s just the other symptoms I am concerned about.

venus oracles

January 12, 2012

Oh, that is great! I hope the link helps. My Gem is two months shy of sixteen and is a big framed cat as well. He and Rosie, who is fourteen going on fifteen got very ill over the summer and lost a great deal of weight. They are much better now, though Gem hasn’t gained all his weight back, so I have to keep a close eye on him. He too loves for me to carry him around and I feel he plans on being around for as long as he can. I think he’ll be here for several more years.

I noticed he does very well on By Nature canned food. That is his preference when I don’t feed him raw. I work at a holistic pet supply store and get exposure to looks of great foods, plus raw food from local farms. I give them raw chicken hearts twice a week, mixed with Honest Kitchen for cats, and Aunt Jeni’s beef. All of those have no raw bone, so no additional calcium is added to Gem’s diet because of his urinary-bladder history of crystals and stones.

Best,
Wendy

Sandra

January 13, 2012

Hi Wendy,

Thank you for writing. I calmed down after we weighed him and from yesterday, his body movements, demeanor and energy seemed to have increased a lot.

I do have take him back to the vet for follow up blood work to mark where we’re at and to monitor.

I did stop at the holistic vets office and talk with them – very calming, very helpful in knowledge, experience and direction.

1. They assured me the Hill’s y/d was safe.
2. They have treated cats still alive in the high teens and even early 20’s with renal and hyper thyroid issues.
3. They were pleased to hear Kaos had gained weight – a very good sign – they also suggested getting back to my vet for follow up blood work. Then to address the renal matter since Hill’s/ y/d is for hyper thyroid only they said to come in for a review and they would make some Chinese herb medicine for his particular levels on the renal side, which they have had very good success with.

Now I am going to keep a daily diary for him so that I can be far more on him … maybe this is ambitious but to know they have cats that are 22 with renal and hyperthyroid (each one is different I know) has buoyed my spirits dramatically. Since he is “only” 15 years we do have so much more to look forward to!

I send you great love for Gem and Rosie in their luck to have you as their Mom and a long healthy life!

warmly.
Sandra

Celeste

March 26, 2012

Just learned about your fabulous web-site.
My 12-yr old male was just diagnosed with hyperthryroidism. I am wholistic and won’t use any medicines. Heard about Standard Process thyro——(sp) pmg. How much to use and has anyone found this to lower the total T4 blood level?
Sandra, please let me know what supplements you had your cats on that were mentioned in Anitra Frazier’s and Dr. Pitcairn’s books.
Are they a means of “management” of this disorder (vs. using medicine) OR a means to “cure” this disorder? I understand a “cure” to be the complete elimination of the palpable thryoid nodules that the
vets feel. I look forward to continued contact with you and your readers.
Celeste
Long Island, NY

venus oracles

March 30, 2012

Dear Celeste,

I apologize it has taken me so long to get back to you! Some vets have had success with Standard Process PMG, but mostly the holistic vets either prescribe Chinese herbs or homeopathy. With my two cats I have used both, and had some success. I would suggest working with a homeopathic vet to determine with remedy is best for your cat, as not all remedies work interchangeably.

I used the traditional medication with my cat, but she hated it, though needed it because her levels were so out of balance. I was going to her the radioactive treatment, but she chose to leave the planet before her appointment.

It’s best treated naturally when it is caught early.

Let me know you you have any other question, and all the best with your kitties!

Wendy

Reply

venus oracles

April 6, 2012

I recently found Dr. Peter Dobias’ updated information on homeopathy, hyperthyroidism and cats.

Here’s the link: http://www.peterdobias.com/community/2010/04/cheap-table-salt-cures-hyperthyroidism-in-some-cats/

Sandra

April 6, 2012

Dear Celeste,

My prayers are with you and your 12 year old cat, this can be distressing news, especially with some of the info on websites that blows things out of proportion.

First, take your cat’s bloodwork and set them in a spread sheet with values under each heading, dates etc. This is your only barometer of where he is and from what period to the next. I have 8 tests in 5 years plotted – this gives me an entirely different perspective than looking at one test.

Kaos has had 3 blood tests Dec 20111, January 2012 and March 2012.

He was on Hill’s Y/D … this apparently addresses the Hyper Thyroid, but NOT the renal issues … his January test supported this. He was immediately removed from the food, and set on methimizole (human drug) to treat his Hyperthyroidism.

The 3rd test revealed the Methimizole decreased his t4 back to normal and his other levels dropped ~ 20% … after 5 weeks. He will be tested again in 6 months – UNLESS – as my vet cautioned:
he stops eating, he loses weight, he vomits (which has virtually ceased).

Does your cat have RENAL + Hyper Thyroidism?

Standard Process manufactures a RENAL supplement that detoxifies the kidneys, RENAFOOD … I read the human version was better for cats than the cat product. Also, it must be prescribed and it is not available in Canada … so we never tried it.

Kaos has DRASTICALLY improved! He is on the methimizole 1/4 pill per day. He has gained weight (we weigh him every week) and now back at a healthy 9 lbs 3/4 oz. He stretches, talks, has soft fur, eyes are bright and he’s “back to normal”. He is so contented and his body behaviour is the true indicator.

I gave Kaos a variety of food options – it is more important to him to eat than stay true to your natural / organic mindset. After all this is about him … not you.

If he is not eating, he will decline in a very rapid time. Kaos’ weight had dropped to almost 8 lbs … not very much for a large framed Rag Doll cat … he was a skeleton … he regained – slowly the weight because I fed him … chased him with the wet food and sometimes had to push it at him 4 times before he said, oh, ok, I am a little hungry.

He had 3 types of wet food and 3 types of dry food.

The biggest conflict I read is that on one hand, they say HyperTHryroid cats should be fed a reduced protein diet – yet, there is no conclusive evidence to say that is necessary and helps with hyperthyroidism. The problem is that Seniors are like Kittens – they NEED PROTEIN to help their muscles (which atrophy in Seniors … esp with HT) I followed my gut and went with what made sense – besides I was watching him closely and taking him for blood work to see the evidence. For Kaso the increased protein his food – from the Hill’s A/D … for sick cats/dogs … was the right solution.

Do what’s right for your cat … see how he responds and track his blood work … I didn’t want to give Kaos a drug, but, under a watchful eye, his return to healthy and liveliness is the only reminder I need to know that it was the right decision. At 15 years old, I am hopeful for many more healthy years.

He is not cured, but I will care for him to ensure he lives well.

All the best to you Celeste!

Sandra

Reply
1. Cyraya Pendergrass
  
  April 24, 2012
  
  Dear Sandra,
  
  Please, what is the exact name of the food? I am currently posted overseas and a search on Amazon (which delivers to an APO) yeilded tons of Hills AD type foods. Help, my girl is sick and the vets here are horrible. -Cy
2. venus oracles
  
  April 25, 2012
  
  I think you can find this information on Google, I believe it is called Y/D.
  
  Hope this helps.

Sandra

April 25, 2012

Hi Celeste,

Does your cat have Renal AND HT?

What we tried were 2 different Hill’s food:

y/d …. released in September 2011 …. hyper thyroid (our experience … with 3 blood tests in 4 mo … was that it WAS NOT good for renal, so Kaos was removed immediately upon the test results).

a/d … critical care food for both cats and dogs – a “tastier” food to encourage them to eat when sick … high protein, wet … add more water to food and feed through the largest syringe you can find from a vet / pharmacy (feeding is a challenge 🙂 just to get something in his system.

Maybe ask your Vet to give him fluids to boost his appetite and nourish.

As Wendy mentioned above … go to Hills website and search there … email or call – they were helpful for me.

Good luck …. most importantly know there will be good and not so good days …. but keep watchful eye … food

all the best, Sandra

Barbara Rives

May 25, 2012

Hi! I was delighted to find your insight on a healthy diet for your hyperthyroid cats. I have a 16 year old cat named “Abby” who was diagnosed with hyperthyroid about 6 months ago & her Vet put her on Hills y/d. Her thyroid count has come down some but I’m not convinced that this is a healthy long term diet for her. I’ve been thinking of switching her to Weruva but still scared to make the decision. I would like to know what flavors you feed your cats & are they clear of iodine? Thank you for any help or piece of mind you can give me.

venus oracles

May 26, 2012

Hi Barbara,

As far as I know, there is no iodine type foods, such as kelp, in Weruva. Mostly, I feed raw meat to my cat, with no bone, and by Nature because my cat has a variety of health issues going on, including Hyperthyroidism with extreme sensitivity to calcium because it creates bladder crystals.

By Nature is low in ash, and it doesn’t have any kelp. I especially don’t feed any canned fish, because there is usually crushed up bones (calcium which is not good for crystal/bladder issues which my Gem has) and I’m sure Mercury, which can’t be good for the thyroid.

If you follow the list of foods I posted, those are free of kelp. There are a great deal of them now, with more nutritional value than Hills.

What were you feeding Abby before her diagnosis?

Reply

Sara

June 6, 2012

Hi,

My Ollie is hyperthyroid but so far kidney problems. The vet did prescribe Hill’s y/d and for a time Olllie liked it and seems to be doing better. However he reached a point when he would no longer eat it and wanted the Evo chicken/turkey that the other cats were eating.
He seems to be holding his own but is still quite thin. He likes to eat every 2-3 hrs and that goes for night time as well. He still vomits too often and does not always want to poop in the litter box. Is this a problem that goes with the disease? He is 12 yrs. old and was always the best using the litterbox.

I also give him resthyro which is a herbal supplement which is help with the symptoms of hyperthroid. Not sure if it does but it can’t hurt him and maybe doing some good.

He loves raw chicken so maybe a raw diet is the answer??

Reply,

Mutable Muse

June 10, 2012

Hi Sara,

Hey I apologize for the delay in responding to your comment–I’ve been out of town.

Does Ollie have kidney condition? I’m not sure from what your post said? If he does have kidney related issues, then what I wrote below about EVO won’t work. The best food for kidney failure is raw, according to holistic approach, because raw food has soooo much moisture, that the kidney levels normalize, whereas canned food doesn’t change it much and dry is just out of the question. What I wrote below was before I realized your Ollie does have kidney issues.

I believe Evo is a cat food that is free from Kelp, thus okay to feed Ollie. I use Hyper Jai Bing, a chinese herb for Gem’s hyperthyroidism and another for vomiting/loose stools, both symptoms for the thyroid imbalance. Thus far Gem is doing great on them, and I don’t need to use the one for vomiting everyday.

Since Gem has had sensitivity to getting bladder crystals his whole life (stress to the water organs, i.e., kidney bladder) and drinks a huge amount of water) and considering his age, sixteen, I chose to manage his health issues (thyroid, age, and kidney imbalance) with raw food, though I do feed wet too.

Lately I have been giving him raw organ meat (kidney, heart and liver) from a local farm and he has transformed. He gained two pounds and looks fuller. If he remains in the kitchen staring, waiting for more food, after I have fed the raw, I give him a 1/4 to 1/2 can of ‘by Nature’ or Weruva.

If you are feeding raw meat, you may want to check out the Chinese medicine food charts that categorize foods according to their temperature. Chicken and lamb is considered ‘warming’ to the body, where rabbit and duck are ‘cooling.’ Because chicken is warming, and nodules on the thyroid can appear with hyperthyroidism (all growths are considered to shape out of inflammatory (heat) conditions, I stay away from chicken for the most part, though the organ meat I was giving Gem was Lamb. He seemed to be fine with it, but Isis my one year old began coughing. She has congestion in her lungs, so I stopped giving it to her (she gets beef) and her symptoms subsided.

FYI-Gem goes outside of the box now too, so I monitor him quite often and have washable rugs right next to the litter box. If the herbs you are giving are working, his appetite should decrease from 2-3 hours of feeding to 2-3x’s per day. If you add high quality raw into his diet, he most likely won’t be as hungry. You may also need to find a vet who can prescribe Hyper Jai Bing–it works wonders.

All the best,
Wendy

Reply

Mutable Muse

June 10, 2012

FYI- I just posted a link for the food charts, at the very bottom, right side of this blog. I hope you find it useful.

Avis Brewer

July 29, 2012

Hi I have several cats eating the Weruva cat food. Do you suggest not using the ones with fish because of the mercury? My Lizzie cat is hyperthyroid. She is on 1/2 methymazole a day. She has been stable since she was diagnosed a year ago. She eats Evo dry and Evo 95 percent chicken and turkey can. She also loves Weruva Mack and jack. Do you think the food she’s eating is ok?

Wendy

July 29, 2012

Hi Avis,

The topic of not feeding fish comes from a double diagnosis of FLTUD (Feline Lower Tract Urinary Disease) and hyperthyroidism. In the article, I wrote about my cat Gem who has both. Canned fish, from my vet’s perspective, usually contains crushed up bone (calcium), which is not good for FLUTD because it encourages crystals to form in the bladder. Whether the fish is Tuna, canned Salmon or canned cat food it is discouraged for cats with FLUTD.

As far as I know, there is no contraindication in feeding fish to cats with hyperthyroidism. That said, Mercury is in fish and I wonder how much it impacts cats. Additionally, I wonder how Mercury influences kidney disease, which cats are prone to suffering from.

Maybe that is a good topic for my next blog entry. Gem goes to the vet tomorrow for bloodwork to check his thyroid and kidney function. He has been drinking huge amounts of water.

Reply

Wendy

August 30, 2012

I just posted the latest updates on Gem’s hyperthyroidism and feeding fish (my vet says YES feed fish, its cooling to a condition that generates heat in the body.

Khim

October 20, 2012

My calico was diagnosed HT a few years ago; thyroid levels were always high end of normal but she exhibited the other signs of HT (hyperactivity, increased appetite, weight loss, going outside litter box, etc.). I wanted her to undergo I131 treatment but was not recommended due to her “normal high” thyroid levels and non-palpable thyroid. She could not tolerate tapazole (broke out rashes, vomiting, etc.). She is now 15 and was on Hill’s Y/D for almost 10 months. She took well to the food (both canned and dry) and thyroid levels came back down to high normal, but she did not gain that much weight (2 lbs at most?). Last week she stopped eating. Vet did urine tests, blood work and nothing seemed wrong. We gave her several different types of food just to get her to eat something. She ate very little for couple days and vet thought her time might be up and we should consider euthanasia rather than let her starve. The last couple days, she started eating a bit more (canned Wellness chicken which she loved before Y/D). I’m so confused – follow vet’s advice to euthanize or let her continue eating other food to keep her going? Other than lethargy, she’s still affectionate, can walk, jump, using litter box, etc. In other words, not exhibiting signs of dying. Yes she is thin and her coat is not as it used to be, and I know cats mask pain, etc., but I’m so conflicted about what’s best for her at this point. Should I give her some more time?

Wendy

October 20, 2012

I doesn’t sound like your cat is ready to go. I feel our animals let us know, in no uncertain terms when they are ready. If she is eating and happy that is a sign. If she is not eating and starving that is another.

Have you had a thyroid levels checked recently? You might consider animal communication as an option to help you understand what she is feeling and needing. Let me know how I can help further.

My Gem was very ill through the summer and I was sure he was dying. I hadn’t put him on the Methamazole yet, but did in the transdermal form (that gets rubbed in his ears). I was very fearful about it, because Cleopatra did not do very well with it at all. Gem, on the other hand, has improved immensely. He is on a low dose, plus he has renal issues. So he gets Renal Support every day and his HT medication–and he gained two pounds! much to my relief.

All the best,
Wendy

Reply

Vera

August 5, 2013

Hi, I’m Vera. I live out in the country and have nine cats. Three brothers, Norwegian Wood Cats who will be six years old this winter, and six rescue kitties. Hector, one of the Norwegian’s has a large frame and has more Persian tendencies than his brothers. He worried me from day one. His chest is narrow and he wheezes when he breathes. The vet told me not to worry about it, that he would be fine. (My cats get their shots every year – that they need them and are fixed.) He has been losing weight gradually since last summer. I know that cats don’t show symptoms of being sick until they are really ill. Because of that, we have been very worried about him! He appears to be healthy, likes to play, and wants to eat everything in sight. I can’t afford to take him to the vet right now because I don’t currently have a full-time job. I feed him Nine Lives dry cat food – Daily Essentials because it does not have kelp in it, and has taurine. Not very happy with the protein levels in it, though. We were feeding Hector a can of tuna a day, but just realized that the iodine is probably making his condition worse! I guess I could feed him some chicken. . . raw or cooked? What do I need to do?

Wendy

August 5, 2013

Hi Vera,

Since I am not a vet, I can only share with you what I would personally do. First canned tuna is not a complete meal. Weruva is a better choice for feeding fish. You can find it in most pet stores. It is high quality.

Second, see if you can find Dr. Pitcairn’s Book, Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, Dr. Hamilton’s book, Homeopathy for Small Animals, and connect with Dogs Naturally Magazine. They are on Facebook and although the magazine is for dogs, the material educational and can serve animal owners well. Dr. Hamilton is available for homeopathic consultations.

Third, I am available for intuitive healing, and animal communication if you would like to have me tune into what he is feeling.

The wheezing sounds like asmatha. IF YOUR CAT IS ILL, OR SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF ANY KIND, THAT ARE UNHEALTHY, DO NOT ALLOW YOUR VET TO VACCINATE THEM FURTHER. Most vets are on board with that now. If you vet isn’t find another one, who will work with you more consciously.

Check out the food pyramid posted on this blog, to learn about food and their properties. Chicken is warming, and thus can add to inflammatory processes, especially if fed all the time.

I raised my cats on raw, and still feed them raw. The two kittens, now 2 years old eat primarily rabbit because it is cooling. You can try raw and see what happens. I am working on creating a video about raw food, to help educate cat owners how to get them to eat it, or to transition them. It is more expensive, but pays for itself in health.

Oh, also Antrita Frazier has a great book, The New Natural Cat. I consider it the cat bible, espeically at the beginning of learning how to care for cats with the utmost consciousness.

Let me know how your kitty does, and I hope this helps.

Mindfully,
Wendy

Reply
1. Wendy
  
  August 5, 2013
  
  Food chart is at the bottom of my blog.

Sandra

August 5, 2013

Dear Vera,

Sorry to hear of your cat losing weight, it is a most distressing matter, especially when your money is tight.

**** A blood test details everything – a cat is senior at 10 years ****

Hill’s a/d – only at the Vet is high protein for animals in distress (do not confuse with y/d!!!!) if dogs or cats are traumatized, they will water this down and feed with a large syringe to get to ensure they are getting nourishment.

My cat Kaos is early kidney failure for 7 years and hyper thyroid (right on / over the mark) for 2 years now. We had weight loss concerns and getting him healthy.

Kaos eats Hills A/D 1/8 to 1/4 can per day – depending on what HE WANTS TO EAT and it has made a world of difference at 17 years old Ragdoll who is an indoor cat and allowed outside with me, is chasing birds and squirrels.

Good luck and we’ll send our prayers for his full recovery!

Sandra

Connie Harter

August 26, 2013

After my moms cat got very sick from hyperthyroidism a month ago and was put on Hills CD, I’ve been searching for a thyroid-friendly diet ever since. I hate the ingredients in the dry, (no meat), and the wet isn’t much better. I reluctantly began experimenting recently with different foods after reading your site. She seemed to love Bravo raw at first, but then changed her mind. I searched all the Weruva cans and they almost all have fish in them. Isn’t that just as bad as added kelp? I would love to get her cat and mine (7) off of dry, but mom is 91 and it’s easier for her to give dry at least once a day and I have so many, that switching to all raw or canned is pretty pricey. Anyway, I looked at your list and there wasn’t much to choose from in the dry catagory that didn’t have kelp, so I chose Taste of the Wild, which also has fish in the chicken variety. I’m watching her cat as much as I can on my days off, but am so scared that the progress she made on Hills will go out the window and the vet will again be upset with me. Also, do you have any thoughts on Pets Pride which is a refrigerated roasted chicken cat food? I truly believe raw is the best, but getting them all to eat it is another story. Thanks for your time.

Wendy

August 28, 2013

Hi Connie – I don’t know anything about Pet’s Pride, but I do know cats with hyperthyroidism MUST be on medication or a food that addresses the issue, because it is a very serious condition.

I would put your cat back on the food from the vet, especially if she isn’t on any medication, as the diet is her medication. Please look into seeing a holistic vet if you are making changes, as each cat is different and needs monitoring.

Reply
1. Harter, Constance
  
  August 29, 2013
  
  Hi Wendy
  
  Thanks for the prompt, but confusing reply. I thought the idea was to get a cat on a diet that is kelp-free and the hyperthyroidism would get better. That’s why I thought you printed the list of kelp-free and grain-free foods. I was just concerned that most of them have fish in them, especially Weruva, and wondered why that isn’t just as bad as kelp. Also, there are many web sites that tell of the Hills Science Diet being awful for our pets, even if they limit the iodine content. Talk about grain, the first ingredient in the dry is corn gluten meal, and the first ingredient in the wet is pork by products. I just can’t, in all good conscience, keep her on it.
  
  ________________________________
2. Wendy
  
  August 29, 2013
  
  Thanks Connie for your reply. I got concerned that your cat may not be getting what he needs. In the early stages, changing diet is very helpful. If cats are in mid-stages or advanced, they must be on medication of some kind, whether that be herbal, prescription, or homeopathic. That all depends on the vet.
  
  My experience is both my cats needs meds, after trying herbs and homeopathy. And yes the best foods to feed are without kelp. Maybe the ingredients have changed on the list I created, I’ll have to look into that. The intention of posted them was that they were kelp free.
  
  I am a huge proponent of raw food. If one can generate enough creativity in feeding cats, they can usually be successful in switching their cats to a raw diet.
  
  How is your mother’s cat doing now?

Bunny H.

December 4, 2013

Hello Wendy,
I have two cats, and my 13 year old who was always incredibly healthy was just diagnosed with beginning stages of Hyperthyroidism. All other blood work normal and he is 11.5 lbs. I noticed he was drinking a lot of water the past few months and urinating larger amounts and more often, so I had the vet draw blood work and that’s what he found. He prescribed either Hills Y/D or the methimizole pills, but I’m more holistic, and have been feeding Bailey raw food for a few years to get his weight down since he was a little lazy weighing 14 lbs a few years back. The raw food really got him lean and mean and filled with energy. I have decided to try Thryroid Gold Support which I found online, first to see if that helps lower his thyroid to normal range and continue to fee his raw diet of pheasant, quail and/or free range turkey. I got a second opinion from a vet who is well trained in also naturopathic ways besides traditionally and he agreed that the Y/D diet is not healthy, and to try the Thryroid Gold homeopathic drops for 30 days and recheck is Thryoid then. I do hope it goes down, since I’m concerned about pills/drugs in his body. I feed both cats several times a day in smaller amounts, since I work from home. I have my 7 year old cat Chloe on cooked rabbit from Woody’s Pet Food Deli, all raw and cooked meats, since it’s the only protein source that has cured her Irritable bowel syndrome so she doesn’t vomit her food up anymore or go outside her litter box. I also just learned that many carpets and furniture have flame retardants that have been recently discovered to cause abnormal thyroid levels in cats. Both vets sent me articles about it, and I wish I would have known…would have carpeted my home with bamboo or wool. There are so many harsh chemicals in many carpets and even couches/chairs! Something to think about for indoor pets, as mine are. Thanks for your posts about kelp/iodine free pet foods. I may need to try a few other options in the future. I hope your cats are doing well!!

Wendy

December 4, 2013

Thanks Bunny. I love hearing about cats getting raw whole food diets. I’m not a total purest, as I feed canned too, when I am short on supplies.

Please let us know how the Thyroid Gold works. Catching the condition early, helps immensely when working with natural remedies.

I do believe the carpet, furniture and basic pollution has a great deal to do with it….I have additional thoughts about the effects our human endocrine system has on the cats/animals we live with too.

More about that another time. I’m in my last week of graduate classes and don’t have extra time to elaborate.

All the best in Bailey’s health.

Reply
1. Bunny H.
  
  December 4, 2013
  
  Thank you Wendy! Congratulations on finishing graduate school! Look forward to more postings in the future. What field of study are you obtaining your Masters Degree or PhD?

Wendy

December 5, 2013

I have practiced in the field of healing for many years, 20+, part of that as massage therapist. I am now a Health & Wellness Coach with specific training in Nutrition.

Bunny H.

December 5, 2013

Wendy,
I’m not sure you received my comment earlier, since it may not have gone through. May I ask where you studied to become a Wellness Coach? I have much interest in nutrition, and have been vegan for almost one year now, vegetarian for the past 15 years. Regarding my cat Bailey, I have not decided to put him on the Hills Y/D Diet or the methimazole drugs. I just started the holistic Thyroid Support Gold which I add to his raw free range turkey or pheasant/quail I purchase from Woody’s Pet Food Deli. I know it’s not a permanent cure, but nutrition plays a big role. I could not find any iodine/kelp free canned foods, so I decided to stay on the raw diet for him. Any other thoughts about nutrition for hyperthyroidism that you can share would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Reply

Janice Marksberry

January 20, 2014

This has been very encouraging to find some other food other than Y/D for my diabetic, hyperthyroid 15 year old cat. She has her ups & downs with eating and if I dare change foods that may or maynot contain iodine would throw her hyperthyroid issue off but diabetics have to eat. I read an interesting article from Dr. Mark E. Peterson, link http://endocrinevet.blogspot.com/2011/09/best-diet-to-feed-hyperthyroid-cats.html that said that eventually, hyperthyroid cats turn diabetic. Mine already was diabetic but the hyperthyroid condition can eventually cause her to become insulin resistant which I think is happening with my kitty. I’m going to try the food ideas to get her bulked up with more protein to see if the insulin helps her better. She has always been a good case study becasue she responds to treatments right away. I was hoping to get her off insulin all together with the high protein diet of M/D but then she ended up getting a high thyroid result. It’s a danged if you do & danged if you don’t situation. But for now, thanks Windy for sharing your research on all the different natural foods we can try! I’ve read that certain fish naturally contain iodine…such as salmon, halibut and tuna, all being salt water fish. Fresh water fish have less. Makes sense I guess but being in Alaska, our cat just can’t stand that we don’t share our salmon & halibut with her!
Janice

barbara

April 20, 2014

Thanks so much. the problem for me and my hyperthyroid cat is that he also has some kind of allergy. My vet said to stay away from chicken and beef. Also, he just had an x-ray and has a mass in the lung area. Vets say it is a tumor, but it is very contained. I am shocked that my cat has all of this going on. His coat is great and he looks very healthy. I have always fed a partly raw or cooked diet for them, no dry food really, although he won’t always eat unless i put a few pieces of kibble on top of his food. And i only use high quality canned food, like wellness, organic pet guard, abady. i would love to give him honest kitchen, but their cat food is either chicken or fish, i think. his weight has been pretty stable (he has lost less than a lb) and doesn’t really exhbit signs of hyperthyroidism, except that his blood work shows it and the number went up to 10.4 from 6.5 in three months. i was going to put him on the medication, but am not wanting to. any suggestions would be so appreciated.

Bunny H.

April 23, 2014

I highly recommend seeing a holistic animal wellness practitioner who is also a DVM. I took my 13 year old hyperthyroid cat who’s T4 level was at 7.5 beginning stages of hyperthyroid and she put him on a supplement called Enteric, Chinese herbs called Wen Den Tang and also a homeopathic solution of thyroid pill, and we started slowly to make sure he tolerated all of this in his food. He has been on a raw food diet for a few years and I just mixed it in and served at room temperature. Three months later I returned to the vet, and had his T4 levels checked. They had dropped significantly to 1.9. Amazing results without drugs or using an awful prescription diet. I highly recommend her, although she’s in Minnesota. I’m sure there are others like her. I am now bringing my other cat to see her, and he has IBS, so I’m hoping for similar results trying this holistic approach

Reply
1. Wendy
  
  April 23, 2014
  
  Awesome Bunny – thanks so much for sharing this!
Wendy

April 23, 2014

Hello Barb,

Sorry to hear about the mass found in your cat’s lung. My Bear cat has several lesion masses in his lung and he departed quickly, so glad to hear it’s contained in your cat.

Yes Honest Kitchen only makes chicken and turkey for cats. I have been considering calling them and requesting a cooling protein source, as HK is very handy to have around when feeding raw.

10.4 is a huge increase from 6.5 As a cat lover who has mostly used raw food, homeopathy and herbs it was hard for me to give the regular meds. But hyperthyroidism is really serious and they can easily die from it.

My Gem cat did very well on the meds. Clea had a much harder time with it, because of her gut. If you work with a vet who knows holistic and herbs you can try that. But meds are better than nothing, because they really suffer and that’s not a good option.

What are you doing right now?

Reply

David

June 18, 2014

Remember Cranberries are actually not good for failing kidneys. Also, most of those “human grade” foods have high sodium levels that are also hard on the kidneys and dehydrate.
Just thought I would share as I was feeding my elder cat these human grade foods like BFF cause I thought it was best, but getting her transitioned from them has helped her calcium levels (she had hypercalcemia) and decreased her thirst.

kim

February 9, 2015

Nature’s Variety limited ingredient cat food does not contain kelp. It’s the only one that my hyperthyroid cat will eat as well.

Wendy

February 9, 2015

Thanks Kim.

Reply

Gloria

March 4, 2015

Interesting and learning new things from everyone that love their pets and want the best for them.

Just Kate

June 25, 2015

This forum is a little old, but I hope this info will help. I contacted Wellness. Their Divine Duos wet food has 0.09 Iodine, which is lower than Hills (0.2). In addition, it’s grain free. This is very good news for my Checkers, who was recently diagnosed with HT and has a history of stomatitis (total catch double edged sword). I will know in a month if the food has made a difference.

Just Kate

June 25, 2015

When I refer to Hills, I mean the Y/D Science Diet wet food for HT. My vet and all the countless hours of research says that low iodine (and no fish ingredients) is the key. That is, for cats who are going the diet route of treatment. The ingredients: http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/product-details.aspx?pet=cat&pid=173
It’s not 100% ideal for our carnivorous family members, but when facing a diet that needs to be low iodine (which is present in all meat ingredients, not just fish) and grain-free (to keep the stomatitis at bay), we are keeping our fingers and paws crossed.

Reply
1. Wendy
  
  June 25, 2015
  
  From a holistic perspective, raw food even though it is high in protein it carries the most moisture, which is critical. With my cats I’ve used raw, which Rosie loves and thrives on. She is 17 now and has early stage hyperthyroid. She doesn’t do as well on canned, but my others cats did.
  
  Glad you found something that has low iodine. Let us know how it works out.
2. Bunny
  
  June 26, 2015
  
  My 15 year old cat Bailey does very well on raw food. For a year I had him on supplements, and Chinese herbs suggested by my holistic vet, and Bailey’s T4 levels went to normal range within a month, although one year later, wi his T4 levels shot up, since I am monitoring it and he had been throwing up a lot again, and I now have his hyperthyroid under control by adding Methimazole cream in his ear every 12 hours. He still takes his supplements and eats a raw food diet 100% protein, so far he’s doing well again with normal T4s. It’s a process, and I keep close contact with my holistic vet who has been just wonderful!
3. Wendy
  
  June 26, 2015
  
  Thanks Bunny for sharing about Bailey. That’s a true testament to a raw diet, and using traditional medicine when appropriate. I love hearing these stories about holistic care for cats (all animals really), which inspires me to add a new post soon!
Wendy

June 25, 2015

Thanks for posting this information. Even though the forum is old, the post gets hits everyday. Lots of people looking for solutions for their cats.

Thanks again.

Reply

Just Kate

June 26, 2015

Thank you Wendy and I totally agree with you per the raw diet, and I thought I was heading that way, until I found this food. Actually, it was your blog that got me looking into Wellness, (specifically the Healthy Indulgences, which I was told by Wellness that their Chicken & Chicken Liver has 0.61 of Iodine). I was literally standing in Petco calling Wellness, and asking them about the Iodine content in their foods. They were so helpful and forthcoming about their products’ nutritional/ingredient compositions. Anyways, I so appreciate your blog and I am glad that it continues to get so many visits. It is among the most informative ones out there… Another plus about this Wellness line is that it comes in plastic cups, but hopefully I won’t have to about PVC versus BPA now. It is quite a moist food and since Checkers had to have her teeth removed because her stomatitis was so bad (extremely severe), I always mix and mush her wet food with some water (and this food, though has some chucks, “mooshes” up nicely). So far, we are on day 2 and she loves it, and it looks palatable (not that it makes much of difference to her) to the point I where would almost eat it. Almost. Then again, it is a little on the pricey side, especially since the recommended feeding (per Checker’s weight) is 2-3 of those cups a day. So, I may be literally eating those words. I wish the best to all parents out there who have HT kitty kids. =^;^=

Wendy

June 26, 2015

Kate thank you so much and I’m so glad you’ve found our kitty blog to be so helpful. I haven’t posted much recently. I have two cats healed from stomatitis (for the most part) with homeopathy and pure raw diet–it’s a hard one to deal with. I actually have a post about it that I haven’t added to the blog yet. I’ve forwarded it the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Foundation–they are printing it.

I will add the Wellness formula to the list, it needs updating again.

Hooray for Checkers (and you) may he maintain his weight and keep enjoying his new HT positive food. I think I’ll look into it for Rosie 😉

Reply
1. Just Kate
  
  June 26, 2015
  
  Thank you Wendy. Checkers has had a long road, which literally started on the road. She was a neighborhood stray and quite feral, who was hit by a car. Luckily, a local PD came to my door asking for a shovel. He wanted to scoop her up and leave her in a snowbank, in the rain. However, she was very much alive and in shock. I said “no way” and called my vet (after hours). Checkers had a shattered pelvis (both sides and hips), major concussion, and bloody nose. Long story short, after being crated for 9 weeks (healing and recovery) and 8 long years after that (with lots of consistency, patience, and Love), she grew into this loving, trusting, and wonderful companion. She loves her belly to be rubbed, cuddling, and giving endless head butts and face rubs/kisses. Unfortunately, when she was diagnosed with stomatitis it was a major uphill battle from the start. Medications didn’t work. I ended up taking her to Cornell Animal Hospital. She had major oral surgery including the removal of all her teeth. However, her stomatitis was not “cured”. With my current vet, we tried medications again, but they didn’t help. So I focused on her diet. I researched and researched and found that many stomatitis kitties did well on a predominantly protein, low to no grain/ carb , and minimal to no fillers diet. I settled on EVO 95% Chicken and Turkey. It worked! Her stomatitis completely cleared up. She found her voice and has the loveliest meow! The vet took pictures of her progress. It was amazing! We hypothesized that it was the grains/carbs and yucky fillers that was causing an allergic reaction, if you will, which allowed the stomatitis to remain acute. I am disheartened now by her diagnosis of hyperthyroid, but from all the research with a lifetime of eating canned food with potential BPA exposure and fish products (culprits of high levels of iodine, in a predominantly protein based food), I think her odds were increased. As a side note, I am in no way dismissing a high protein diet. I agree with you and others who believe it is more naturally suited for cats… By the way, for a cat who had her pelvis smashed, one would never know it. In her younger days, she could clear a baby gate with great ease. Checkers, I believe, is about 13-14 yrs old now. She is now enjoying her twilight years with her cat sister, Amore (who is 16 and is absolutely fabulous for age). Sorry to “stray” so far off topic, but wanted to share Checkers and my experience with stomatitis. Thank you again. =^;^=
Mom of 4

November 25, 2015

Just Kate, please let me know how your HTC kitties is doing. My little girl is border HT.

Thanks

Reply

Signe

July 11, 2015

My 16 yr old tabby has been hyperthyroid for 3 yrs. or more. I diagnosed it myself via internet searches when the several vets that saw him could not figure out his problem. He’s been on a raw diet-Aunt Jeni’s- for 9+ years. Always had a beautiful coat, looks like he’s 8 not 16, yet we continue with issues like vomiting clear liquid if he does not eat in time. We keep a cooler feeder with wet canned available thru the night — Newman’s Own Organics grain free Turkey or Chicken with liver . Have not heard anyone recommend this, yet it is an excellent no-kelp food. Is there any reason no one uses this? Btw, Addiction on your list has red seaweed which made my cat’s t4 levels soar from normal range on methimazol to 22!!

Wendy

July 6, 2016

Dear Signe,

Somehow I missed your post and I sincerely apologize. How is your cat doing now?

Reply

Signe

July 11, 2015

Would like to know more about TCM herbs for hyperthyroid and kidney, as well. Thanks!

Wendy

August 17, 2015

Hello everyone – I wanted to share an update about Rosie, my 17 year old who has HT. My alternative doc prescribed traditional meds, and also encouraged me to give her Standard Process Thytrophin PMG. It basically nourishes the thyroid, so whether the condition is hyper or hypo it helps.

I gave it to Rosie and yesterday and her hungry, cravings for food has diminished significantly! Woohoo I’m excited. It’s been challenging keeping on top of her meds and mine. She hates the meds, so I’m relieved to see her more relaxed, and her coat even looked better.

Bunny

August 17, 2015

Wendy,
My 15 year old cat Bailey is also hyperthyroid. He’s on a raw food diet from a local pet food deli in Minneapolis, and for a year or so after he was diagnosed I opted not to do meds and work with a DVM who also has a holistic approach and wellness practice, so I added in supplements,and Chinese herbs. His T 4 levels went down significantly although after a year or so on this regimen his levels went back up as he started throwing up again and I noticed his behavior changing. I now have him on the methimazole creme every 12 hours in his ears, rotating with each application, and the same diet, My vet still monitors and continues with his herbs/ supplements. He tolerates the cream well and his T-4 levels are back well within normal range. I tried not to go that route, but it was the right thing to do to get him back to feeling good. It’s something I will have to continue to monitor for the rest of his life, and hopefully it will be a long one. All the best with your own cat.

Bunny

Reply
1. Wendy
  
  August 17, 2015
  
  Yes the holistic route can deter the dis-ease for a while, and the meds are critical. Thyroid disease is awful, can creates horrible suffering, AND my recent comment about Thyrtropin PMG has made significant difference with Rosie. We’re going this week and have levels re-checked.

Bunny

August 28, 2015

Thanks for the update Wendy, will ask my vet about Thyrtopin PMG, she has Bailey on Feline Renal Support, from Standard Process and Wen Den Tang, Chinese herb. I find him getting tired as of late of the raw food diet he’s been on when I mix in herbs and supplements, along with Lactalose for dry stools. The thing about his raw food diet is his stools are not always very moist, even though he drinks plenty of water. I’m thinking of trying some By Nature Grain Free canned or Grain Free canned Weruva. He’s been on raw for a long time, but fussy eating it lately. I am going out of town for a few days with a cat sitter staying overnight and I want to make sure he is eating well for her. How is Rosie doing?

Wendy

August 28, 2015

I feel all animals need diet rotation, in general. I feed canned and raw, almost everyday. Sometimes raw is too hard on their system, or too cold and the older they get the harder it MAY be to transform. Plus the spleen needs cooked food, rather than raw.

I found Lotus cat food, which my cats really like, though I did take Rosie to the vet last week. Her thyroid numbers were up, and I realized I wasn’t giving her full dose of medicine. Now that I’ve got her back on tract with meds, and have been giving raw diet everyday (she has always preferred raw) she is gaining weight and overall doing much better.

Hope the canned food helps. Is Bailey in Renal failure?

Reply
1. Bunny
  
  August 28, 2015
  
  Thank you for your quick response. I have not heard of that brand cat food you mentioned, so I will have to look it up and see if I can find it in Minnesota. Again, this morning I had a hard time getting Bailey to eat the 1/4 cup of warmed up raw rabbit with the supplements and even without supplements. He probably ate about 1/8 of a cup of his food if that. I’m thinking about trying the Blue Wilderness Wild Delights and adding to his raw food slowly to see if that works. Bailey is not in renal failure, although even with the methimazole cream, he still likes to drink more water and pees often. The good thing is that his T4’s are normal and he’s not throwing up anymore. He’s a little over 10 pounds and I don’t want him to lose any weight. I looked online this morning for ingredients in some of the grain free cat food mentioned in one of your posts. I did find that By Nature Grain Free canned has organic kelp in the ingredients list and some of the others mentioned don’t list all their ingredients. Blue Wilderness Wild Delights is the one I will try for now. I work from home so I’m able to be with both cats. Chloe my 9 year old does well with cooked rabbit and supplements. She had IBS and with her current diet, herbs and supplements, it’s been under control for the last couple of years. Your posts have been very helpful and supportive. It’s nice to know there are others who will go the distance for their animal companions. The cats provide much joy, calm and balance in my life, cannot imagine being without them!!

Lucia Stumreiter

January 4, 2016

I made my hyperthroid old skinny cat chicken
breast with butter and water pulverize to a pate stare. She loved it. She went to sleep
satieated. That makes me smile to see her
full and sleepy.
Lucia Stumreiter

jojo

March 11, 2016

Annamaet Feline Chicken and Fish Original Dry Formula Ingredients
Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E)), Rolled Oats, Millet, Pearled Barley, Herring Meal, Whole Dried Egg, Dried Beet Pulp, Crab Meal, Menhaden Oil (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E)), Brewers Dried Yeast, Lecithin, Fat Product (Algae, Source of Fatty Acids), Cranberries, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine, DL Methionine, Ascorbic Acid, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Organic Dried Kelp, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Citric Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Calcium Iodate.

Wendy

March 14, 2016

Thanks Jojo for the update. I’ll edit the post.

Reply

relgan5Tanya cunningham

May 26, 2016

Hey. I just found this forum.
My 15 year old hyperthyroid cat did horribly on the medication, every bad side effect in the book. So we were using the TD diet for 8 months and then for no apparent reason, stopped eating it. And lost weight. Her blood work came back ok so our vet suggested to feed her whatever for a while just to get her eating. If she refuses to eat the TD I will need to find another alternative. What exactly is raw diet? And is the wellness cat food an acceptable alternative? ( the post was old)

I saw a recipe for New Zealand land, quinoa, cauliflower and raw carrots. Thoughts?

Wendy

July 6, 2016

Hi Tanya – please accept my apologies for not responding sooner.

A raw diet is feeding raw meat and bones. There is extensive information out there about it. Cats are obligate carnivores and do very well on raw diet, because they also need high moisture content in their diet which raw diet provides.

If I feed canned my cats prefer Weruva. They won’t eat Wellness anymore.

Reply

Leslie Johnson

August 13, 2016

I lost a cat last year, who was 20 and hyperthyroid. At the end he developed kidney problems. Prescription medication did not work for him. I just now found some natural solutions that petwellbeing.com . I’m now trying them with my other cat who is hyperthyroid and having good kidney issues. But my biggest comment is I have fed Evo dry food their whole lives and now have Abby on strictly wet, mostly seafood. I think the problem is not enough iodine, good quality iodine for thyroid function. The other thing to note isthe thyroid meds make the kidneys fail. They say due to lack of blood flow, but I think it’s because it’s an artificial hormone and the kidneys can’t process it.

Stefanie

August 10, 2017

I was really excited to read your article and the food brands bc I am dealing with thyroid issues in my cat, now. However, most, if not all, of these brands have kelp or iodine (known on the label as Potassium Iodide). Can you please clarify as your article touts these brands as being iodine free.

Wendy

August 10, 2017

Hello Stefanie,

I did not know Potassium Iodide is kelp/iodine! Thank you for sharing this. From what I’m reading about it though it is an anti-thyroid agent, and helps hyper-thyroid

This is from WebMD:
This medication is known as an expectorant. Potassium iodide is also used along with antithyroid medicines to prepare the thyroid gland for surgical removal, to treat certain overactive thyroid conditions (hyperthyroidism), and to protect the thyroid in a radiation exposure emergency.

http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-1823/potassium-iodide-oral/details

Personally, I am not an advocate of fillers in foods, and I’m not a vet, but it doesn’t seem to add to hyperthyroid condition in cats.

Reply

Denise Newkirk

November 5, 2017

Thank you for this very informative thread! I notice Weruva contains fish oil. Is this of concern for hyperthyroid cats?

Wendy

February 20, 2018

Hi Denise – my apologies, I did not see your post here.

You make a good point. I need to update this post with a current list of foods. Fish oil in and of itself is fine, though I’m not sure if it is contraindicated for hyperthyroid, though it sure makes sense that it would be.

Reply

Amber

December 4, 2017

Hello,
I just wanted to share with you that the treatment for hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism is iodine and selenium. The selenium is necessary for their thyroid to synthesize the iodine. I use nascent iodine diluted in my cats water and I supplement his food with boiled egg yolks and sardines. He’s doing very well now. He has gained weight, his coat is beautiful and shiny and most importantly, his heart is not pounding.

Wendy

December 5, 2017

Thank you Amber for sharing this! Great news, so glad its working well for your cat. My cats are 6 years old and quite healthy, but this is informative for everyone else here.

Thanks again 🙂

Reply

lcvnsv3gmailcom

April 28, 2018

Thank you so very much for your research and for loving and caring for your cat companions. I don’t rum accross kelp but I do fish, which, like kelp, can be high in iodine. Also, as I’m sure you know, ocean whitefish is a fancy name for tilefish, one of the most polluted fish in the ocean. High in mercury as well. I never bought otc cat food until last week, when I stopped using Wellness Turkey Formula’s replacement “pate” formula. One of my cat companion has hyperthyroidism and the other CKF. Lucy’s hyperthyroidism has been in check using Methimazole; however, in just a few weeks my Swet Girl has lost .8 lbs. From 7.0 to 6.2 and I’m petrified. Do you by chance know anything about radioactive iodine treatment outcomes given to an older cat? Lucy is between 13 and 16 years old. Thank you for reading my comment.

Wendy

April 29, 2018

Hello – I don’t have any personal experience with radioactive iodine treatment. I have heard some cats do very well. Methimazole does help, though my cats never loved it. Thyroid cannot go untreated. I think Science Diet offers a food with medicine already in it, or you can look into homeopathic treatment. Need to work with a vet for all of that.

It’s a very difficult thing to manage, aging pets with chronic health issue. It takes so much love and effort. I hope you find the support you need. I did write a post about homeopathic treatment for hyperthyroid https://nourishingkitty.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/update-on-clea/.

Also if you read through the comments from Best Food post there is tons of information there.

I need to update this post. It’s from years ago.

Reply

Paria

May 7, 2021

May I know please if why raw bone is not good for hyperthyroidism cat?

Alchemizing with Life

May 7, 2021

It’s not so much about hyperthyroidism and raw bone, it’s about kidney disease or urinary disease, which many times accompanies hyperthyroidism in older cats. The bone adds too much calcium into the urinary system and can cause crystals, in some cats.

My Gemstone had that problem, and as he aged and his condition progressed I found he did better on raw without bone. Albeit there is always more to learn, as that post was from years ago.

Do you mainly feed raw to your cat(s)?

Paria

May 7, 2021

Thank you so much for replying.
I have just changed her to handmade raw diet for about 1 year because she is hyperthyroidism but i also give her raw bone but I make it to liquid to feed her but somehow I am still worried if it is right to do that And I still try to research And I found your article is really helpful.

Reply
1. Alchemizing with Life
  
  May 7, 2021
  
  Thank you Paria.
  
  How old is your kitty? and does she have urinary dis-ease?
2. Paria
  
  May 8, 2021
  
  She is 15 year old. She haven’t got urinate problem. But she have a breathing problem. I dis Xray and some Vets said allergy some said maybe asthma.
3. Paria
  
  May 8, 2021
  
  May I know if what is your hyperthyroidism cats weights?

Nourishing Kitty