Thyroid problems in cats isn't a given, but it isn't uncommon either. There are ways to prevent it and to heal it, but first let's look at what it is for cats in particular. 

Many people get confused with the terms hypo and hyper. Hypo- basically means an under function and hyper- means an over function. So hypothyroidism is when the thyroid under functions and hyperthyroidism is when it over functions. (Think of the '0' in 'O'ver as being the 'O'pposite).

Although hyperthyroidism is more common in cats, hypothyroidism can occur.

Symptoms of the body are much more reliable than test results, because they show up sooner than they appear on tests. People can often see a problem, go to the vet, who finds nothing.

YOU WERE RIGHT!

If you see something wrong, then there most likely is. It falls back on you to work out what could be the problem. A good natural therapist may also be able to help, especially a good homeopath.

A cat with hyperthyroidism is likely to have everything over active, over stimulated, over the top. The appetite is over normal (ie increased), but the weight can either remain normal or reduce, becoming emaciated. The activity is over normal, but it is without purpose. There is no rest.

A cat with hypothyroidism may also have a huge appetite, but puts on weight, becoming obese. They have very little energy and sleep more than normal. They are under active.

These symptoms are when the condition is well developed, so at the start, you'll just see glimpses.

Cats are naturally good eaters, so you have to be discerning to spot the early signs. It's a change in habit you want to see.

One of the most common causes is the diet. No one can be healthy if theyr'e not consuming the food that's species specific. That means cats nneed to eat food similar to the diet of their wild cousins (ie raw meat and bones).

The commercial cat food that sells as Complete, Science Based, Vet Approved, etc come in pretty packets with reassuring words. Inside the pretty packet is trash. It's unsuitable food for cats, it's non-nutritious, it's laden with synthetic chemicals and it's highly toxic.

It keeps cats alive, but it doesn't keep them healthy. That's why they die so young. 10 years is now considered geriatric. Yet they can easily live into their late 20s.

Everything falls apart with the wrong diet. That also means that everything can heal with the right diet.

Another cause can be de-sexing the cat, especially at too young an age. 

This system is made up of a series of glands, from the pineal and pituitary glands in the head, to the thyroid in the neck, then the adrenals on the kidneys, the pancreas has one, then the ovaries and testes.

The information for function comes from those in the head towards the tail. It's like a trickle down. So when one is disturbed or removed, it causes a problem.

However there is also some interaction with each other. When one under functions, another can come to its aid, but it's not as good.

This means that once the ovaries are removed, a problem is waiting in the wings, to surface when the immune system is knocked off balance. And that happens so frequently in commercially fed cats, when they are drugged and jabbed, when they are never able to recover from one stress to another.

It has become more common practice with holistic vets to only remove the uterus in female dogs, leaving the important ovaries.

With cats, being smaller animals, the operation would be more fiddley and it appears vets are less keen to entertain this idea. Maybe they need a push.

However, there is another cause that we have control over, at least if we adopt kittens. 

Everyone needs their hormones to mature. A cat is not fully mature until 9-12 months of age. If the spaying can be delayed until this age, the incidences of the potential thyroid issues dramatically reduces.

The common practice of spaying early, from two to six months, comes mostly from the shelters, who are desperate to reduce the number of unwanted and abandoned animals that are brought in. You can't really blame them. 

One of the most important choices you can make for your cat is to feed them the species specific diet mentioned earlier. See link below for more information.

Whenever you adopt a new kitten, delay the spaying operation as long as you can, never before 9 months of age and older if possible. And never when they are not well.

Seek the services of a good homeopath or homeopathic vet. We have far greater ability to right wrongs than almost every other health care system especially the medical and veterinary ones.

Thyroid problems in cats can be both prevented and healed with a change of perception.