Hyperthyroidism, the overproduction and overabundance of thyroid
hormones, is relatively common in older cats, both male and
female. In fact, it’s the most common hormonal abnormality there
is. In a cat with hyperthyroidism, the elevated levels of
thyroid hormones, which normally work to regulate the metabolic
processes, speed up the metabolism and cause many of the body’s
functions to run much faster than normal. This can lead to a
number of complications, including enlargement of the heart
muscle, high blood pressure, kidney function impairment, and
intestinal problems. Hyperthyroidism can be caused by thyroid
cancer, but it is generally caused by benign nodules of tissue
in the thyroid that hyperproduce—work too hard and produce too
much hormone. There is no way to prevent hyperthyroidism, but
you can catch it early by bringing your cat to the veterinarian
for regular checkups and keeping a close eye on his health. As
your cat gets older, watch him for the symptoms of overactive
thyroid: weight loss, hyper