To me, it's always going to be about the quality of life of the cat.
Look deep in your heart, and you will know what you need to do. Are a
few days of serious discomfort worth the best treatment? Are a few hours
of discomfort worth the other option? Do you know if he's in pain? Those
are the questions you need to answer, and nobody but you can answer
them. We can only offer our purrs.

Have you ever tried Pill Pockets for him?  I would never have believed it
but Jake actually likes them.  (I wouldn't even write or say such a thing
lest evil hear me, but I can pill him fairly easily if he decides not to
like them anymore)

Jo

I don't know if I have any useful sugestions, since you are the one who
are there and knows Tiger, but both Frank and Nikki had hyperthyroidism
the last few years of their lives (neither one died from it).

What I did was crush the pills and mix them into something they loved,
usually just a teaspoon of sour cream. They used to look forward to
their 'treats' and Frank even used to remind me if I was late with their
meds. I take thyroxin pills myself, and the recommendation is to chew
them so they are absorbed more easily, and they are nearly flavourless -
just slightly sweet. Though the hyperthyroidism med is the opposite of
what I'm taking, I suspect they are just as bland and the cat may not
even notice it if mixed into something. I also used sardines and tuna
every once in a while.

Go with your gut. If it is clear that whatever you do, the rest of his
future is filled with pain and suffering from one source or another, you
know what what decision has to be made.

I think I'd try the surgery if it was likely to be successful, but it it was
overly risky,then perhaps I'd just let Tiger live out the rest of his days
in aloving and peaceful atmsphere, and pay very close attention for the day
he *asks* to go.

One of my deepest anxieties is that I think Shmogg asked me to let him go
the theBridge several months before I got up the guts to do what he wanted
me to do. I still worry I let him suffer needlessly out of my own
selfishness.

Yowie

Is the medication that he might have to be given one that can be prepared
in a transdermal form? I know that Prozac and several other veterinary
meds can be compounded in a form that is rubbed into the inside of the ear
and absorbed through the skin. That might be pretty untraumatic for him.

Dan

With Tigger's last illness I couldn't get a pill in her for anything.  She
doesn't like soft treats so pill pockets were out and the pill shooter wasn't
quick enough.  The vet was able to get a pharmacy to make me a liquid version
of the medicine.  It also came with a really great syringe type dispenser.
so much better than an eyedropper.  I would just fill it and scruffed Tigger
and as soon as she opened her mouth to complain just press the plunger and
done.  They also made it chicken flavored so while she didn't like getting it
squirted in her mouth she always seemed slightly surprised and pleased at the
taste.

Lee  Phantom is the same way he just got diagnosed with hypothyroidism

He took a pill twice a day for about 30 days  than the vet did blood work
again.  He is a now once a day pill cat.  I found something that works
wonders  they are call pill pockets  chicken flavor  at petco easy to use
phantom gobbles them up

I order the medication through  www.drugstore.com

The vet was charging me 30 a month  through the website I get 100 days for
$30.  My vet does 2 refills  than Phantom needsto come back for blood work
to see if we can lower the level or raise it.

I was not to over all happy with the surgery process.  5 to 10 days to stay
with them during the radiation treatment.  the reason for so long is the cat
is radioactive and can pass it on to us  but once it is done they are cured

Lee the pharmacist can also make the medication into any form.  On person on
here told me about medication in paste form where they put it on the cats
ear

I'm so sorry you're in this dilemma, Lee.

From what I know about hyperthyroidism, and you probably already know
all this, the best option is the radiation.  But I imagine it is a
really difficult thing for any cat to go through, and it sounds like it
would be a terrible trauma for Tiger.  Maybe it wouldn't be as bad as
you are afraid?

Surgery is another option, but there are problems and complications with
it, IIRC, and it usually is third on the list of best options.

The pills are a good option for most people who can't be away from their
cat or vice versa and who are tight on cash.  From what I understand the
Tapazole works well and manages the disease.

I'm sure you've probably tried everything in terms of pills, but just in
case . . . can you mash pills in with food?  Can you dissolve them in
water, and then use a syringe to squirt the liquid into Tiger's mouth?
Phil P. over on rpch+b had a very specific way to give pills; I think it
involved treat, pill wrapped in meat, treat.  In that order.  Might that
work for Tiger?  Especially if it was wrapped in soft meat, he may not
even know he was taking a pill.

My own experience with pills is that they usually get used to it, even
though at first it may be difficult.  I never thought I would be able to
pill Cosmo on a daily basis (he's on Lasix for his heart, and he is one
of those cats that says "Don't Mess With Me" about much of anything, and
I've had the scratches and bites to show it), but we have managed to get
to a routine where he is very easy to pill.  Internet is on Prednisolone
for his asthma every other day, and he has always been terrible at
taking pills.  It's much easier than it used to be, although he still is
pretty darn good at spitting them out (even at age 20) -- lol.  He has
always been the worst meds-taker of the bunch.

There's also a suggestion of putting a little butter on the pill; pills
can irritate cats' throats, and that can make them upset.  Not to
mention I've never met a cat that didn't like butter yet.

I don't know if any of that helps, Lee; you're in a tough situation (or
may be), and I feel for you.

Purrs that somehow something works out.

Ginger-lyn

I have also thought we might try the pills to see if they don't

Maybe the pills can be made so that they taste pleasant to kitties?
Soncek was very hard to pill, so I hope you can find a solution that
will work for Tiger.
We are sending lots of purrs for Tiger and hugs for you, Lee,
Polonca and Soncek