One of our cats had this done a month ago. $1200 is exactly what we paid. We dropped him off on a saturday, and got to pick him up the following wednesday. I think it depends on your state regulations, but they check the cat's radiation levels every day, and once levels are considered acceptable, they get to go home.

We were told it usually takes 4 - 6 days. The hardest part was not being able to cuddle him longer than ten minutes a day for 2 weeks after picking him up.

Teddy is doing really well, he is due to go in for his post-procedure blood test next week. He has gained weigh already and seems to be back to normal, the way he was prior to developing hyperthyroidism.

I'd be very surprised if a cat had to be hospitalized for that long following radioactive iodine treatment. Have you checked with the clinics to confirm that? When you call the clinics, also ask them to describe how the cat is treated during the hospital stay. How much daily interaction is provided by hospital staff? Ask each clinic for patient referrals so you can check with the owners of previous patients and see how they felt about the experience for their cats.

Radioactive iodine is definitely the way to go in terms of treatment, in my opinion. It's just a matter of finding the clinic that offers the best care while your cat is hospitalized.

Laurie

Look for a prior thread called "Hyperthyroid in cats". Lots of answers there.

I said:
My cat had radioiodine treatment just 2 years ago.

I had to leave her at the treatment center for 9 or 10 days.
I thought I'd die, but, in the long-run, it was the right choice.

When she got home, I was supposed to keep a safe distance from her for a month (impossible as I have a studio apartment). I had to use flushable litter (no problem, I use World's Best anyway) for the same month.

Two years later, my cat's levels are fine.

Your cat will be fine. The procedure is non-invasive. After a day back home, your cat will probably forget the whole thing.

My cat was just 6 years old.

Feel free to email me with any questions.

From what I was told by my vet yesterday, two clinics in town do the radioiodine procedure. One keeps the cat isolated for 10 days to two weeks (or until the readings go down; my vet said 10 days was about average) and the other clinic keeps the cat up to four weeks! My vet also stated that besides how to dispose of litter, there are no restrictions (ie. hugging or sleeping with the cat) when it comes home. My biggest concern with my cat is that he is such an absolute "people cat"--a really needy lover boy
--that I hope the isolation doesn't harm his spirit. I'll definitely check out how much interaction he will get. Thanks for the info. about the other thread, bbaird, and, boy, your cat was young, too!

My cat's also a lover girl. Very love-dovey. I boarded her for the first time over Thanksgiving for 4 days. When I got her home, she clung to me like Saran Wrap for days. I felt awful. I know she thought she was abandonned.

Both when she was boarded and when she had been isolated for the Radioiodine treatment, she was very quiet and scared. They told me that she was a tough cookie because she was so quiet and stoic, but, I know that she was scared and confused. Usually, she's a real blabbermouth.

With that said, you have to do what's best for your cat in the long-run. He'll be confused and sad for the time he's isolated, but, after being home for a few hours, he'll forget about it. He'll be okay. Call the treatment center each day to ask about him.

Also, give them a blanket or tee-shirt that smells like you (used, not washed) to put in his cage (you won't get it back, so, don't use a good one). Bring your own food (if they don't have your brand). If you give him wheatgrass at home, bring a pot of it for his cage-- a toy, too.

I did it years ago, so my memory is imperfect. I thought the cat only stayed there until the radiation level got down to a certain amount. Maybe there for 4-5 days? We were then to keep him isolated at home - had him by himself, disposed of his litter in a certain way, and not hold him for longer than so many minutes at one time. Did that for about a week.

And had a complete cure for his problem. It was not that big of an imposition. Later, I treated a cat for this condition with pills instead of the radiation (very very old cat, and we didn't think she would live long enough to justify the cost of the radiation. Turned out to sadly be correct). Anyway, after that, I greatly preferred the radiation process and results. Good luck!

Hi Marita...
One of my friend's cats went through this a few years ago. I do believe she was able to go and visit her cat during this period she was at the vet's. Her cat (a very old kitty) did very well after the procedure. It's harder on the people than the cats in many ways, think.
Take care...

"I do believe she was able to go and visit her cat during this period she was at the vet's."

They're in solitary behind leaded walls.

Basil goes in to the hospital tomorrow. I think I've done all my homework--read everything I could on the procedure and asked the vet lots of questions. I will miss him so much for the ten days or so that he'll be gone. The kennel has nice big cages, with perches. They play soft music and techs come in twice a day to feed/change litter/and interact with the cats. If anyone is interested in how it goes, feel free to revive this thread.

He'll be fine. So will you :)

Just a note: if you do bring in a shirt or towel from home, make sure you tell them you want it left in HIS cage!
I left my two cats at a kennel for about 2 weeks quite a few years ago and left them with one of their favorite towels (they had "adjoining" cages which was nice) but when I got back there was someone else's stinky old towel in my babies kennel!! Apparently they routinely collect all the towels and wash them and then arbitrarily put any old towel into any old kennel. I was soooo mad!

PS. I asked them to find my towel but they never did. SOOOO mad. Sigh.

I truly hope that Basil fully recovers after this and you go on to enjoy at LEAST another 10 wonderful years together!