Flame-retardant linked to feline disorder

Hope Marini wandered the aisles at PetSmart in Mount Pleasant recently searching for the safest products for her four middle-aged cats. She spends considerable time looking after their health in hopes they won't succumb to diseases such as hyperthyroidism, which is the leading killer of aging felines.

Marini, 28, and other cat owners have even more reason for concern after a recent government study linked the disease to flame retardants found in many common household items such as furniture, electronics, curtains and carpets.

Scientists from the Environmental Protection Agency and Indiana University said that the chemical, polybrominated diphenyl ether, could be the cause for a surge in overactive thyroids among adult cats because the animals frequently come in contact with treated couches, electronics and other items.

Their meticulous cleaning habits cause them to ingest the chemical.

Dr. Michelle Mayers of Bees Ferry Veterinary Hospital in West Ashley often sees cats with hyperthyroidism.

"It's pretty prevalent in the feline population, but it's very treatable," she said.

Mayers suggests monitoring cats for appetite changes, weight loss and increases in urination and defecation. An annual or biannual visit with routine blood work also can help flag the problems, she said.

But Mayers cautioned that the study's scope was limited and that the relationship between the chemical and increases in thyroid disease among cats requires more investigation.

Multiple treatment options exist for feline hyperthyroidism. Pet owners can opt for radioactive iodine therapy, long-term medications or surgery.

Marini's cats have not tested positive for hyperthyroidism, but she keeps a close eye on them for symptoms. Such vigilance also might prove valuable for other purposes. According to the research, cats can serve as indicators of elevated levels of flame-retardant chemicals in homes, which can pose hazards to people.

Toddlers, in particular, could be at risk, because they share similar behaviors with cats such as contact with floors and other surfaces as well as "mouthing" behaviors, the study said.

Reach Aubrey Straub at astraub@postandcourier.com.