How to Give Your Cat a Pill: One Reader’s Advice
“A way to give cats really small pills”
Judy wrote in with some advice:
“Hi, Jenny. Here’s an idea that might help other cat-medicine-givers.
My 12 year old ragdoll was just put on prednisone and the tablets are really small. I ordered a new pill popper from Amazon with a rubber tip – and it’s good – but the pills just want to slide out of it because they are so small. Along with the tablets, my vet sent me home with sample of a product called Vetoquinol Pill Wrap. I had tried a similar product previously with no luck (the cat wanted nothing to do with it) and ended up giving it away to a friend with a dog because dogs will gobble up almost anything – lol. The Vetoquinol seems to be working so I went back and bought a tub from my vet but it is also available on Amazon. It’s bacon flavored and the consistency of soft caramel. With this product I found a painless way to get the tiny tablets into my cat. I cut the pills in half (there is a dividing line on them) and then take a dab of the Vetoquinol, squish it between my fingers, and wrap each small piece of the pill to form a little ball. I also wrap 5-6 pieces of the cat’s favorite kibble food in it. I cut a paper towel to fit inside the shallow food dish and spread the wrapped ‘treats’ on it (slightly separated and on the paper towel so they don’t stick to the dish or to each other), sit the dish on the floor, tell the kitty “here’s some treats” and walk away. Within 10 minutes the ‘treats’ and the pills are gone. This has worked for two weeks now. There may be lots of days of meds ahead so I hope it keeps on working.”
Hi, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! Ever since my Aunt got the first Ragdoll cat in our family, I have loved the breed. Inspired by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to connect, share and inspire other Ragdoll cat lovers around the world,
Glad you found something that works for your kitty! When Willow was on medication we used the pill pockets. We learned that we had to tear them apart and mold them around the pill in the same way because it needed to go down in one gulp. If he got a taste of the pill he wouldn’t touch any of the other treats. So we would break apart a pill pocket (by Greenies) and mold it around the pill and offer that and a few other pieces of kibble. It’s no fun having to give them medications but if you have found something that works it certainly makes the whole process a lot easier!
This is super info, thanks! May I add another suggestion? A few years back when my Sebbie was ill with cardiomyopathy, I had to give him five meds twice a day. You can imagine the difficulty I had pilling him. Nothing, I mean nothing, worked. I bought those pill pockets. No. I ground his meds so finely into his food you couldn’t see it. Nope. I put the pills in ham and turkey and tuna. Nada. I read somewhere, and I thought it was one of Jenny’s doctors or advisors, that said once you have the smell of the pill on your fingers it is all over. The best thing to do is to deposit the meds into whatever you use, the pill pocket or food, sauce, etc. using TWEEZERS!! They said no matter what you do to disguise the meds, if you handle them, the smell will transfer onto the pill pocket, etc. Using tweezers prevents that. Unfortunately Sebbie died and I couldn’t try this method out on him. Gracie, who died recently, was very good about taking her meds in her food until the very end.
I’d be interested to hear if anyone has tried the “tweezer method”.
Super pawesome post & info, Jenny and Judy!! Judy, thank you soooo very much for sharing this information and product with us!! I have added it to my Amazon Wish List in case we ever need to use it in the future!! 🙂 <3
Big hugs & lots of love!!
Patti & Miss Pink Sugarbelle 🙂 <3
These sounds great- hope your kitty keeps liking them! My Hunter is on two medications for his heart condition. I put both 1/4 pills into a tiny gel cap which disguises the taste of the pill and is much easier to slip into his mouth. Conscious Cat just posted about a company that makes chicken and bacon flavored gel caps! I ordered some of the chicken flavored ones and am looking forward to trying those. Daily pilling is a big commitment and anything that makes it easier is fabulous!
Please let me know how the chicken and bacon gel caps go! I want to find something for Amy – Addie gets pills every day, but can’t have Chicken and bacon – has to have Chinese medicine cold meats.
I had to Google Chinese medicine cold meats to see what it was! I hadn’t heard of that philosophy before, but makes sense. My sister’s cat has IBD and eats the Rabbit & Pea diet and it’s been a miracle worker for her. I should try some cold meats for Hunter to help with his anxiety! Always learning- love it!
cool. yes, the acupuncturist recommended it for addie. it is VERY hard to find cold meats in canned cat food!!