Shoving Pill Pocket Down Cat’s Throat?

emilyodette

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Sep 14, 2018
Messages
30
Purraise
5
Lily has been very upset about having to take her medicine. After day 1, she won’t eat the pill pockets. I ordered new flavors online just in case. I tried connecting them to a treat, coating them in cheese, butter, etc. to no avail. So I decided to try to just plop the tiny pill pocket down her throat. She’s only taking 1/4 of the pills and I figured it would be less harsh going down. Also one of the pills is VERY bitter. Is this okay to do? It went down alright but I’m just wondering if it’s ok to do it this way because I haven’t seen anyone else doing it like that.
 

stephanietx

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Messages
14,768
Purraise
3,489
Location
Texas
I would not shove the pill pocket down her throat. I usually cut the pills into smaller pieces and wrap in American cheese. I would talk to the vet about other options for medication.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

emilyodette

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Sep 14, 2018
Messages
30
Purraise
5
Do you think it will change the effect of the pill? The pieces are already quite tiny but I will try that. She only has interest in certain types/forms of cheese. Thank you
 

abyeb

Charlie's Purrson
Veteran
Joined
Feb 18, 2017
Messages
7,565
Purraise
9,599
Hi- if your cat doesn’t eat the pill pocket, and you need to force her to eat the pill anyway, then you can just give the pill, without the pocket. She won’t be able to taste the pill if you’re putting it in the back of her mouth, and it will be easier for her to swallow just the pill, as opposed to the pill+ the pocket.

This article does a great job explaining how to pill a cat: How Can I Give A Pill To My Cat
 

1 bruce 1

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 8, 2016
Messages
5,948
Purraise
14,439
How is she for syringing anything?
We have a cat that gets liquid syringe meds, and we don't "Shoot" it down, but gently scruff (Gently) and then deliver a drop or two at a time.
If it's a huge problem, crushing the pill and mixing/dissolving it with something like onion free chicken broth or whatever might mask the flavor enough to make her accept it. It's worked here, multiple times.
(Word to the wise, if you try this, crush the pill and measure out a tiny bit of broth in a syringe, then mix and dissolve. Syringing 1/4 of a syringe based on little liquid is much easier than going overboard with the broth, then realizing the medication/broth mixture will take 3-4 whole syringes to get down them. Even patient cats will lose patience.)
 

stephanietx

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Messages
14,768
Purraise
3,489
Location
Texas
Do you think it will change the effect of the pill? The pieces are already quite tiny but I will try that. She only has interest in certain types/forms of cheese. Thank you
It might have an effect on the meds, but in my experience, it has worked just as well. I've also crushed pills and mixed into wet food.
 

PushPurrCatPaws

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 22, 2015
Messages
10,061
Purraise
10,250
abyeb abyeb gives a TCS link that offers some good opinions on giving meds or pills to cats, but I have to say my absolute favorite link about this topic is this one (an off-site link):-
Getting Your Cat to Take Medication

I would always recommend checking with your particular vet first as to whether a certain medication or pill should be crushed, or broken down and mixed with food. Sometimes a medication can have very good reasons why it should remain in "pill form" (and not crushed).

TCS has another link for hiding pills, though-
Pilling Cats: Must-know Tips For Hiding Pills


One of our experienced members, @babiesmom5, recommends a certain size of flavored gelatin capsule, and she gives a link for these in this post-
When Do You Know It's Time?
 

m3rma1d

NeoMaxiZoomDweebie
Super Cat
Joined
Oct 12, 2018
Messages
716
Purraise
1,590
Location
Maine
You could also buy one of those little spring-loaded pill gun thingies.

Example:
Mikki Pill Gun
 

Stinky15

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Jun 9, 2018
Messages
1,099
Purraise
939
Location
East TX
Do you think it will change the effect of the pill? The pieces are already quite tiny but I will try that. She only has interest in certain types/forms of cheese. Thank you
I use "Pill Masker" instead of pill pockets, but I do not give my cat the chance to try and chew them. I tilt his head up, open his mouth and put the pill at back of mouth. Hold mouth shut till he swallows. He tolerates this well and over time he has learned to not fight me.
Check this out.

I sit my cat in my lap in a chair with arm rests so he canr back away from me. I mainly use the "Pill Masker" to hide the flavor of the pill, some are very bitter and if he tastes that he will resist nore. You could use the pill masker, just use enough to thinly cover outside of pill.
 

Pjg8r

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Oct 3, 2017
Messages
479
Purraise
638
I can hide almost any pill in my cats’ toothpaste. I put a small drop on my finger without the pill then follow with one with the pill. They all lick it off and swallow the pill.
 

LTS3

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Aug 29, 2014
Messages
19,209
Purraise
19,695
Location
USA
I use bacon flavored pill dough: Pill Paste for Cats - Bacon Flavored

What medicine does your cat need to take? How long does it need to be given for? For a short course of a week or so, I wouldn't bother with compounding the medicine into another form.
 
Top