Cat Won't Take Her Meds... I've Tried Everything I Can Think Of!

[fiorya]

My cat has to take both a liquid medicine and a pill, every 12 hours. The pill is gigantic, so I have to either cut it up into chunks or crush it up. Both the liquid and pill are apparently absolutely disgusting, and she can smell them from several feet away.

Here's what I've tried:

For the liquid:

• Forcing the liquid into her mouth (unfortunately, this is the only way of giving the liquid that's worked, but I don't like this method because she hates me now and won't come near me)
• Squirting the liquid onto her paw, so that she has to lick it off. This works well, but since the medicine is buprenorphine and is absorbed best through the inside of her cheeks (rather than swallowed), I don't think this is the best option to take.

For the pill:

• Adding the pieces of the pill to wet food, tuna juice, sardine juice, or Gerber baby food
• Wrapping the pill pieces in Pill Pockets
• Wrapping the pill pieces in Pill Pockets, and adding a coating of crushed dry food pieces that she usually loves

None of these methods work. Now she won't try any new options that I give her, and she doesn't trust me when I offer her treats. I don't know what to do. She hasn't taken her pill dose from last night, and now she probably won't take it this morning, either.

 

[LTS3]

Try some of the pilling tips here:

Pilling Cats: Must-know Tips For Hiding Pills
The Best Pill-taking Secret I Know...
Pilling Cats and Dogs Safely
How We Give Our Pill Hating Cat A Pill
Getting Cat To Take Pills... Post Tips Here.

Buprenorphine is available as an injectable but I think a vet has to give that in the office. The liquid tastes nasty to cats but you do what you go to do to get it into the mouth. Is it possible to have another set of hands to hold the cat while you give the meds?

Can the pill be compounded into another form? Ask the vet and check with a local compounding pharmacy. You can also check at Wedgewood Pharmacy: Veterinary Medications, Wedgewood Pet Rx

 

[neely]

I have found liquid meds are easier for me to give my cat than pills. However, all cats are different and often what works for one does not work for another. When my cat needs a liquid med such as Buprenex I always come up from behind him, i.e. the element of surprise. Any hesitation on my part sets off my cat so I have to be quick and efficient. Of course this usually only works the first time I give it to him. Then I have to be creative the second or third time. I agree with LTS3 that it helps to have a second pair of hands otherwise wrapping your cat in a towel like a burrito may help too.

Best of luck, hang in there.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Can the pill be compounded into another form? Ask the vet and check with a local compounding pharmacy.

Although some vets have issues with transdermals, mine is fine with it, as it is far preferable to a cat not getting any meds at all. A transdermal is applied to the ear, and most cats are good with a random ear-rub!

 

[fiorya]

Update: Was able to tempt her to eat at least half her pill dose, by mixing in Sheba wet food. And she downed most of the liquid dose, too. Hoping tonight's doses will be more successful. I'm going to buy the salmon flavor of Pill Pockets. (I only have the chicken right now.)

 

[Mamanyt1953]

We'll take whatever wins come our way!

 

[fiorya]

Update #2: She won't eat the salmon Pill Pockets either. And the Sheba wet food also won't do it.

 

[LTS3]

My cats love this bacon flavored pill dough: https://www.amazon.com/Marshall-Paste-2-1-Ounce-Bacon-Flavor/dp/B00KXAEQAM

Might worth buying if you have a Prime account and can get it in 2 days or less. If you accidentally get the dog one (it's happened to me), it's ok The dog one is the exact same thing as the cat one, just different packaging.

 

[fiorya]

Update #3. She wouldn't eat any of the pill at all, so I went out and got some Fortiflora. I'm not sure why I didn't think of that before... it's worked for my cats in the past. Sure enough, once I covered the pill pieces in Fortiflora, she gobbled them right up! And licked up the pill/Fortiflora dust too Hoping that will continue to work.

My cats love this bacon flavored pill dough: https://www.amazon.com/Marshall-Paste-2-1-Ounce-Bacon-Flavor/dp/B00KXAEQAM

Might worth buying if you have a Prime account and can get it in 2 days or less. If you accidentally get the dog one (it's happened to me), it's ok The dog one is the exact same thing as the cat one, just different packaging.

This is super helpful, I'll order some!

 

[stephanietx]

Does she like cheese? If so, offer some non-pilled cheese (very small taste) and then offer pieces of cut up pills wrapped in cheese. I like use American cheese because it softens when you smash it around the pill. I place the little cheese balls in their bowl like a treat.

 

[daftcat75]

The buprenorphine should be given in the cheek. Anything else is going to be a wasted dose. When I still had to give it to Krista orally, I would ambush her while she was sleeping because it only needed to go in her cheek (aim true and shoot quickly) and it was usually a small amount anyway. You can get buprenorphine compounded into a transdermal which is so much easier to administer. I squeezed out the dose onto a gloved finger and then applied that into the top of her ear. Sometimes she resisted so I usually did it when she was asleep or sleepy.

 

[fiorya]

Update #4. She didn't get any of her meds this morning. Tried to shoot the liquid buprenorphine into her mouth, but she squirmed at the last second and it went onto the blanket. Tried a second dose, also failed.

And she won't eat the pill with the Fortiflora today, she knows the pill is mixed in there. I tried adding all her favorite foods to it, even some cat grass... nope. I don't know what to do. My cat is just so finnicky about her food. She doesn't like cheese. Used to like bacon, no longer does. After trying the Pill Pockets, Fortiflora, several different kinds of wet food, different flavors of baby food... I'm at a loss. She'll try them once, like them, and then turn her nose up at them the next time.

I'll call the vet once they open and see what they say. I hate wasting all this medicine. Usually when I gave meds before, I had an extra pair of hands to help, but I live alone now and have no one who can help.

You can get buprenorphine compounded into a transdermal which is so much easier to administer. I squeezed out the dose onto a gloved finger and then applied that into the top of her ear. Sometimes she resisted so I usually did it when she was asleep or sleepy.

I'll ask the vet if this is an option.

 

[LTS3]

Ask if a vet tech can come over to help you with giving the meds.

 

[amandag1]

Have you tried a pill syringe?
I gave up trying all the cheese, lunch meat, pill pockets etc tricks
I pop the pill into the pill syringe....I got it off amazon and give Louie his medicines 2x a day with it.
It has a soft flexible end so it can fit alot of pill sizes.

 

[Calypso522]

I’m a pharmacist and what I do is crush the pill to a find dust with a spoon in a cereal bowl and then use the fishiest stuff I can find to mix it in. I use the delectables squeeze ups. Mix it really well with a knife and it’s undetectable. If it’s a capsule you can open it and sprinkle the contents.

 

[Calypso522]

For liquid if you can’t keep it in her mouth I’d try mixing with tuna juice. Like the strongest flavor you can get. Pills and liquid meds usually taste like bitter yuck and it’s hard to mask.

 

[Aileen666]

My cat has to take both a liquid medicine and a pill, every 12 hours. The pill is gigantic, so I have to either cut it up into chunks or crush it up. Both the liquid and pill are apparently absolutely disgusting, and she can smell them from several feet away.

Here's what I've tried:

For the liquid:

• Forcing the liquid into her mouth (unfortunately, this is the only way of giving the liquid that's worked, but I don't like this method because she hates me now and won't come near me)
• Squirting the liquid onto her paw, so that she has to lick it off. This works well, but since the medicine is buprenorphine and is absorbed best through the inside of her cheeks (rather than swallowed), I don't think this is the best option to take.

For the pill:

• Adding the pieces of the pill to wet food, tuna juice, sardine juice, or Gerber baby food
• Wrapping the pill pieces in Pill Pockets
• Wrapping the pill pieces in Pill Pockets, and adding a coating of crushed dry food pieces that she usually loves

None of these methods work. Now she won't try any new options that I give her, and she doesn't trust me when I offer her treats. I don't know what to do. She hasn't taken her pill dose from last night, and now she probably won't take it this morning, either.

I have a cat now I’m going through this with. She took her chemo pills and sz meds and prednisone etc in pill pockets for a whole year then one day decided she didn’t want to eat those anymore. I tried every flavor. I tried shoving pill down her throat but I got bit and then we both were so mad afterwards so decided not doing that again. I tried crushing pill in can food. All diff types to hopefully mask it. Nope. She won’t eat any of the can food so that’s out. I also tried putting the lickable on the treat. Nope. She won’t eat that now either. I have this bacon paste coming from Amazon today I think. I’m going to try that but she won’t eat treats now. My last attempt will be the pill popper. If that doesn’t work I’m done. She is almost 17. I decided I’m done with the meds and just enjoy what little time I prob have left with her. I have spent thousands and thousands on her medical bills getting her through chemo and I’m not sure if she is done or I am or both. Either way I’m trying everything I can but at the end of the day I decided she is 17. She lived a long life and it is what it is. I don’t think I’m getting anymore cats. I had one other one that had a million health issues from urinary blockages , cardiac issues ,possible eye cancer and list goes on. I prob could have bought a mansion with all the money I put into these two cats. But I also travel a lot for work and I think the traveling puts stress on this cat. But I have to take her with me bc I don’t know anyone who wants a 17 year old cat just getting off chemo. Know what I mean ? I’m trying but at the end of the day I decided she is 17 and I’m just going to try to make what little time I prob have left with her as good and comfortable as I can

 

[Twylasmom]

What is the pill you are giving? Some taste bad and can turn them off their food.

 

[louisstools]

depending on how close you live your vet, you might ask them if you can bring your cat there with the pills. I absolutely cannot give my cat a pill. She barely eats food so I can’t sneak it into anything. Even the vet requires at least one technician normally two in order to give her medicine orally.

Another thing to talk to your vet about is transdermal or injections. My cat actually likes injections. I can get her to jump up from a dead sleep on the couch and come running to me for her insulin injection. She will not do that for any sort of food, human or cat. so you might have more luck with injections.