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A Helpful Suggestion on Giving Your Cat Medicine!
(may work for dogs or other pets, too)
Do you ever have trouble trying to get your cat to take medicine without a hassle? Did you ever try to give your cat a pill, thinking she swallowed it only to find it on the floor later? My guide suggests one way you might be able to get your cat to take his or her medicine quickly and willingly- every time! It is not a professional opinion; I am merely a cat owner who has learned a quick and easy method that works for me, personally!
I have a special needs cat with early renal failure and hyperthyroidism. She needs to take medicine every 16 hours around the clock. If I try to disguise the pill in a piece of food, she will eat the food and I will find the pill on the floor- even though it is only 1/4 pill and so small you can barely see it. She is very smart. The medicine she takes is said to be very bitter. (I have never tasted it.) However, I have found that if it is dissolved in a bit of water first, and mixed into something tasty (she loves a teaspoon of tuna juice or baby food for example) then she will eat it all right up! I have been medicating her for almost 2 years now and she now loves "medicine time!" Below is how I disguise her pill and turn medicine time into special treat time so that she always takes her medicine on time!
1. Prepare a tasty treat. Find something tasty that your cat will like that the pill can be mixed into later. I use a jar of chicken (or turkey) baby food most of the time. It is kept in the refrigerator once opened. If I run out of it, then I use tuna juice (canned tuna packed in water). Find something that will not be harmful for your cat to eat. Whatever you decide on, check with your veterinarian to be sure you are not giving your cat anything harmful. When using baby food, be sure to read the ingredients. Do not use any food that has onion or onion powder in it, or other ingredients that may be harmful.
2. Prepare a small container. Find a very small container to dissolve the medicine into. I use a mini measure shot glass that measures in teaspoons and ounces. It is nice because I can see through it and shake it gently to help the pill dissolve and I can see when its ready. I have found this is the perfect thing to dissolve her pill in because of its size.
3. Split the pill if necessary. If your cat needs to take a portion of the pill at a time (my cat gets only 1/4 pill), buy a pill splitter. This makes the job SO much easier- and more precise! Place the pill in the center of the pill splitter and gently lower the top lid until the blade cuts the pill in half. Since mine needs to be in fourths, I then turn the two halves 90 degrees and repeat.
4. Dissolve the pill. Place the pill (or dose, if it's 1/2 pill, etc.) into your tiny cup and add about 1/2 teaspoon of water. Let it sit for a while (5-30 minutes) until dissolved. You can give it a gentle shake or swish a few times to speed things along. Different kinds of medicine will take different lengths of time to dissolve. Once you try it a few times you'll know about how long you will have to wait and can prepare the medicine ahead of time to be on time.
5. Put a teaspoon of food into a bowl. When the pill has thoroughly dissolved, add about a teaspoon of baby food (or tuna juice-or whatever you have decided to use) into one corner of a small bowl and then add your dissolved medicine, stirring it around slowly and mixing it up gently with a fork.
6. Feed your cat her treat! Carry it over to your cat (or call her) and she will eat it right up! The secret is not to use too much food, because you want her to eat all of it and not to leave any left over! So just use a teaspoon or so and be sure to use something you know she will eat every time. It is a good idea to practice first without any medicine at all. Then you will know what she likes. Then you can start adding her medicine to it for next time. Also, don't ever give it as a treat without the medicine in it; it should be something she only gets during her special medicine times so she will learn to look forward to it and not give you any trouble eating it all up!
If you have tried unsuccessfully in the past to get your cat to take his or her medicine, then you know how tricky it can be sometimes. Many people don't realize the pill can be easily dissolved and then stirred into a special treat like baby food. I hope my guide has helped to turn the dreaded medicine time into special treat time for lots of kitties out there! (This method may work for your dog or other pet also.)
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