Medicating our cats when they are sick is one of the most difficult aspects of caring for our feline friends. They are often suspicious of any medication and understandably do not like to be held still for medication administration.
Fortunately, we humans have become quite creative and have several options available. Compounding pharmacies in particular have been helpful for medicating felines. These pharmacies can make treats, liquid, or even transdermal lotion out of most medications.
Pills:
One simple way to give a pill is with a pill popper or pill gun. This device is cheap and bypasses your cat’s taste buds, making the medication less bitter. It also protects your fingers from a stray canine. I liked this video by iCatCare on how to use a pill popper.
For my own cats, I recently tried Royal Canin’s new Pill Assist pill pockets. These are soft treats where a small pill can be placed inside. There are other pill pocket brands out there, but I am impressed with this brand’s palatability. My semi feral feline at home actually looks forward to her pill. I would only use this option for small pills as your cat may accidentally bite into the pill if it’s too big.
Compounding pharmacies can also grind up the pills into feline treats.
Liquid:
Liquid can be easier for many cat parents to administer. It can be flavored to make it more palatable. Ask your veterinarian about using a compounding pharmacy to add flavor such as chicken and marshmallow. The marshmallow is added to reduce bitterness.
Injectable:
Sometimes we are lucky enough to have an injectable option. The injectable antibiotic, Convenia, has been a life saver for many feline patients. It is injected once by your veterinarian and lasts for about two weeks.
Diabetes is treated with food and injectable insulin. The American Animal Hospital Association has a made a video for administering insulin.
Transdermal:
Transdermal medications are applied to the inner ear flap and are absorbed through the skin. Make sure to routinely clean away the old medication from the ear to increase effectiveness of this type of medicine. You also want to wear gloves so that the medication is not absorbed through your skin. I liked this video by Royal York Animal Hospital on how to apply transdermal medicine.
Food:
Food can be a great option for medicating felines. If your cat has itchy skin, consider a hypoallergenic or single protein diet instead of an oral medication. Veterinarians routinely use food to treat bladder crystals, allergies, kidney disease, intestinal disease, and thyroid disease.
Conclusion:
I hope this page helps your feline take their medications and protects the bond you have with your cat from the stresses of medication!
