Giving the Cat Medicine

[LoveDaisy]

I hope your cat figures it out and stops fighting it. My last cat had diabetes and the insulin made her feel better she would start lingering nearby about a half hour before her shot. It made things so much easier! I’m glad to hear your cat is feeling better.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I don't have experience with cats, but I know the key with rabbits is to make sure the medication tastes good. They have a sweet tooth so the vet orders my rabbit's meds with bubble gum or fruit flavor. He's been taking 4 syringes a day for over a year and comes running when I shake the bottle. He was recently reduced to one syringe a day since he's doing a lot better (yay!). I think he's sad that he doesn't get as much of his "treats" anymore.

Is there a particular flavor that cats like that will attract them to the meds? The first couple of times, I had to put my rabbit in my lap and shoot the meds into his mouth. As soon as he got a taste of it, he started taking it eagerly. Perhaps there's something that the pharmacy can mix in to make it taste better?

 

[BrianL]

I don't have experience with cats, but I know the key with rabbits is to make sure the medication tastes good. They have a sweet tooth so the vet orders my rabbit's meds with bubble gum or fruit flavor. He's been taking 4 syringes a day for over a year and comes running when I shake the bottle. He was recently reduced to one syringe a day since he's doing a lot better (yay!). I think he's sad that he doesn't get as much of his "treats" anymore.

Is there a particular flavor that cats like that will attract them to the meds? The first couple of times, I had to put my rabbit in my lap and shoot the meds into his mouth. As soon as he got a taste of it, he started taking it eagerly. Perhaps there's something that the pharmacy can mix in to make it taste better?

The thing about cats is that if they know that you want them to do something - They. Won't. Do It.

 

[NotUrsula]

Didn't read the entire thread, but if the syringe you have is a straight tip, I recommend using a curved dental irrigation syringe. You can get the point past their clenched teeth from the side. Still not exactly easy, but I find them easier to use if I'm handling the cat from behind.

https://www.amazon.com/Measurement-...ocphy=9022894&hvtargid=pla-996165161690&psc=1

 

[PollyannaMom]

...tortitude.

Love that word! It's totally true.

The key with mine is switching it up. She has a chewable she's supposed to take and has gotten tired of. So I've been breaking it into smaller pieces, then sometimes I wrap it in a pill pocket, sometimes a bite of tuna, etc. Lots of praise and more preferred treats after.

If she has something she really likes, do it immediately after you give her the meds, so she learns to associate something good with it.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

I don't have experience with cats, but I know the key with rabbits is to make sure the medication tastes good. They have a sweet tooth so the vet orders my rabbit's meds with bubble gum or fruit flavor. He's been taking 4 syringes a day for over a year and comes running when I shake the bottle. He was recently reduced to one syringe a day since he's doing a lot better (yay!). I think he's sad that he doesn't get as much of his "treats" anymore.

Is there a particular flavor that cats like that will attract them to the meds? The first couple of times, I had to put my rabbit in my lap and shoot the meds into his mouth. As soon as he got a taste of it, he started taking it eagerly. Perhaps there's something that the pharmacy can mix in to make it taste better?

Human tears and defeat.

 

[kymom99]

May the odds be ever in your favor

 

[barb969]

I had a liquid tuna flavored medicine which my cat loved and would come running for it. Then the vet her a bitter tasting medicine for an infection. After that I had to tackle her and hold her down for any medicine including the tuna one.

 

[Micca]

Our cats are still young so no meds yet, but pretty sure if I had to get some liquids into them I could put it on a tiny bit of ice cream...or butter.

 

[Imzadi]

Love this guy. Watch some of his videos for ideas:

My go to for liquid meds is a very snug towel wrap. I sit on a step and hold them in my lap. The key is fast in, release the towel, fast out.

Oh come on! That's the most docile cat I've ever seen. My cat fought me tooth and nail.

(The vet doesn't give the injection until the 7:05 mark.)

 

[mom2rtk]

Oh come on! That's the most docile cat I've ever seen. My cat fought me tooth and nail.

(The vet doesn't give the injection until the 7:05 mark.)

That’s fine. Don’t use him. I found help in how he positions the cat. Also I think his calm demeanor is important. He has a bunch of videos on there and I found them helpful.

 

[mom2rtk]

Bottom line is keep thinking of new things to try. My cat is hyperthyroid and I have been pilling her twice a day for two years and will be doing so for the rest of her life. It was a distressing journey. We almost lost her. The vet didn’t think she was going to make it. But I kept digging, including getting information and recommendations in a Facebook group for hyperthyroid cats. They were very helpful and full of suggestions for medicating cats since so many will be medicating twice a day indefinitely. Keep looking. Keep trying.

 

[DVCjj]

See if the medicine needing to be given can be compounded and put on as an ear cream. We did that numerous times with 2 cats. What a lifesaver. We happened to have 2 pharmacists within 20 miles or so who compounded so we were fortunate.

The vet said the thyroid one is 'slightly' stronger if given orally but at least the cats were getting almost a whole dose. Much better than not at all or spit out and/or traumatized. It was very easy to put the syringe specified amount cream on the gloved finger (you get them with the prescription and the cats liked the 'massage'.

We were very thankful for it.

PS: I totally understand an inhaled steroid is in a whole different category and vital in that category of drug.

 

[BrianL]

See if the medicine needing to be given can be compounded and put on as an ear cream. We did that numerous times with 2 cats. What a lifesaver. We happened to have 2 pharmacists within 20 miles or so who compounded so we were fortunate.

The vet said the thyroid one is 'slightly' stronger if given orally but at least the cats were getting almost a whole dose. Much better than not at all or spit out and/or traumatized. It was very easy to put the syringe specified amount cream on the gloved finger (you get them with the prescription and the cats liked the 'massage'.

We were very thankful for it.

PS: I totally understand an inhaled steroid is in a whole different category and vital in that category of drug.

I have used the ear cream stuff and it is super easy. That said, this medicine is temporary and we are about half-way through the course, so I'm gonna stick it out.

 

[RoseColored97]

I'm not sure about liquid medicine, but we use this to crush up our cat's pills and give it to him every night. He really loves it, and actually looks forward to it now. He only likes the blue kind though, lol. It might be worth a shot for your cat!

Temptations Puree https://www.chewy.com/temptations-c...ct&utm_medium=organic&utm_content=Temptations

Our cat will not take a pill, he spits it back up. He also hates the pill pockets, so we are very lucky to find something that works.

 

[greeneyedchick]

Are you giving prednisone or prednisolone? First, I would ask the vet to prescribe prednisolone if the vet hasn't already. It's better for the cat, doesn't cause muscle atrophy and glucose issues ad can be used long term. It does need to be compounded but Chewy can do it for a good price. I would recommend getting it compounded into a capsule. It's easier to pill a cat with a pill popper syringe than to give it liquid medicine. A lot of compound pharmacies make tiny prednisolone pills. Some will even add chicken flavor. Just be sure to insist that they do not add any kind of sweetner such as maltodextrin, malitol or sorbitol. The Chewy ones comes in larger capsules. If they are too big, you can buy smaller empty gel caps from Amazon (the larger the number, the smaller the capsule). Cut the Chewy capsule and pour into the smaller one. You can use a tiny amount of goat whip or butter to help it go down if it's an issue. I had a cat on the brink of death and had to give her a ton of meds. This was the best solution. Good luck and I hope your kitty feels better.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Are you giving prednisone or prednisolone? First, I would ask the vet to prescribe prednisolone if the vet hasn't already. It's better for the cat, doesn't cause muscle atrophy and glucose issues ad can be used long term. It does need to be compounded but Chewy can do it for a good price. I would recommend getting it compounded into a capsule. It's easier to pill a cat with a pill popper syringe than to give it liquid medicine. A lot of compound pharmacies make tiny prednisolone pills. Some will even add chicken flavor. Just be sure to insist that they do not add any kind of sweetner such as maltodextrin, malitol or sorbitol. The Chewy ones comes in larger capsules. If they are too big, you can buy smaller empty gel caps from Amazon (the larger the number, the smaller the capsule). Cut the Chewy capsule and pour into the smaller one. You can use a tiny amount of goat whip or butter to help it go down if it's an issue. I had a cat on the brink of death and had to give her a ton of meds. This was the best solution. Good luck and I hope your kitty feels better.

Sorry, but this post is highly inaccurate. For one, any vet halfway deserving of their license knows not to prescribe prednisone to a cat. Two, you don’t need to compound it or go through any of the aforementioned rigmarole to get predniSOLone for a cat. It’s available in (small, easily splittable) tablet form on Chewy and just about everywhere else for pennies per pill.

 

[BrianL]

Are you giving prednisone or prednisolone? First, I would ask the vet to prescribe prednisolone if the vet hasn't already. It's better for the cat, doesn't cause muscle atrophy and glucose issues ad can be used long term. It does need to be compounded but Chewy can do it for a good price. I would recommend getting it compounded into a capsule. It's easier to pill a cat with a pill popper syringe than to give it liquid medicine. A lot of compound pharmacies make tiny prednisolone pills. Some will even add chicken flavor. Just be sure to insist that they do not add any kind of sweetner such as maltodextrin, malitol or sorbitol. The Chewy ones comes in larger capsules. If they are too big, you can buy smaller empty gel caps from Amazon (the larger the number, the smaller the capsule). Cut the Chewy capsule and pour into the smaller one. You can use a tiny amount of goat whip or butter to help it go down if it's an issue. I had a cat on the brink of death and had to give her a ton of meds. This was the best solution. Good luck and I hope your kitty feels better.

Sorry, but this post is highly inaccurate. For one, any vet halfway deserving of their license knows not to prescribe prednisone to a cat. Two, you don’t need to compound it or go through any of the aforementioned rigmarole to get predniSOLone for a cat. It’s available in (small, easily splittable) tablet form on Chewy and just about everywhere else for pennies per pill.

It is actually prednisolone. It is not intended to be a long-term thing at this point.

I will say she had a bit of a sneezing fit this morning, which is the first time since we started the course. I hope it is helping some though.

 

[Skywalker3]

Following along. Wishing you all the best, and for good health for your kitty. We had to give one of ours liquid meds earlier this year, and it was quite a thing....
One of our kitties now, Peanut, KNOWS as soon as I even open the liquid flea treatment, he runs and hides as soon as I get out the box....and he's a big kitty. It usually takes 2 of us to do it. Peanut also seems to have seasonal allergies. last couple years not as bad as previous, where he needed a few injections. ANyway, just wishing your kitty speedy recovery and relief, and that you wont' have to give the meds much longer!

 

[BrianL]

Following along. Wishing you all the best, and for good health for your kitty. We had to give one of ours liquid meds earlier this year, and it was quite a thing....
One of our kitties now, Peanut, KNOWS as soon as I even open the liquid flea treatment, he runs and hides as soon as I get out the box....and he's a big kitty. It usually takes 2 of us to do it. Peanut also seems to have seasonal allergies. last couple years not as bad as previous, where he needed a few injections. ANyway, just wishing your kitty speedy recovery and relief, and that you wont' have to give the meds much longer!

Well, it's thee more days only. We now cut the dose in half for six mor doses to taper off. That'll be it.