Pilling a cat tips

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LestatsDad

LestatsDad

Member Since 2018
Hi all,

I need to try to get some pills into Lestat, and regular pilling (or with a pill gun) doesn't quite work. I've also tried crushing the pill and mixing it with a pill pocket, baby food, and plain yogurt, but to no avail. Most of the time, he sniffs, maybe takes one lick, and turns his nose up. Unfortunately he is doing this with food as well - He actually turned his nose up at 4 options (Friskies Pate, Tiki Cat, Baby Food, and his Purina DM kibble - which he usually comes running for), this morning. The pill I'm trying to get him to take now is an appetite stimulant, with some other pills (steroid, antibiotic) on the back burner for now.

So I'm looking for either some tips (other than keep trying and wrap him in a blanket)... or something different to mix/disguise the pill with, such as cat safe gravy if there is such a thing - I'm thinking of going out and buying a gravy laden cat food, and crushing the pill into the gravy...

If you've had success with "trick the cat into eating the pill", can you share your tips and what you used?

Thanks!
 
You could try crushing it and mixing it with some cream cheese if he likes cream cheese ( could try giving him a little bit with out the pill first ) it disguises the flavor smell and texture pretty well or this is what I do with one of my civies that didn't liked the cream cheese get a little bit of tuna ( last option since you get the risk of getting him adicted to tuna ) and put the crushed pill in it mix it well and add as much as you can of the water from the tuna
 
Veronica & Babu-chiri said:
You could try crushing it and mixing it with some cream cheese if he likes cream cheese ( could try giving him a little bit with out the pill first ) it disguises the flavor smell and texture pretty well or this is what I do with one of my civies that didn't liked the cream cheese get a little bit of tuna ( last option since you get the risk of getting him adicted to tuna ) and put the crushed pill in it mix it well and add as much as you can of the water from the tuna
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Thanks! Never thought of Cream Cheese. We can definitely try that. We do have some Tuna on hand for super-stubborn situations as well.
 
I know you said you tried a pill gun, but there are different types/styles so maybe it's a matter of finding the right one? I've had luck with one I got at Petco/Petsmart (if you're in the US): https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/well-and-good-easy-pill-dispenser . If you push the applicator into the cat's mouth far enough and quickly dispense, they can't spit it back out. It helps to work fast if you have a feisty, squirmy kitty. :) I also had a cat who could detect when I was trying to "put one over on him" by crushing the pill into his canned food, so I know how rough it can be to try to find a successful method. Luckily I found the above pill shooter and it worked like a charm.

Are you giving him mirtazapine for the appetite stimulant? I think that only comes in pill form. I know some medications you can get in other formats, like injectables, or compounded into a gel that gets absorbed via the ear. Not sure about the mirtz, though. I was always a fan of the injectables, but of course they cost more and not every medication comes in that form. That's when I found the pill shooter and ultimately found success that way. :) Good luck. Let us know how it goes.
 
sassycatlady said:
I know you said you tried a pill gun, but there are different types/styles so maybe it's a matter of finding the right one? I've had luck with one I got at Petco/Petsmart (if you're in the US): https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/well-and-good-easy-pill-dispenser . If you push the applicator into the cat's mouth far enough and quickly dispense, they can't spit it back out. It helps to work fast if you have a feisty, squirmy kitty. :) I also had a cat who could detect when I was trying to "put one over on him" by crushing the pill into his canned food, so I know how rough it can be to try to find a successful method. Luckily I found the above pill shooter and it worked like a charm.

Are you giving him mirtazapine for the appetite stimulant? I think that only comes in pill form. I know some medications you can get in other formats, like injectables, or compounded into a gel that gets absorbed via the ear. Not sure about the mirtz, though. I was always a fan of the injectables, but of course they cost more and not every medication comes in that form. That's when I found the pill shooter and ultimately found success that way. :) Good luck. Let us know how it goes.
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Yep - it is the Mirtz. It is only 1/4 of the tablet, but he is a fussy fighter. I'll keep the pill gun in mind. It may be more that I'm too aware of his reactions and hate feeling like I'm being mean. I guess a bit more of a "hit it and get it" approach would do better.
 
Speaking of pill guns this is the one I found more easy to use with cats since is very thin ( easier to get into a small mouth I don't have to force them too much to open it) and the tip is rubber so I don't have to concern myself with hurting their mouth or throat when I get it in ( the tip may seem small but it actually opens enough to put an Azodil pill which is pretty big in it)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00076HUB4/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
 
LestatsDad said:
Yep - it is the Mirtz. It is only 1/4 of the tablet, but he is a fussy fighter. I'll keep the pill gun in mind. It may be more that I'm too aware of his reactions and hate feeling like I'm being mean. I guess a bit more of a "hit it and get it" approach would do better.
Click to expand...

I definitely know what you mean. Sometimes it seems like we are being "mean" to our kitties, but we do what we have to do to make sure they stay healthy - even if that means they are uncomfortable for a second or two. I've dealt with my share of stubborn cats that hated being medicated, but after it's over, they're back to loving me again. Got to love the "short-term kitty memory" :)
 
in the past before i discovered that cutting pills, sticking them in a gel capsules, buttering it before putting it in pill pusher worked like a charm for us, i use to crush the pills, stick it in 10ml syringe and add about 3ml of warm water, shake and syringe feed it.. one pill (i forget what it was) was nasty and made cat foam at the mouth a little though but, at least i got the darn thing in them.
 
Leo gets a daily prednisolone white tablet. I tasted them. They taste like horrible sour apples with extra sour sauce. We use the piller listed in post #6 above.

Our method.
- Prep his favorite fancy feast breakfast. Put it on the floor.
- Leo on the floor, I am crouched behind him
- He is nestled into my crouched "pocket", facing outwards
- Lift up his head
- With the same hand pop his mouth open
- Pop the pill in using the other hand and the piller, and close his mouth
- Massage his throat to induce swallowing
- We also have a water syringe right nearby if needed
- Give him breakfast 1 foot away

90% of the time that works. Other times we have to get a second pill since the first one gets spit out. If pill #2 doesn't work, we give it a rest. Leo is a good boy.
 
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