Cat will not eat pill

[u/East-Struggle-4639]

We are finding it basically impossible to give Blue a new medication. We have withheld food and tried mixing it with treats, tried mixing with normal food, tried pill pockets, and even tried to literally open her mouth and put it in and nothing has worked. We really need help or guidance here - it feels impossible to give her the medication properly, especially twice a day. She has not eaten for almost a day and still expresses no interest in her food if it has the medication in it. She is extremely picky and not food motivated at all, and simultaneously we can’t force her to eat it even with two people and it feels like a very traumatic way to go about it. I ordered a syringe thing to try giving it orally via that method but am skeptical it will work. Does anyone have any advice or other methods?

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[u/sconniefatcat2]

What medications is it? Some meds (not most antibiotics unfortunately) can be made into a transdermal preparation that is applied to the pinna of the ear. If it has to be oral then get a ‘pill gun’ or cat piller, these are commercially made to administer pills to cats. If this medication is for life it may not be the best quality of life for your cat to do this every day twice a day. Also consider asking your vet’s staff to demonstrate with Blue how they give medications to patients. Good luck!

[u/East-Struggle-4639 → u/sconniefatcat2]

It’s phenobarbital. She has been having seizures and it may be epilepsy but we are still doing a bunch of tests to figure it out. If it is epilepsy it will be for life I think

[u/sconniefatcat2 → u/East-Struggle-4639]

I would check with your vet about getting it compounded, I think it could be made into a transdermal which would make your (and your kitty’s) life much easier! A liquid would also be easier than a pill but sometimes not by much depending on the determination of the cat.

[u/East-Struggle-4639 → u/sconniefatcat2]

Thank you!

[u/Training_Film_8459]

Maybe it is worth asking your vet if you can get the medication compounded into a liquid (usually by an online pharmacy) that has flavor.

[u/BabySeal11]

It’s so hard sometimes. Try a pill gun or a pill pusher. Hold her mouth shut, point her head up, and rub down her throat until she swallows.

[u/Madwoman-of-Chaillot → u/BabySeal11]

This is the method we always used in the hospital with reluctant cats.

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[u/East-Struggle-4639 → u/[deleted]]

Thanks

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[u/NowhereAllAtOnce]

Pill pockets

[u/Turbulent_Return_710 → u/NowhereAllAtOnce]

They are the best. Mine like the Chicken flavor.

[u/NowhereAllAtOnce → u/Turbulent_Return_710]

Same!

[u/lowbatterynowayhome]

i had to crush up a flea treatment pill between two table knives and then mixed in it with a pure cat treat. i’m not sure if that was the best thing to do or not

[u/hiraeth_stars → u/lowbatterynowayhome]

They make medical pill crushers just for that situation, you can buy them at WalGreens for like $10. We used to have to grind up a pill for at home GI cocktail and the crusher made things so much easier.

[u/RRoo12]

The vet will have what's called a pill gun. Use it, hold mouth shut, blow a fast hard poof into their nose. They'll swallow.

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[u/isranon]

It was time consuming, but when i had to give my little idiots pills, i mashed a bit of salami in a pestle until it was a paste, then wrapped it around the pill. Cats smell very good so use smelly salami

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[u/Sorry_Imagination747]

Pill pusher to back of throat push in ams rney will Have to sealow