How to Get a Cat to Eat Medicated Food
Cat owners all over the world will know the struggle of getting their pets to eat medicated food. When your pet is prescribed medication that needs to be taken orally, it can be hard to know the best way of getting them to take it. Some medications are easier than others, such as liquid medications, but some can be much harder. Some tablets specifically have strict instructions not to crush or break, and as you cannot control whether or not your cat will chew or break the tablet, ensuring it goes down in one piece can be very difficult.
There are definitely ways that you can ensure your cat takes its medication properly, in this article we will provide you with all the info you need to ensure your cat is receiving the medication that it needs correctly. We will tell you what you can do if your cat will not eat their medicated food, as well as the best food to use in order to get your cats to eat their medication. Also, you can learn how to give your cats different types of medication, be it liquid or tablet forms.
Key Takeaways
Hiding Medication in Food:
To get your cat to take tablets, hide them in their favourite food or treats, like ham or chicken. Always check to ensure the tablet is swallowed and not spit out.
Using Liquid Medication:
Mix liquid medicine with a small amount of your cat's food to help them consume it, but make sure they eat all the food to get the full dose.
If Your Cat Refuses:
If your cat won’t eat medicated food, try giving the medication in a treat or directly into their mouth by gently opening it and placing the tablet on their tongue.
What are the best ways to hide tablets in cat food?
The majority of medications that your cat will be prescribed will come in tablet form. Getting your cat to actually consume the tablets it needs to can be very difficult. Tablets are often very small and are not flavoured, so just trying to get your cat to swallow them can be tricky. For humans, we will know that we have to take the tablet, and we will voluntarily swallow them with the help of water. However, cats do not know that they need to take the tablets, and they will not voluntarily take their medication.
In order to get your cat to take a tablet, there are a few things that you can do. The most popular way is to hide the tablet in your cat's food. When you do this, you should always ensure to check that the tablet has gone when they are finished eating. You should also check that the tablet is not on the floor around where your cat is eating as they may spit it out when they feel it in their mouth. You can also give your cat their medication by wrapping the tablet in their favourite treats, such as ham or chicken. Again you should ensure that the tablet has been swallowed and not spat out.
What are the best ways to hide liquid cat medication in cats' food?
If your cat is prescribed liquid medication then you should be provided with some instructions on the best ways to get them to take it. It can be much more difficult to get a cat to take liquid medication as opposed to solid as it is much harder to hide in their food. The best way to do this is to mix it in with their food. Place a small amount of food in their bowl and mix in the medicine. Your cat will then eat the food as normal, thus consuming their medicine. If your cat does not finish their food then you should keep it to one side and attempt to give it to them at a later time.
What can I do if my cat won't eat medicated food?
If your cat is refusing to eat the food that you have hidden their medication in, there are things that you can do. You will simply need to use a different technique. Cats are incredibly wilful, and owners will know that you cannot make them do anything that they do not want to do. For tablets, you can change how you are giving them to your cat. For example, you can change from hiding it in their food to hiding it wrapped in a treat.
If this does not work, you may need to give them to it forcefully. To do this, tilt their head back gently, open their mouth and place the tablet as far back on their tongue as you can. You should then massage their neck to encourage them to swallow.
What is the best cat food to mix with medication?
In terms of the best cat food to use in order to get your cat to take their medication, it is entirely down to your cat's preference. Some cats will be quite picky and will only eat certain foods, whereas others will eat anything that you put in front of them.
Is it illegal to hide a cat's medication in food?
It is completely legal to hide a cat’s medication in their food. There are zero legality issues as long as the medicine has been prescribed by a medical professional. For your cat's safety, never give them anything that has not been recommended to be used by a veterinarian.
Medicated Cat Food FAQs
Does medical cat food go bad?
Medicated food is sometimes used to treat some conditions in cats, however, for the most part, medication will be prescribed in tablet or liquid form. Some medicated cat food can be used, however, it is not very common. If you are given medicated cat food then there should be used by or a best before date somewhere on the packaging of the food. It is best to follow this as a guideline to ensure you’re not potentially putting your cat at risk. An example of a medicated cat food is Purina Pro Plant Renal Function, which is designed to support your cat’s kidney function.
Does medical cat food need to be refrigerated?
Again, if you are given medicated cat food you should be told how to correctly store the food. However, if you are not told by your vet how to store your food, you should be able to follow instructions on the label of the food. If there are no storage guidelines you may wish to search the name of the food followed by storage instructions on Google.