# How do I get my cat to keep taking his medicine? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 5, 2024, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-keep-taking-his-medicine/1009738 "2024-11-05T21:25:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-keep-taking-his-medicine/1009738/21 "2024-11-07T18:41:04Z")
This depends on the cat. One will readily swallow this in chunk of string cheese. The other would eviscerate the cheese to take it out, and eventually refuse regular cheese. Putting it in wet food works, placing on to of dry food (these pills are small) _can work_, but you have to monitor eating to make sure it doesn’t get skipped. One of our old cats would hold a pill in his mouth for 5-10 minutes before spitting it out. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-keep-taking-his-medicine/1009738/22 "2024-11-07T19:01:43Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Sometimes you then have to medicate in the other direction, though. If treatment creates a hypothyroid state and the cat is difficult to medicate, hypothyroidism in a cat is not a big deal. On the other hand, an untreated hyperthyroid cat will die. Yes, it is expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-keep-taking-his-medicine/1009738/23 "2024-11-07T19:48:39Z")
You can also treat feline hyperthyroidism by feeding the cat special iodine-depleted food. Without enough iodine, the thyroid can’t successfully overperform. My 14yo had a bad reaction to his med and we switched to this method. Downside for us is that he can’t have any of the regular cat food and we have 5 others, so it means segregating them. He’s doing very well now. He also has kidney failure which we treat by adding a phosphorus binder to his food. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-keep-taking-his-medicine/1009738/24 "2024-11-07T20:23:45Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > Downside for us is that he can’t have any of the regular cat food Zero treats as well. There is iodine in _everything_, even trace amounts are problematic. No grazing grass outside, etc. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2024, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-keep-taking-his-medicine/1009738/25 "2024-11-07T22:54:25Z")
Much easier for me to put a tiny pill in the cat twice a day! And a much happier cat. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-keep-taking-his-medicine/1009738/26 "2024-11-08T08:03:05Z")
Not that I am a vetinarian, but I wonder if the anal method could be attempted? That is, after all, the end that doesn’t have any teeth. The lower intestine will quickly disolve and absorb the pill. On the other hand, the cat is going to feel pretty much violated anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-my-cat-to-keep-taking-his-medicine/1009738.md?page=1)