Cat owners are all too familiar with the challenge of getting their furry companions to take medication, from pain relief to flea and worming treatments.
But fear not, for cat lover Claire Louise has shared a genius hack on TikTok that’s gone viral on the social media platform. “Cat pill life hack every pet owner needs to know,” she captioned her video.
In the clip, Claire Louise demonstrates how to administer a tablet using a lickable cat treat – a squeezable tube with a yoghurt-like consistency. She places the pill on top of the treat packet and gently squeezes it, enticing the cat to lick.
As the treat oozes out and the cat licks away, she deftly pushes the tablet towards its mouth with her thumb. The unsuspecting feline then swallows the pill along with the treat.
Despite having a modest following of 335 users, Claire Louise’s tip has struck a chord, amassing nearly 800,000 views in just five days. Echoing her advice, one fellow cat owner commented: “[Webbox’s] Lick-e-lix is a godsend for getting meds in them. I also use gel capsules to hide the pill and then top with Lick-e-lix. My cat’s on 6 tablets a day, it was a nightmare before I discovered this stuff.”
Another TikTok user declared: “That’s genius! I’d have to see if my cat would fall for it though.” A third shared: “Ohhhhh, this is genius! My cat has a phenomenal sense of smell for tablets though; but this is 100% worth a try!”
Whilst a fourth shared their sucess “I tell my cat that this is her milkshake, she loves them and runs across the room as soon as she sees the packet.”
However, others claimed their cats aren’t so easily deceived. One viewer said: “I find these videos fascinating to watch! My cat manages to eat all the yogurt then spits out a clean tablet! He’s too crafty. I have to crush his pills and mix it in a bowl then spoon feed him.”
And another person shared a different tactic, saying: “I always pretend that I prepare myself a super yummy snack and wait for him to observe me if I drop something. Then I drop the pill and act like it was a bad mistake – he always eats it right away.”
Cats Protection, meanwhile, offers other solutions to getting your cat to take medication. The charity advises online:
“If giving your cat their tablet by hand fills you with dread, you can try the following:
- put it in a treat. Try putting your cat’s tablet in their favourite treat, some pill putty or a bit of plain cooked chicken. Remember to make sure they don’t spit it out and that your vet says it’s OK to give them their tablet with food.
- crush it in their food. If your vet says the tablet can be crushed up and given with food, try crushing it up and mixing it with one of their daily meals (ideally breakfast depending on the time you need to give them their tablet). Make sure they eat all their meal, though, otherwise they may miss some of their medication. Or you could try mixing it, unless your cat is sensitive to the ingredients, in a soft yoghurt-textured treat for cats.
- hide it in something strong smelling. Cats are very sensitive to smells (which is why they can usually find their tablet in their food). Try using a little of something strong smelling, like tuna, to hide the tablet in.
- call your vet. If all else fails, give your vet a call for advice. They might be able offer other suggestions or there might be a different way to give your cat their medication (for example, if it is available as a liquid).”
