Dads Pill Magic

05/13/19. Hi everyone this is an update from our post of 01/2015

Please note that this is for education only and I am not saying this will be good for your cat. Discuss this with your veterinarian if you want to give it a try as some meds cannot be cut or exposed to wet!

As most of you know Rumpy Bump has Asthma. Unfortunately it is of the chronic type that requires a steroid and an antihistamine that, together, keep my little white troublemaker making trouble. He does not require his meds all the time and we have long periods when he does well without them. 

Buddy was diagnosed with Hyperthyroid in 2016 and since then has been getting his medication twice a day.

Now I am sure you know that some cats are very very difficult to pill. Rumpy is one and I knew the stress of this is not good for him and had to find an alternative. The boys do not like commercial pill pockets and have ignored them every time I have tried to sneak them medication. What to do. What to do. Then I had a eureka moment.

These are actually the second iteration of my Magic Pills that are much easier to make. The original recipe is below if your cat does not like these particular treats you can substitute their favorite.

We started using Whisker Lickins as the family loves them and, if fresh, are soft. They also have a scent that that is stronger than most which adds to the enjoyment.

We take a small pill container and fill it with Whisker Lickins. We then add a little water so about a 1/4 inch can be seen in the corner of the container. Shake and let stand overnight. Dont add too much as you cannot use them for pills if they are too soft. No worries if that happens as they are still good treats.

The next day take one out. If it is soft enough to form then good. If not see if there is water in the container. If not add a few drops shake and check the next day. It takes a bit of trial and error to see how much water to add but you will have it down after a few tries.

This is an example run. We usually fill the bottom of the dish.
Dump the softened treats onto a paper towel to dry excess
moisture. You can see the container we use which is big
enough for around 28 pills.

As you can see there is hardly any extra water.
Pat them softly with the edges of the paper towel to remove
any excess.

Here is a batch ready to roll up

Buddy's Methimazole and Rumpy's Triamcinolone are both
small pills that we cut in half. We use a treat and a half for
each dose. This is a size they gobble down without much 
chewing. Being a nurse I tasted each med and they have no
discernible taste. Another medication may be larger or have a bitter taste so you may need to quarter pills.
The 3 finished pills are across the bottom.

DO NOT LEAVE FINISHED PILLS FOR EVEN A SECOND!
If your home is like ours someone is sure to be Snoopervising!
Rumpy agreed to be an actor to show you what may happen

Here is the Famous Rumpy Bump Stumpnots taking his
steroid without a complaint.

As I make the meds I put them into their container and Snap The Lid.
I do this for every pill! Label your container too. You
know what is in there but you never know who will say:
"Sorry, I just gave kitty a treat."
Rumpy knows he gets to lick the dish so he is very good
when I make these up. I still never turn my back on completed
pills. Never!

We hope this makes pill time easier at your home. 
They work wonders at our house with Buddy and Rumpy.

Purrs!

*******************

These are the originals and how I make my very, very tasty *Pops Pills.

Take a **favorite treat and either put them in a coffee mill
like I do or smash them between two pieces of wax paper
with a rolling pin. Put the powder in a container and add
warm water to make a dry paste.  

If the paste is too wet it cannot be shaped. It takes a bit of practice to get it right. Try rolling the mix into little balls about 1/4" in diameter. If you can do that it is just right. Too wet it will stick to your finger and too dry and it will fall apart. It took me a few tries to get it just right.
Get the meds and put them on the side. If they are more than 3/16" get a pill cutter and cut them in half. Large pills may need to be quartered. Remember that kitties like more treats so this is not a problem. 

Here is a little treat ball. You can see the size pill that is about
perfect on the plate next to another ball. In this case the pills are
approximately half the size of the ball. 

Push the pill into the treat ball. 

You then mold the treat material around the pill so it is not visible. Sometimes it takes a little bit more treat. Not too much. Keep them small as possible. 

Here we have this small batch ready to dry. I put mine in the
refrigerator so no hungry kitty can find them. By the
same token do not put them in a container that may be knocked
to the floor and flip open.

**VERY IMPORTANT** 

**DO NOT LEAVE THESE OUT**

A counter surfing kitty may eat them all and then there is a bad outcome! I keep mine in a "curiously strong mint" tin with a heavy rubber band in the refrigerator.

Now you may be thinking "oh gee that is easy." Hold everything Baba-Louie! When the treat coating dries thy open up and need a second coating.

Seems the moisture makes them swell. I just add a little more
treat mix. It does make this into a 2 day operation. One to
make them. Second to add a second layer. They are ready on the
third day. 

Here they are after the second layer. Ready to go. 

Another thing is that kitty needs to know that they get a treat in a special place just for them. If other kitties are around they may snag the pill if the kitty who needs the medication drops it. This has been known to happen.

Make your treats out of a favorite of the patient and use them for this training. Once kitty knows that it is time for yummies you are home free.

I give Rumpy about 5 treats in all. I make him hurry. This way he gulps them down. I get the meds out and give him two regular treats, then the meds, then another treat or two. Down the hatch they go.

Hey Dad! Where are my treats!
Coming Rumpy. Keep your fur on. 

So there you have it how I make  home made pill pockets for my finicky felines who will not eat the commercial type.
Liquid meds are more difficult but I have a way to give them also. I will post that next. I also will post another way to give pills that is much easier but does not seem to work as well over time.

*Catchy isn't it?
**We use the new rolling treats. This is both for taste and that they are the same size of the completed Pops Pills 

Dad Pete