My 15 year old cat must take pills for the rest of her life. She won't come near me anymore. Is this worth it?
She used to like being close to me, but those days are gone. I barely see her anymore, so I can't get the pills into her like I should. My vet says I'm not compliant. She has an overactive thyroid, and vet says her life will be shortened by not getting these pills. I don't know what to do (have tried all the pill methods I've seen--crushing, putting in food, prying open her mouth, putting in Nutri-cal and wiping on her paws).
User Comments
- Have you try a bowl of warm milk with her pill crush-up in it?
try that and see whats happens...Or a can of tuna (our tuna)to hid the taste of her pill...try both...GOOD LUCK MY FRIEND...
Clowmy
- Hey sweetie,
Sounds like each of you wonders if the other doesn't love you anymore. :-(
We had a cat with thyroid problems. During a routine annual exam, the vet detected a heart murmur. It was a Saturday, but she flopped him down, hooked up wires everywhere and dialed into a cardiac service. They did a "stat" cardio exam while we wandered around for about an hour waiting for the results. The cardiologists told our vet to do a T4 because thyroid problems can cause heart problems, among other things. That was what caused the problem.
We gave him thyroid medication for the rest of his life. He actually died of renal failure - nothing to do with the heart or thyroid!
Can't remember if we wrapped the pill in cheese (or maybe that was a dog) or tuna, or just poked it down his throat. But we held him closely and cooed to him. Gave him lots of pets afterward, and he seemed to understand we were trying to help.
Give her lots of positive attention, and she'll probably get used to this. Don't YOU feel bad or think that you're making her miserable. You are trying to help her. Eventually she'll realize that. You are BOTH adjusting to an unpleasant but necessary situation. Don't be discouraged - she may not understand just yet, but she will if you keep loving her and showing her you care. Lots of cuddles for her (and you) together.
Best of luck & hang in there! You'll give her many more years if you do.
Addendum: Bonsylar is right! We've used a special pharmacy that does compounding for medications. See if you can find one. And I agree with her - don't let them tell you it's time to euthanize her (the polite word for "kill") This can be a kind thing, but not until you give her the opportunity for a happy, healthy life.
- I'm a Vet Tech seen the cream, used the cream, love the cream.
- I had to medicate my older cat and he absolutely HATED it! He knew when it was crushed in food,and would not eat it, he would not accept it hidden in anything. Sometimes I would get it down him crushed in tuna juice, but it would only work every 3 or 4th time, and sometimes he would not finish it and not get all the medication. So, I decided the best way was to get it down him was the most direct method....right down the throat. If you get really good at this method it is super fast and you know the cat is getting all it's meds. My would get all grouchy when he knew I was pilling him..but by the time he could make too much fuss I alreaday had the pill down him and it was over. Maybe go to the vets office and ask them to treat you how to do it quickly so it will not be as stressful for you or your cat. Good Luck.
- Yes, it is worth it. Don't let everyone tell you to let her go. I mean she could live another 5 years or longer. Wouldn't you want to live if you had the chance? I got so angry when my cat was sick and everyone kept saying well you know he is old and was telling me not to do anything for him. He passed away on July 22nd but I took care of him for years trying to keep him here as long as I could. He was 16 when he died. I think that if I had did more when he first started having problems then he might still be here with me. I miss him so much. She doesn't know you are trying to help her so be patient. My kitty didn't know at first and then finally he did seem to know and he didn't like it but he was ok with it. He got mad at me at first and it hurt me terribly cause I was only trying to help. I would take the advice of the person who said to get a cream or something that doesn't taste as bad.
- Sadly... probably not.
If she's already that old and becoming more antisocial... what's to stop her to be out one day and be killed and you'd never know?
It could even be her own way of telling you that it's nearing her time and she's ready to go, if she won't let you give her the pills.
I wish you luck, though, and I hope you can your cat can be close again and get through this.
- How awful for you. You are trying to do the right thing and she hates you for it.
Look up compounding pharmacies in your area. In northern California there is one called Grampa's Compounding Pharmacy. They can make the medicine you need into a cream you rub onto the inside of her ear.
Seriously. I didn't believe it either, but have seen it with my own eyes. I worked at a vet clinic and we had lots of tough cats. Even the toughest didn't care if we rubbed cream on it's ear.
Grampa's will fill and ship any prescription. If you are interested contact me and I will give you more information.
EDIT
Don't listen to those idiots telling you she wants to go by not wanting to take the pills. Cats don't understand that pills make them better. All they know is that they taste nasty and you gotta pull their head back and they hate that. That's why she won't come to you and is hiding. Not because she wants to die.
CALL A COMPOUNDING PHARMACY!!!. They can help you. There is also ways to make the medicine taste good, and liquid so that it is easier to give and for her to take.
- Yes, it IS worth it. Had the same issue and when my cat started feeling somewhat more like herself, she was friendlier..whatever the case, your kitty needs you now and it is important that you be there for her. Get one of those plastic pill injectors, tilt head up, put pill in the syringe, place it at the corner of the mouth and shoot that pill in the back of the throat.(If pill is large,cut in half and do this twice). Hold her mouth closed (head still tilted up) and rub her Adams apple gently to stimulate her to swallow it. My kitty lived to be 20, a quality life as an older cat.
- I am so sorry your cat has a life threatening disease. Fifteen years is a good long life and sounds like she has had a very loving life. I have a cat that my vet nor his wife/tech can get a pill down her even with a pill pusher. If you can try a pill pusher it might work . Have you checked to see if this medicine comes in a liquid ? Try to reserve one small, special place to do her medicine. That way she might not be so leary of you. If you can have someone else be the "Bad Guy", she may turn back to you for sympathy.
If her health fails to much without her medicine please consider her quality of life and not the hurt in your heart. I'll say a prayer for you both.
- well I dont think so maybe you should just let her go and start off with a fresh new pet like a dog you know a dog thats nice not to big and loves everyone a dog that does not trun on you like pitbulls and those kinds of dogs you know well anyways ttyl buh bye
- Of course its worth trying! you love her im sure, other wise you wouldnt be trying. try it all again. this is bad, but when my puppies were born, we wrapped the pills in the dogd favorite food, and for the puppies, we crumbled it up in gooey dog food and mixed it well. maybe you can get canned food for her and crumble the pill really good. then you can stir it well in her food. then dont give her any more untill its gone, then she'll have to eat it. I say try again and again. but if you care enough, dont let her go through pain... if you know what I mean... : /
- I'd try what someoneudunn says, but instead of milk intended for humans, use the stuff formulated for cats. It's in the pet food isle and looks like a juice box.
- Sounds like she wants to let go.
BUT...keep trying.
- She might just be ready. But then again, she might not. She might just feel like you don't love her any more because you've started forcing her into what she believes is an unpleasant situation. She can't understand that the meds are for her own good like a human could. Just try your best to show her that you love her, and try new foods (if you haven't already). Put the meds with something she really likes, a nice treat (something she doesn't usually have). That might help. I hope it works out!