My 5 year old neutered Bengal has been diagnosed with dust mite allergy and prescribed ATOPICA to reduce his constant scratching and over-grooming. My problem is he will only eat dried cat biscuits (one type of Royal Canin - he's very fussy!!), no wet food, chicken, tuna or anything else. I have tried to administer directly with the syringe provided but he hates it and I cannot hold him for long enough to do this! Any ideas of anything which might tempt him that I could mix it with?

Are there any treats he really likes and will do anything for? I usually put a little bit on some food that is a favourite with whoever needs the medicine and mix it in, but I have been known to use treats as well and let it soak in or mash it in and that usually works as well. I hope you find something irresistible to him that will make life easier for you both!

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Clare
Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013)
Hampshire, UK

Pilling a cat is the hardest thing in the world to do. You need 6 hands at least! Pill poppers is a type of treat that has a hole where you place the pill in the hopes the animal will swallow it. Are these capsules? They may be a bit larger. The biggest fear is that you're hurting the cat while holding him down. Not true. I've had to pill my bengal all by myself. It's not easy and he fights it, but I win in the end!!! Just look on the ground to see if yours managed to spit it back out. If you have a friend or neighbor who could help hold your kitty, that would be a huge help. Many wrap their cats in a towel to limit the activity of the front paws.

Is this a medication that your kitty will have to take forever? Or is it just temporary? I had to learn to give insulin shots and subq fluids to my cat -- I know in the beginning you think you can't do it, but you need to teach your kitty who's boss. I have a hard time corralling Raiden to give him his flea medication, but I take him the bathroom and eventually he just lays down and lets me do it. In a second, I'm done and he's free to go.