Hiding Pills and Liquids to Make Medicine Time Easier for Cats

Lisa Selvaggio
by Lisa Selvaggio

Medicine time for cats can be stressful, especially if your kitty is difficult to pill or you have to give them a liquid medication that tastes awful. But if you implement the right strategies, things can go more smoothly. Many people find that they can hide a pill or liquid in food to trick their pet into thinking it’s treat time instead of medicine time, so it’s worth trying out a few methods to figure out what works for your feline.

New Africa/Shutterstock

Note: Before mixing medications, or even supplements, in food, check with your veterinarian to be sure it’s appropriate to do so. For example, medications that need to be given on an empty stomach obviously shouldn’t be mixed with food.


Wet Cat Food


Mixing your pet’s medicine into a bit of wet cat food could be a simple way to get them to take their dose without complaint. Use a smaller amount of food than your cat normally eats at mealtime, as you want to be sure they’ll eat it all and will get the entire dose of medicine.


As long as the medication doesn’t alter the smell or taste of the food, your kitty might eat their meal like usual, without even realizing that they also got some medicine in the mix.


This approach may work with liquid medications, as well as powdered medications and supplements, that can be mixed into canned cat food easily and completely. You might even be able to crumble a pill and mix it into the food, but only do this if your veterinarian says that it’s okay, as some medications need to be given in their whole pill form. Or, you might be able to empty the powder from a capsule into the food. Again, consult your vet first to confirm.  


Note: If you have to give your cat a pill that can’t be mixed into wet food, you might still be able to make the process easier and more comfortable for them by coating the pill in some of the juice or pate from the canned food. This may help the pill go down more easily, and you can follow it with more wet food to be sure it doesn’t get stuck in their throat.


Lickable Treats and Mousses


There are many lickable cat treats and mousses on the market these days because they’ve become hugely popular among kitties of all ages. Unlike meaty wet food, these are smooth, so mixing medicine into them might be even easier.


Again, if the odor and flavor are strong enough to cover up the fact that there’s medicine mixed in, your feline friend might go for their treat without delay. The key is to mix the medicine in completely in the case of a liquid or powder, or coat it completely in the case of a pill.


The most well-known lickable treat is Churu, which comes in a variety of flavors to suit every kitty’s preferences. Squeeze some onto a dish, mix in your cat’s medicine, and see if they’ll happily lick it all up.

Freeze-Dried Treats and Morsels


If your cat is a fan of freeze-dried raw treats and morsels, you might be able to strategically hide a small pill in the mix. When it comes to freeze-dried chicken and fish, you might be able to squeeze a small pill into a large piece, or your cat might eat their pill along with several treat pieces if you put them all together in the palm of your hand or in a dish or bowl.


Freeze-dried morsels like Instinct Raw Boost Mixers are another option. These have a different shape and texture than other freeze-dried treats, and you might be able to hide a small pill in a morsel and give that to your kitty as a treat. Some people might find that wetting a freeze-dried morsel slightly to get it a little hydrated makes this even easier.   

Chewy and Soft Treats


Soft and chewy treats, like Churu Bites can be used to hide small pills, too. Again, just squeeze the pill into the center of the treat and give it to your kitty. If they don’t know that there’s a pill hidden, they might gobble it up and take their medicine super easily.

Yet another option is to hide pills in Feline Greenies Pill Pockets, which come in chicken, catnip, and salmon flavors. You can use just the right amount of Pill Pocket to coat the medicine so your kitty will eat it like a treat on their own. Or, if you have to pill your kitty, this could be a good way to make it go down their throat more comfortably, especially if you use a thin layer to coat it. Plus, this could work well for a pill that has a bitter taste or strong odor.

Medicating Your Cat May Be Easier If You Hide It in Food


Different strategies work for different cats, and that’s the most important thing to keep in mind when medicating a feline companion. Some kitties don’t mind being pilled, while others fight hard to avoid it.


It might take some trial and error, and you might need to use different foods for liquid medications versus pills, but you may find that hiding medicine in food that has a strong flavor and pleasing aroma is effective.


As mentioned above, if your veterinarian tells you that you can try this strategy (remember, some medications shouldn’t be crushed or mixed with food), it might make medicine time a lot less stressful for you and your pet.


Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Lisa Selvaggio
Lisa Selvaggio

Lisa Selvaggio is a freelance writer and editor, and our resident cats-pert, with certifications in pet nutrition and pet first aid. She enjoys producing content that helps people understand animals better so they can give their pets a safe and happy home.

More by Lisa Selvaggio

Next