Maybe you snuck it into her food, maybe you gave it through a syringe. Whatever the method, your cat will most likely get mad at you when you give her medicine. It is important to understand why cats hate medicine so much.
Just about all medicine has an unnatural taste to cats. As cats are animals of habit, this can be very displeasing to them. Cats also have a very strong sense of smell, and thus strong taste buds, so they can almost always sense the taste of medicine. While you can’t avoid giving the cat medicine, there are some ways you can give medicine to your cat to make her less grumpy.
My cat is mad at me for giving her medicine! What to do!
- Explore chewables: Nowadays, medicines come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and tastes. Flavored chewables are becoming more and more popular among the cat community. These flavored chewable medications come in flavors that your cat can actually enjoy, such as chicken or beef. My favorite chewables that I give my cat medicine are Greenie Chicken Pockets. You can click the photo below for more information.
- Sneaking it into the food: While cats do have strong taste buds, it is still possible to sneak the medicine into food (or even sometimes water). You should sneak the medicine in when your cat is no where near. It is best for your cat to eat the medicine right after she exercises, because she is the most hungry and might not notice the small change in taste.
- Love and care: Before and after you give your cat medicine, also give her some back rubs and love. In this way, your cat may start to have a positive association with the medicine, even if she doesn’t like the taste. You can also give her treats after you give her medicine as a reward.
- Test out different forms of medicine: As we mentioned earlier, cat medications comes in plenty of different forms. If your cat despises taking pills, you should explore other options such as liquid medication, topical solutions, or dissolvable pills.
Will my cat hate me for giving her medicine?
While cats can sometimes be moody, your cat will most likely not hate you for giving her medicine. The key is to give your cat a lot of love (or food) right after you give her medicine. Then, even though the medicine might not have a good taste, your cat will start to have a positive association with the medicine. Sometimes you might have to lure your cat by giving her a treat before and after you give the medicine.