Last time, we looked at the difficult task of giving liquid medicine, in a syringe or eyedropper, to a cat. Some cat owners find this so close to impossible that they prefer to put the meds into food, water, or milk in the hope that their cat will consume the whole mixture without noticing.

However, some vets caution against giving cats medicine in food or drink. Dr. Bernadine Cruz, a Laguna Hills vet who hosts PetCareTV, tells us, “I would not recommend putting medication into a bowl of water or into food. Cats are much more fastidious when it comes to eating. They may not eat/drink any of the treated material.”

Well, if you have more than one cat, it’s not safe to do this anyway – the wrong one could end up being medicated.

Dr. Cruz goes on to say, “If they do eat/drink some…how much did they get? Was the medication inactivated?”

This is the main reason that, hard as it is, I prefer to give a cat his dose all at once, right in the mouth. As you bandage any scratches you got, you know that the medicine is in him, doing its job. It’s not sitting in a bowl, losing its power. Yes, there are ordinary substances that can inactivate medicine.

Dr. Roxanne Levinson agrees that cats are much more sensitive to taste than humans and may refuse to consume anything that tastes bad. She adds that this means they fail to get not only their meds but enough water for the day. Also, “medication needs to be given in full doses to be sure it will act predictably in the pet’s body”.

Both vets say you should talk to your own vet if giving meds is a problem. There are plenty of alternatives, if you ask.