Animal Welfare Professionals

My shelter has a cat in foster care that REFUSES to take medication. I'll back-up a little bit. Findlay came to us in December of 2024, her owner had to surrender her (I cannot remember off the top of my head why). When Findlay came in, her ear was tipped... but she was an owner surrender. So I am not sure if the owner had her spayed and ear tipped (possibly indoor/outdoor cat? Intake did not get that information from owner...) or if someone brought an outdoor cat inside their home and then dropped off at shelter. Either way, Findlay is VERY fractious. She is doing semi-well in foster care, her foster caretaker had been visiting her at the shelter so they had a small relationship already underway. In the foster home, she eats dry food (she refuses to eat wet food), plays with toys, sits with her foster caretakers, and uses the litter box appropriately. However, since Findlay came to us in December, our medical staff has been giving her gabapentin to help with stress (and to try and make her easier to handle). We sent this medication home with the foster caretaker but she has been unsuccessful so far on getting Findlay to take the meds on her own. 

We've tried every wet food variety under the sun where we can pour the contents of the capsule and mix it in.  We've also tried deli meat, butter around the pill and freezing it, churu treats, pill pockets, and really anything that could convince Findlay to take it on her own. Still nothing! We even tried putting the medication on her dry food, she wouldn't touch it at all. 

We have tried everything short of forcing it into Findlay. We were really hoping to avoid using force to make her take the medication because we did not want to ruin the relationship they are building (the foster originally took her in to consider adopting). But now her anus is bothering her (possibly from trying all the different foods but it is really inflamed) and even if we prescribe medication, we can't get it in her! I told the foster caretakers that putting her in a burrito may be our only option at this point (unless we return Findlay to the shelter which I really want to avoid as she will end up sitting here for who knows how long, we do not have a lot of adopters/fosters who are willing to work with fractious cats). 

I am making this thread to hopefully connect with people who have experienced something similar with a foster cat. I want the very best for her and our foster caretakers, I just do not know what else to try. Our veterinarian will not order transdermal or liquid gabapentin, we are stuck trying to force a capsule into her. We also are trying forti flora with Findlay but she won't eat that in her food either. 

If I left any crucial information out, just ask in the comments and I'll do my best to respond quickly!

My shelter has a cat in foster care that REFUSES to take medication. I'll back-up a little bit. Findlay came to us in December of 2024, her owner had to surrender her (I cannot remember off the top of my head why). When Findlay came in, her ear was tipped... but she was an owner surrender. So I am not sure if the owner had her spayed and ear tipped (possibly indoor/outdoor cat? Intake did not get that information from owner...) or if someone brought an outdoor cat inside their home and then dropped off at shelter. Either way, Findlay is VERY fractious. She is doing semi-well in foster care, her foster caretaker had been visiting her at the shelter so they had a small relationship already underway. In the foster home, she eats dry food (she refuses to eat wet food), plays with toys, sits with her foster caretakers, and uses the litter box appropriately. However, since Findlay came to us in December, our medical staff has been giving her gabapentin to help with stress (and to try and make her easier to handle). We sent this medication home with the foster caretaker but she has been unsuccessful so far on getting Findlay to take the meds on her own. 

We've tried every wet food variety under the sun where we can pour the contents of the capsule and mix it in.  We've also tried deli meat, butter around the pill and freezing it, churu treats, pill pockets, and really anything that could convince Findlay to take it on her own. Still nothing! We even tried putting the medication on her dry food, she wouldn't touch it at all. 

We have tried everything short of forcing it into Findlay. We were really hoping to avoid using force to make her take the medication because we did not want to ruin the relationship they are building (the foster originally took her in to consider adopting). But now her anus is bothering her (possibly from trying all the different foods but it is really inflamed) and even if we prescribe medication, we can't get it in her! I told the foster caretakers that putting her in a burrito may be our only option at this point (unless we return Findlay to the shelter which I really want to avoid as she will end up sitting here for who knows how long, we do not have a lot of adopters/fosters who are willing to work with fractious cats). 

I am making this thread to hopefully connect with people who have experienced something similar with a foster cat. I want the very best for her and our foster caretakers, I just do not know what else to try. Our veterinarian will not order transdermal or liquid gabapentin, we are stuck trying to force a capsule into her. We also are trying forti flora with Findlay but she won't eat that in her food either. 

If I left any crucial information out, just ask in the comments and I'll do my best to respond quickly!

#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization

------------------------------
Kirsten Jones
Foster Coordinator
SPCA Cincinnati
513-498-7131
kjones@spcacincinnati.org
Cincinnati, OH
www.spcacincinnati.org
------------------------------

My shelter has a cat in foster care that REFUSES to take medication. I'll back-up a little bit. Findlay came to us in December of 2024, her owner had to surrender her (I cannot remember off the top of my head why). When Findlay came in, her ear was tipped... but she was an owner surrender. So I am not sure if the owner had her spayed and ear tipped (possibly indoor/outdoor cat? Intake did not get that information from owner...) or if someone brought an outdoor cat inside their home and then dropped off at shelter. Either way, Findlay is VERY fractious. She is doing semi-well in foster care, her foster caretaker had been visiting her at the shelter so they had a small relationship already underway. In the foster home, she eats dry food (she refuses to eat wet food), plays with toys, sits with her foster caretakers, and uses the litter box appropriately. However, since Findlay came to us in December, our medical staff has been giving her gabapentin to help with stress (and to try and make her easier to handle). We sent this medication home with the foster caretaker but she has been unsuccessful so far on getting Findlay to take the meds on her own. 

We've tried every wet food variety under the sun where we can pour the contents of the capsule and mix it in.  We've also tried deli meat, butter around the pill and freezing it, churu treats, pill pockets, and really anything that could convince Findlay to take it on her own. Still nothing! We even tried putting the medication on her dry food, she wouldn't touch it at all. 

We have tried everything short of forcing it into Findlay. We were really hoping to avoid using force to make her take the medication because we did not want to ruin the relationship they are building (the foster originally took her in to consider adopting). But now her anus is bothering her (possibly from trying all the different foods but it is really inflamed) and even if we prescribe medication, we can't get it in her! I told the foster caretakers that putting her in a burrito may be our only option at this point (unless we return Findlay to the shelter which I really want to avoid as she will end up sitting here for who knows how long, we do not have a lot of adopters/fosters who are willing to work with fractious cats). 

I am making this thread to hopefully connect with people who have experienced something similar with a foster cat. I want the very best for her and our foster caretakers, I just do not know what else to try. Our veterinarian will not order transdermal or liquid gabapentin, we are stuck trying to force a capsule into her. We also are trying forti flora with Findlay but she won't eat that in her food either. 

If I left any crucial information out, just ask in the comments and I'll do my best to respond quickly!

My shelter has a cat in foster care that REFUSES to take medication. I'll back-up a little bit. Findlay came to us in December of 2024, her owner had to surrender her (I cannot remember off the top of my head why). When Findlay came in, her ear was tipped... but she was an owner surrender. So I am not sure if the owner had her spayed and ear tipped (possibly indoor/outdoor cat? Intake did not get that information from owner...) or if someone brought an outdoor cat inside their home and then dropped off at shelter. Either way, Findlay is VERY fractious. She is doing semi-well in foster care, her foster caretaker had been visiting her at the shelter so they had a small relationship already underway. In the foster home, she eats dry food (she refuses to eat wet food), plays with toys, sits with her foster caretakers, and uses the litter box appropriately. However, since Findlay came to us in December, our medical staff has been giving her gabapentin to help with stress (and to try and make her easier to handle). We sent this medication home with the foster caretaker but she has been unsuccessful so far on getting Findlay to take the meds on her own. 

We've tried every wet food variety under the sun where we can pour the contents of the capsule and mix it in.  We've also tried deli meat, butter around the pill and freezing it, churu treats, pill pockets, and really anything that could convince Findlay to take it on her own. Still nothing! We even tried putting the medication on her dry food, she wouldn't touch it at all. 

We have tried everything short of forcing it into Findlay. We were really hoping to avoid using force to make her take the medication because we did not want to ruin the relationship they are building (the foster originally took her in to consider adopting). But now her anus is bothering her (possibly from trying all the different foods but it is really inflamed) and even if we prescribe medication, we can't get it in her! I told the foster caretakers that putting her in a burrito may be our only option at this point (unless we return Findlay to the shelter which I really want to avoid as she will end up sitting here for who knows how long, we do not have a lot of adopters/fosters who are willing to work with fractious cats). 

I am making this thread to hopefully connect with people who have experienced something similar with a foster cat. I want the very best for her and our foster caretakers, I just do not know what else to try. Our veterinarian will not order transdermal or liquid gabapentin, we are stuck trying to force a capsule into her. We also are trying forti flora with Findlay but she won't eat that in her food either. 

If I left any crucial information out, just ask in the comments and I'll do my best to respond quickly!

In general I would check with the vet for other forms of the same medication (f.e. some pills come in liquid or transdermal, sometimes from compounding pharmacies). Some tablets you can crunch up to a powder and add a few drops of water to make a paste. If the foster is able to smear this paste into the cat's fur, the cat most likely will lick it off when grooming. But it needs to be "massaged" into the fur on a location where the cat can reach it. If you just drop it on, she'll shake it off. 

My shelter has a cat in foster care that REFUSES to take medication. I'll back-up a little bit. Findlay came to us in December of 2024, her owner had to surrender her (I cannot remember off the top of my head why). When Findlay came in, her ear was tipped... but she was an owner surrender. So I am not sure if the owner had her spayed and ear tipped (possibly indoor/outdoor cat? Intake did not get that information from owner...) or if someone brought an outdoor cat inside their home and then dropped off at shelter. Either way, Findlay is VERY fractious. She is doing semi-well in foster care, her foster caretaker had been visiting her at the shelter so they had a small relationship already underway. In the foster home, she eats dry food (she refuses to eat wet food), plays with toys, sits with her foster caretakers, and uses the litter box appropriately. However, since Findlay came to us in December, our medical staff has been giving her gabapentin to help with stress (and to try and make her easier to handle). We sent this medication home with the foster caretaker but she has been unsuccessful so far on getting Findlay to take the meds on her own. 

We've tried every wet food variety under the sun where we can pour the contents of the capsule and mix it in.  We've also tried deli meat, butter around the pill and freezing it, churu treats, pill pockets, and really anything that could convince Findlay to take it on her own. Still nothing! We even tried putting the medication on her dry food, she wouldn't touch it at all. 

We have tried everything short of forcing it into Findlay. We were really hoping to avoid using force to make her take the medication because we did not want to ruin the relationship they are building (the foster originally took her in to consider adopting). But now her anus is bothering her (possibly from trying all the different foods but it is really inflamed) and even if we prescribe medication, we can't get it in her! I told the foster caretakers that putting her in a burrito may be our only option at this point (unless we return Findlay to the shelter which I really want to avoid as she will end up sitting here for who knows how long, we do not have a lot of adopters/fosters who are willing to work with fractious cats). 

I am making this thread to hopefully connect with people who have experienced something similar with a foster cat. I want the very best for her and our foster caretakers, I just do not know what else to try. Our veterinarian will not order transdermal or liquid gabapentin, we are stuck trying to force a capsule into her. We also are trying forti flora with Findlay but she won't eat that in her food either. 

If I left any crucial information out, just ask in the comments and I'll do my best to respond quickly!

My shelter has a cat in foster care that REFUSES to take medication. I'll back-up a little bit. Findlay came to us in December of 2024, her owner had to surrender her (I cannot remember off the top of my head why). When Findlay came in, her ear was tipped... but she was an owner surrender. So I am not sure if the owner had her spayed and ear tipped (possibly indoor/outdoor cat? Intake did not get that information from owner...) or if someone brought an outdoor cat inside their home and then dropped off at shelter. Either way, Findlay is VERY fractious. She is doing semi-well in foster care, her foster caretaker had been visiting her at the shelter so they had a small relationship already underway. In the foster home, she eats dry food (she refuses to eat wet food), plays with toys, sits with her foster caretakers, and uses the litter box appropriately. However, since Findlay came to us in December, our medical staff has been giving her gabapentin to help with stress (and to try and make her easier to handle). We sent this medication home with the foster caretaker but she has been unsuccessful so far on getting Findlay to take the meds on her own. 

We've tried every wet food variety under the sun where we can pour the contents of the capsule and mix it in.  We've also tried deli meat, butter around the pill and freezing it, churu treats, pill pockets, and really anything that could convince Findlay to take it on her own. Still nothing! We even tried putting the medication on her dry food, she wouldn't touch it at all. 

We have tried everything short of forcing it into Findlay. We were really hoping to avoid using force to make her take the medication because we did not want to ruin the relationship they are building (the foster originally took her in to consider adopting). But now her anus is bothering her (possibly from trying all the different foods but it is really inflamed) and even if we prescribe medication, we can't get it in her! I told the foster caretakers that putting her in a burrito may be our only option at this point (unless we return Findlay to the shelter which I really want to avoid as she will end up sitting here for who knows how long, we do not have a lot of adopters/fosters who are willing to work with fractious cats). 

I am making this thread to hopefully connect with people who have experienced something similar with a foster cat. I want the very best for her and our foster caretakers, I just do not know what else to try. Our veterinarian will not order transdermal or liquid gabapentin, we are stuck trying to force a capsule into her. We also are trying forti flora with Findlay but she won't eat that in her food either. 

If I left any crucial information out, just ask in the comments and I'll do my best to respond quickly!

My shelter has a cat in foster care that REFUSES to take medication. I'll back-up a little bit. Findlay came to us in December of 2024, her owner had to surrender her (I cannot remember off the top of my head why). When Findlay came in, her ear was tipped... but she was an owner surrender. So I am not sure if the owner had her spayed and ear tipped (possibly indoor/outdoor cat? Intake did not get that information from owner...) or if someone brought an outdoor cat inside their home and then dropped off at shelter. Either way, Findlay is VERY fractious. She is doing semi-well in foster care, her foster caretaker had been visiting her at the shelter so they had a small relationship already underway. In the foster home, she eats dry food (she refuses to eat wet food), plays with toys, sits with her foster caretakers, and uses the litter box appropriately. However, since Findlay came to us in December, our medical staff has been giving her gabapentin to help with stress (and to try and make her easier to handle). We sent this medication home with the foster caretaker but she has been unsuccessful so far on getting Findlay to take the meds on her own. 

We've tried every wet food variety under the sun where we can pour the contents of the capsule and mix it in.  We've also tried deli meat, butter around the pill and freezing it, churu treats, pill pockets, and really anything that could convince Findlay to take it on her own. Still nothing! We even tried putting the medication on her dry food, she wouldn't touch it at all. 

We have tried everything short of forcing it into Findlay. We were really hoping to avoid using force to make her take the medication because we did not want to ruin the relationship they are building (the foster originally took her in to consider adopting). But now her anus is bothering her (possibly from trying all the different foods but it is really inflamed) and even if we prescribe medication, we can't get it in her! I told the foster caretakers that putting her in a burrito may be our only option at this point (unless we return Findlay to the shelter which I really want to avoid as she will end up sitting here for who knows how long, we do not have a lot of adopters/fosters who are willing to work with fractious cats). 

I am making this thread to hopefully connect with people who have experienced something similar with a foster cat. I want the very best for her and our foster caretakers, I just do not know what else to try. Our veterinarian will not order transdermal or liquid gabapentin, we are stuck trying to force a capsule into her. We also are trying forti flora with Findlay but she won't eat that in her food either. 

If I left any crucial information out, just ask in the comments and I'll do my best to respond quickly!

My shelter has a cat in foster care that REFUSES to take medication. I'll back-up a little bit. Findlay came to us in December of 2024, her owner had to surrender her (I cannot remember off the top of my head why). When Findlay came in, her ear was tipped... but she was an owner surrender. So I am not sure if the owner had her spayed and ear tipped (possibly indoor/outdoor cat? Intake did not get that information from owner...) or if someone brought an outdoor cat inside their home and then dropped off at shelter. Either way, Findlay is VERY fractious. She is doing semi-well in foster care, her foster caretaker had been visiting her at the shelter so they had a small relationship already underway. In the foster home, she eats dry food (she refuses to eat wet food), plays with toys, sits with her foster caretakers, and uses the litter box appropriately. However, since Findlay came to us in December, our medical staff has been giving her gabapentin to help with stress (and to try and make her easier to handle). We sent this medication home with the foster caretaker but she has been unsuccessful so far on getting Findlay to take the meds on her own. 

We've tried every wet food variety under the sun where we can pour the contents of the capsule and mix it in.  We've also tried deli meat, butter around the pill and freezing it, churu treats, pill pockets, and really anything that could convince Findlay to take it on her own. Still nothing! We even tried putting the medication on her dry food, she wouldn't touch it at all. 

We have tried everything short of forcing it into Findlay. We were really hoping to avoid using force to make her take the medication because we did not want to ruin the relationship they are building (the foster originally took her in to consider adopting). But now her anus is bothering her (possibly from trying all the different foods but it is really inflamed) and even if we prescribe medication, we can't get it in her! I told the foster caretakers that putting her in a burrito may be our only option at this point (unless we return Findlay to the shelter which I really want to avoid as she will end up sitting here for who knows how long, we do not have a lot of adopters/fosters who are willing to work with fractious cats). 

I am making this thread to hopefully connect with people who have experienced something similar with a foster cat. I want the very best for her and our foster caretakers, I just do not know what else to try. Our veterinarian will not order transdermal or liquid gabapentin, we are stuck trying to force a capsule into her. We also are trying forti flora with Findlay but she won't eat that in her food either. 

If I left any crucial information out, just ask in the comments and I'll do my best to respond quickly!

My shelter has a cat in foster care that REFUSES to take medication. I'll back-up a little bit. Findlay came to us in December of 2024, her owner had to surrender her (I cannot remember off the top of my head why). When Findlay came in, her ear was tipped... but she was an owner surrender. So I am not sure if the owner had her spayed and ear tipped (possibly indoor/outdoor cat? Intake did not get that information from owner...) or if someone brought an outdoor cat inside their home and then dropped off at shelter. Either way, Findlay is VERY fractious. She is doing semi-well in foster care, her foster caretaker had been visiting her at the shelter so they had a small relationship already underway. In the foster home, she eats dry food (she refuses to eat wet food), plays with toys, sits with her foster caretakers, and uses the litter box appropriately. However, since Findlay came to us in December, our medical staff has been giving her gabapentin to help with stress (and to try and make her easier to handle). We sent this medication home with the foster caretaker but she has been unsuccessful so far on getting Findlay to take the meds on her own. 

We've tried every wet food variety under the sun where we can pour the contents of the capsule and mix it in.  We've also tried deli meat, butter around the pill and freezing it, churu treats, pill pockets, and really anything that could convince Findlay to take it on her own. Still nothing! We even tried putting the medication on her dry food, she wouldn't touch it at all. 

We have tried everything short of forcing it into Findlay. We were really hoping to avoid using force to make her take the medication because we did not want to ruin the relationship they are building (the foster originally took her in to consider adopting). But now her anus is bothering her (possibly from trying all the different foods but it is really inflamed) and even if we prescribe medication, we can't get it in her! I told the foster caretakers that putting her in a burrito may be our only option at this point (unless we return Findlay to the shelter which I really want to avoid as she will end up sitting here for who knows how long, we do not have a lot of adopters/fosters who are willing to work with fractious cats). 

I am making this thread to hopefully connect with people who have experienced something similar with a foster cat. I want the very best for her and our foster caretakers, I just do not know what else to try. Our veterinarian will not order transdermal or liquid gabapentin, we are stuck trying to force a capsule into her. We also are trying forti flora with Findlay but she won't eat that in her food either. 

If I left any crucial information out, just ask in the comments and I'll do my best to respond quickly!

My shelter has a cat in foster care that REFUSES to take medication. I'll back-up a little bit. Findlay came to us in December of 2024, her owner had to surrender her (I cannot remember off the top of my head why). When Findlay came in, her ear was tipped... but she was an owner surrender. So I am not sure if the owner had her spayed and ear tipped (possibly indoor/outdoor cat? Intake did not get that information from owner...) or if someone brought an outdoor cat inside their home and then dropped off at shelter. Either way, Findlay is VERY fractious. She is doing semi-well in foster care, her foster caretaker had been visiting her at the shelter so they had a small relationship already underway. In the foster home, she eats dry food (she refuses to eat wet food), plays with toys, sits with her foster caretakers, and uses the litter box appropriately. However, since Findlay came to us in December, our medical staff has been giving her gabapentin to help with stress (and to try and make her easier to handle). We sent this medication home with the foster caretaker but she has been unsuccessful so far on getting Findlay to take the meds on her own. 

We've tried every wet food variety under the sun where we can pour the contents of the capsule and mix it in.  We've also tried deli meat, butter around the pill and freezing it, churu treats, pill pockets, and really anything that could convince Findlay to take it on her own. Still nothing! We even tried putting the medication on her dry food, she wouldn't touch it at all. 

We have tried everything short of forcing it into Findlay. We were really hoping to avoid using force to make her take the medication because we did not want to ruin the relationship they are building (the foster originally took her in to consider adopting). But now her anus is bothering her (possibly from trying all the different foods but it is really inflamed) and even if we prescribe medication, we can't get it in her! I told the foster caretakers that putting her in a burrito may be our only option at this point (unless we return Findlay to the shelter which I really want to avoid as she will end up sitting here for who knows how long, we do not have a lot of adopters/fosters who are willing to work with fractious cats). 

I am making this thread to hopefully connect with people who have experienced something similar with a foster cat. I want the very best for her and our foster caretakers, I just do not know what else to try. Our veterinarian will not order transdermal or liquid gabapentin, we are stuck trying to force a capsule into her. We also are trying forti flora with Findlay but she won't eat that in her food either. 

If I left any crucial information out, just ask in the comments and I'll do my best to respond quickly!