The Best Pill Pockets For Cats
Getting your stubborn cat to take medication is no easy feat, and it will likely require you to trick your cat into doing so. Thankfully, there is something to help you with this: pill pockets. Pill pockets allow you to discretely place your cat's medication in a tasty treat. These pill pockets are made to be easy for you to work with so that you don’t have to struggle in getting your cat the pills it needs.
What to Look For
To find the best pill pockets for your cat, we considered three different things: quality ingredients, ease of use, and versatility. Our favorite pill pockets are the Feline Greenies, which are made with quality ingredients that your cat will love, like chicken and salmon. However, we did notice that there wasn’t as much versatility with this pill pocket as there was with our second favorite, the Vetoquinol moldable pill paste. With Vetoquinol’s paste, you’re able to cover any pill, no matter the size. Plus, cats seem to love the flavor. Read on below to see the rest of our top picks for pill pockets.
Feline Greenies Pill Pockets Cat Treats
If you take a minute to stop and look at some of the ingredients in cat food, you might be surprised. Much of it is filler and cheap ingredients that may seem harmless but can cause a lot of damage to your cat’s health. That’s why we love these pill pockets from Feline Greenies. They are made with real ingredients and provide a safe way for you to deliver your cat’s medication to them. These pill pockets are free of artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, and fillers. Instead, Feline Greenies opts for natural ingredients rich in minerals and trace nutrients.
Pros:
- We found that these work even better if you pre-fill the pockets 12 hours ahead of time. That way, the medication soaks up some of the pill pocket’s flavor and keeps your cat from tasting the meds at all.
- This is great for cats who won’t take their medication when it’s mixed in with their dinner.
- The pill pockets are easy to mold around large pills too.
Cons:
- The zipper on the package doesn’t seal well; you may want to put it inside a ZipLock bag, so they don’t dry out.
Kitti Variety Pack Bundle Pill Pockets
Some cat owners find that their cat eventually grows tired of the taste of the pill pocket and no longer view it as a “treat.” We have a solution for that: Kitti’s variety pack of pill pockets. This comes with tuna and cheese, salmon, and chicken flavors so that you can alternate without your cat getting sick of one flavor. In addition to the pill pockets, you’ll also receive a bonus catnip toy that comes in the shape of either an Arowana, carp, goldfish, or trout. These pill pockets are vet-recommended and will make a difference in giving your cat the medicine they need.
Pros:
- It’s a great option if you are fostering cats and need a way to give them medication.
- Older cats enjoy this way of taking medication much more than other options.
- Cats seem to love the diverse flavor options.
Cons:
- Check to make sure all three of the packets are for cats. Some people were sent dog treats by mistake.
Vetoquinol Pill Wrap Treats for Dogs & Cats
Some pill pockets may not fit the medication your cat requires. However, with this pill paste from Vetoquinol, you can hide pills of any shape or size. These wraps are free of mess and full of flavor, which makes them a great choice for your cat. Your cat will also enjoy the flavor and do so safely, as this paste is made with food-grade ingredients. The paste works to mask the smell and taste of the medicine inside. One container of this paste will last you for around 50 pills, depending on the size.
Pros:
- A great way to serve this to your cat is to put the pill in the paste and then mix it in with wet cat food.
- If your cat has a hard time swallowing pills, the paste can be coated as thinly (or thickly) as you need.
- The paste is stickier, which makes it easier to work with than other pill pocket options.
Cons:
- Some cates will not appreciate this paste’s flavor.
Pet MD Wrap Pill Peanut Butter Flavored Pill Paste
Nuts about peanuts
If you’re looking to switch some flavors up in your cat’s life and get them something unique to take their medicine with, then you may want to go for this pill paste from Pet MD. It is peanut butter flavored and made with safe ingredients that will mask both the taste and smell of your cat’s medication. You can use this paste for capsules, tablets, powders, and liquid drops. Because it’s a paste, you can mold the size to be as big or as small as you want.
Pros:
- This paste doesn’t smell too bad, and it won’t get your hands sticky.
- We love that you don’t need to refrigerate this paste.
- This is an excellent option for medication that is extended-release and must be swallowed whole.
Cons:
- The paste is quite greasy, like peanut butter.
Vetriscience Laboratories Pinchers Pill Hiding Pocket Treats
Nutritious and delicious
If you’re looking for a way to get your cat the medication it needs along with the bonus of probiotics, then consider Vetriscience’s pill pockets. The probiotics may help promote digestion and keep your cat’s immune system strong. For the best success with these pockets, try them as a treat on their own without medication. Then, add in the medication and see how it goes. Your cat should accept them this way, despite there being medicine inside. The ingredients are natural and safe, and lower in calories than other competitors, so you’re looking at good health all around.
Pros:
- For cats that can’t swallow a whole pocket, you can pinch it in half, put the pill in, and then roll the half into a ball for your cat to eat.
- The probiotics improve bowel movements and create a consistent schedule.
Cons:
- The pockets may be too small for some medication to fit in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do vets recommend pill pockets?
Yes. Some brands are specifically vet-recommended and even designed by veterinarians. Pill pockets are often a healthier option over hiding medication in human food and have lower calories.
Is it safe for cats to have peanut butter pill pockets?
Yes, as long as the peanut butter is unsalted or has no added salt. If that is the case, then your cat should be fine to have peanut butter-flavored pill pockets.
Do you need to refrigerate pill pockets?
This depends on the specific brand you get and its ingredients, but generally speaking, pill pockets do not need to be refrigerated. To keep them moist, it’s important to let all the air out of the package before sealing it up.
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