Need Help Medicating my Cat

My Cat recently has been diagnosed with a thyroid problem.  I'm trying everything I can to keep her medicated but she disappears and makes it very difficult to keep up with her daily medications.  First i tried the regular pill, would mix it in her food and tuna fish oil, she just stopped eating.  Then I brought the liquid she would fight not stay still and would hide and avoid me for days.  Then i brought the "flavored" version of the pill.  I would brake it up in her food and mix it she would avoid eating the food and eat my other cat's food instead.  After that I brought pet "pocket pills" she also did not eat the pill. I also brought her cat food without zinc and again she stopped eating. Since I have stopped putting the medicine in her food she it thankfully eating (thank God) but my new method is applying the medication to her ear.  This method is near impossible since I have to try and catch her and every time she sees me she runs and hides.  I'm lucky if I can can't her once a day much less twice to apply this medication.  I do not live in an apartment I live in a house and she has numerous places to hide and I hardly see her anymore. I'm very upset that I don't see her and she does anything and everything to avoid me and I need her to take this medicine for her health.  The vet doctors are very nice but they I can tell they find it hard to believe that I'm having these problems with my cat.  I'm at a lost and I do not want her to have surgery or to lose her. Any suggestions or methods that someone in a familiar situation can advise me will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you

Most-vets-do-understand,that-alot-of-people-have-trouble-medicating-their-cats.I-am-sorry,that-yours-doesn't.

Most-of-mine-are-very-good-about-pills,but-I-have-one-that-is-horrible,so-I-make-it-a-game,she-will-come-running,and-she-never-knows-when-she-is-going-to-get-meds,lol.

I-say"medicinys",they-come-running,they-get-a-few-licks-of-baby-food,then-they-go-on-their-merry-way.That-is-how-I-taught-them.So...."medicinys"-is-the-same-thing-as-"treaties".First-you-have-to-teach-them.

When-I-do-have-to-give-a-pill,I-say"medicinys",they-come-running.They-all-get-a-few-licks-of-baby-food,then-I-grab-the-one-I-want.The-pill-is-all-ready,and-dipped-in-baby-food.I-give-him-a-few-more-licks-of-baby-food,off-my-finger,then-put-the-pill-in-his-mouth.He-is-expecting-the-baby-food,tasts-it,and-swallows-the-pill-before-he-even-knows-what-happened,then-give-him-a-few-more-licks-of-baby-food,off-my-finger.Bam,we-are-all-done.To-them,they-just-got-treaties,not-medicine.

For-her,I-do-the-same-thing,they-come-running,they-all-get-a-few-licks-of-baby-food,then-I-grab-her,her-pill-is-ready,I-wrap-her-in-a-towel,kinda-like-a-burrito,she-is-not-going-anywhere,give-her-a-few-more-licks-of-baby-food,put-the-pill-in-her-mouth,she-swallows-it,she-gets-more-baby-food-licks.

Like-you,she-had-a-serious-medical-issue,she-had-to-have-the-medicines,and-she-struggled,like-a-wild-woman.Just-like-you,couldn't-slide-it-past-her-in-food,she-wouldn't-eat,thought-it-was-in-there,and-she-had,to-eat,we-too-tried-the-pill-pockets,no-go,as-was-every-other-thing-my-vet-suggested,as-she-too-ran-the-other-way.Finally-my-vet-said,wrap-her-in-a-towel,that's-pretty-much-what-they-do,for-a-struggling-cat.

Then-I-thought,why-not-teach-them-to-come-to-me,as-we-teach-show-kittens-to-accept-grooming,baths,blow-drying.We-make-it-a-game,with-treaties,before-and-after,so-its-a-positive-experience-for-them.

It-works-every-time.

Periodicly,thru-out-the-day,or-when-you-are-home,say"treaties",give-them-both-treats,let-them-go-on-their-way.So-now,she-never-knows,when-she-is-going-to-get-her-meds.When-you-have-to-give-her-meds,give-her-the-treats,wrap-her-in-a-towel,they-aren't,going-anywhere,give-her-the-meds,give-her-more-treaties,before-you-let-her-go.Its-a-positive-experience-for-her.

The-others-might-have-even-better-ideas,but-this-works-for-me.Best-of-luck.

You mentioned liquid medicine--was it also flavored?

I hate to give Ritz pills almost as much as Ritz hates taking them (antibiotics for UTIs and upset stomach).  If the medicine is also used by humans, some pharmacists can add flavoring to the medicine.  Ritz likes chicken/tuna flavoring.  If the medicine is for animals only, sometimes the pharmacist can add flavoring to the medicine with the vet's approval--depends on the pharmacist and vet.  Note that these rules vary somewhat state to state.  It's worth a shot.

I have a cat that is the same way.  We have reduced the places she can hide - stuffed stuff under the beds so she can't get under there for example.  She still does have a few hidey holes, but nothing that I can't get to her in.  We have two of us to pill her, though, so I get her and hold her and DH gives her the pill.  We've been doing this for I guess going into the third week, and she's gradually relaxing and not running to hide.  I got some Feliway plug ins and the vet gave me something called Comfort that are treats you give once a day.  After we give her the pill, I give her one, or other treats or food if she won't eat that one.  That way it's kind of a reward and we can also be sure she actually swallowed the pill.  She's still very cautious around me, but at least she's getting her meds.  I've done other stuff to try to make her feel more comfortable, like took all the stuff off the dressers and bookcases upstairs, put down a soft blanket and a water bowl so she could be up high.  Yesterday I put a microfiber blanket on the couch (which she had been avoiding..the couch that is), and she finally got on it and got comfy.  So did my other cat (lol) so I now have no where to sit (but it's a small price to pay).

Hopefully, you'll be able to find some method that works for you and your kitty.  I know how frustrating it is when you know they need the medicine but you hate to terrorize them at the same time.

If it's methimazole (tapazole) you're giving, be aware that it also comes in a chicken flavored treat form and a transdermal gel you can rub inside the kitty's ear. I had a cat who would not eat the pill with the chicken flavored coating, but he would eat the chewable chicken flavored treats with no problem at all.

My cat Muffin takes this medicine every morning. I put it in the chicken flavored pill pocket and lay it on the very top of his food. Not a problem like that for us.

Depending on which cat it is; I either use a pill shooter or a feline Greenies pill pocket. Mine love the pill pockets and usually eat the pill or liquid I put in it.

All great advice. If you are trying to rub it into her ear, maybe you can do it in the middle of a nice petting/" scritchies" session, hopefully she will except it as part of the "Massage." If she likes her ears rubbed. I would just have it ready to go, so you don't have to stop & miss a beat, this way she doesn't suspect anything.  Good luck.