3 month old kittens won't eat food containing deworming medication.

I've tried everything I can think of and am at wit's end.  They're feral, by the way, and we're not at the handling stage just yet, so I can't wrap them in a towel and give it to them by hand.  They're supposed to take Drontal (one dose) and Albon (9 doses).  I tried mixing it with a generous portion of their favorite food in the world, Gerber chicken & gravy, and they acted like I was trying to poison them.  They took a few small bites, made "ick" faces and walked away.  To top it off, two of them need different dosages.  I tried putting down individual portions but no one wanted more than a nibble, so I finally threw up my hands and mixed everyone's portion into two cans of soulistic (tuna & salmon/chicken).  It's usually a food they go crazy for, but the exact same thing happened.  Little nibbles and expressions of disgust, a pile of food no one will touch.

The vet assured me that cats don't mind the flavor!  Now what am I supposed to do?

Have you tried Pill Pockets? You might have to divide up the pills into smaller doses if they're large. For cats that aren't fond of Pill Pockets, you can still use them but roll them in pulverized freeze-dried chicken or salmon. I would try giving the kitties a few Pill Pockets without any pills in them at first, then try one with a pill, quickly followed by another one without. Keep them small (like 1/4 of the full-sized Pill Pocket) so that they don't try to chew them. 

Good luck!

Forgot to ask, how come they're on Albon?

You need to try to put the meds in a food they have not had before. Something very smelly.

They will recognize that you have added something to the foods they are accustom to eating and, this, will not eat the food.

Good luck!

Sugarcatmom said:

 
Have you tried Pill Pockets? You might have to divide up the pills into smaller doses if they're large. For cats that aren't fond of Pill Pockets, you can still use them but roll them in pulverized freeze-dried chicken or salmon. I would try giving the kitties a few Pill Pockets without any pills in them at first, then try one with a pill, quickly followed by another one without. Keep them small (like 1/4 of the full-sized Pill Pocket) so that they don't try to chew them. 

Good luck!

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Ah, Pill Pockets!  It never occurred to me to try them.  The vet said we'd have no trouble at all if I crushed the Drontal and added it to something yummy, especially after withholding food for several hours.  I thought for sure the Gerber would do the trick, I really did.  It looks like I'll have to replace the tossed meds and try again with the Pockets.  Except the Albon is a liquid, so I'm still not sure what to do with that.

Sugarcatmom said:

 
Forgot to ask, how come they're on Albon?

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It's for coccidiosis, a protozoal infection.  

CatPack said:

You need to try to put the meds in a food they have not had before. Something very smelly.

They will recognize that you have added something to the foods they are accustom to eating and, this, will not eat the food.

Good luck!

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I didn't think of that!  Of course they would realize something was off about food they're familiar with.  I'll have to think of something extra scrumptious for the Albon suspension.

I'm also thinking of supplementing with food-grade diatomaceous earth.  Just in case someone stubbornly refuses to finish their dose.

the3rdname said:

 
Except the Albon is a liquid, so I'm still not sure what to do with that.

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Can you ask the vet for Albon tablets instead? I hate giving liquids to cats, especially when they're flavoured. Never seems to work out well for anyone involved, but maybe that's just me. 

Just a side note...
If the Albon doesn't clear the coccidia up, get your vet to have some Ponazril compounded for you. We (rescues) haven't had much luck with Albon clearing coccidia up around here (southeastern US.)

The Ponazril is 3-5 days of treatment.

CatPack said:

Just a side note...
If the Albon doesn't clear the coccidia up, get your vet to have some Ponazril compounded for you. We (rescues) haven't had much luck with Albon clearing coccidia up around here (southeastern US.)

The Ponazril is 3-5 days of treatment.

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I wonder if I should have the stools retested for Coccidia.  The diarrhea situation has spontaneously resolved, which makes me wonder if their immune systems were able to rid their bodies of it.  Not sure if that's a thing that can happen.  I've been putting probiotics in their food; maybe they amped up the gut's immune response...?

I was so glad to learn about the Ponazuril.  Joy of joys, it can even be compounded into treat form!  Now I'm feeling slightly frustrated that the vet at the popular and spendy clinic I take my cats to wasn't acquainted with it.  She was wonderful with the kittens, who weren't at all keen on being examined at first.  I'm happy that we had a vet accustomed to handling ferals, I just wish I hadn't wasted money on the Albon.