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Our specialist (AAFP feline specialist) recommended Zyrtec for our gray girl who has eosinophilic granuloma complex/mosquito allergy. She suggested half a tablet once daily (5 mg. total) for Skye, based on her weight and being a senior (almost 14). I use a pill popper, or I use a certain technique that I learned as a tech. I gently grasp the kitty's head at the zygomatic arch, tilt the head back slightly, so her nose is pointing about 20 degrees up (looking towards a corner of the ceiling), then pop the pill in with my other hand. It's easier to show than tell! Then I follow it immediately with a few drops of Pet-Tinic vitamin liquid on her lips or gums to make her lick and inevitably swallow the pill. You can smear a little butter or tuna liquid, or hairball goo... anything tasty on the mouth to make them lick and swallow. But you have to do this as a smooth and confident maneuver!
I would just like to know, for anyone using Zyrtec for their cats allergies, if it is bitter tasting to the cat, how do you give your cat Zyrtec. I have ordered some online and am anxiously waiting. I had horrible luck trying to give her Benadryl, liquid and pill form. No matter what way I give her Benadryl, and yes even in pill pockets, she chews it up and foams like crazy from the mouth and the whole thing is so horrifying for her and me. I know it's a "normal" reaction from the bitter taste but I am not going through that again nor to her. I am just praying to the Gods that the Zyrtec is not bitter and I might be able to crush it up and give it to her in her food. If anyone could just let me know if they find their cat doing this with the Zyrtec and if so, how do you administer it without that happening, if it happens. Thanks so much for all and any replies!!
Many antihistamines are quite bitter, and it's not easy to hide them in food. Cats check their food more closely than dogs and if there's something "unsavory" in there (by the cat's opinion), they won't eat it and may even avoid that food from that point on. Plus, if the cat doesn't finish all the food, he doesn't get all the medicine.
Thank you for your spin on things...it's good to get different advice and kind of go with what works best for us...I wish I was that confident to try something like that but I think I might make more misery than good..I was terrible at trying to drop to the pill hid in a tiny piece of cheese at the back of the tongue..covered with a bit of fish oil..and that was with someone else helping (holding her) lol I'm sure practice makes perfect but she's a timid cat on the best of day, I'm so scared she's going to end up hating me by the time I actually get a pill into her. I forgot to mention the pills I'm getting are 5mg tabs and are supposively VERY tiny, they can't be tiny enough in my opinion! lol I'm wondering if I might be able to get away with crushing these particular ones and putting it into her wet food if they are so small, I'm going to try it anyways! I also today have started to omit chicken and fish from her diet. I need to find the culprit to these allergies...so trial and error. I bought her duck and pea canned food and dry so hoping I can get some relief for her soon one way or another!