Homemade Pill Pockets for Cats: 5 Vet-Approved & Practical Recipes

Vet approved

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By

Dr. Paola Cuevas

MVZ (Veterinarian)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Sometimes, our cats must take their medication in pill form to stay healthy and to live longer lives. The problem is that if your cat is like most, they probably do not enjoy taking pills and will quickly turn their nose up at any pill that you try to offer. It can be frustrating when a cat refuses to consume pills when they are needed for good health.

Luckily, you don’t have to fight your kitty to make sure that the pills are consumed when required. Thanks to pill pockets, your cat can enjoy what they think is a treat while consuming their medication. You just place a pill in a pill pocket, then offer it to your cat at snack time and your cat should do the rest by gobbling it right up. You can buy pill pockets at the store and online, but why not make your own and save some money? Here are five recipes to try at home today.

The embedded images in this article are dog recipes, but we are using them only to guide you on how the final product should look.

The 5 Vet-Approved Homemade Pill Pockets for Cats

1. Bloodgood Japanese Maple

Bloodgood Japanese Maple

This recipe is easy to make, requires minimal ingredients, and will provide your cat with extra fiber and protein. You don’t have to cook these pill pockets, and they can hold up well in the fridge for about a week.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course treats

Cuisine Cats

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ¼ cup almond flour
• 1 tablespoon almond butter

Instructions

 

• Place the ingredients in a small bowl and use a spoon to mix them up until they become a thick paste.
• Pull about a teaspoon’s worth of the paste out of the bowl and roll it into a ball.
• You can then push a pill into the paste, and then roll the paste into a ball again to completely cover the pill
• Your kitty should have no problem accepting the almond-covered pill.

Notes

Image Credit: Justyna Pankowska, Shutterstock

Keyword bloodgood japanese maple, cats, homemade, pill pocket

2. Peanut Butter Pill Pockets

Most cats have a hard time resisting peanut butter, so these pill pockets should be a hit with your furry family member. While there is no need to bake these pills, they do have to be set in the fridge before they can be used.

Place the oats in the food processor to obtain a thin flour. Add the flour to a bowl, then add the water. Stir the ingredients together until the oats are well hydrated. Once the oats soften, add the peanut butter, and mix everything up until it forms into a ball of dough. Put the dough in your fridge, and let it rest for about 20 minutes, then you can use the mixture to make pill pockets and cover your cat’s medication.

3. Baked Tuna Pill Pockets

If you want to stay away from fatty nuts and seeds to help manage your cat’s weight, consider making these tuna-rich pill pockets. They do require baking, but the result is a crunchy treat that can be stored on the counter or in a cupboard instead of taking up precious space in the fridge.

Place all the ingredients into a mixing bowl, and stir everything together until it forms a dough. Make 12 small balls out of the dough, and set the balls on a baking sheet. Bake the balls at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes, then let them cool for another 15 minutes. They will then be ready to insert pills into and serve to your cat. Store in an air-tight container for up to 5 days in the fridge and up to a month in the freezer.

4. Coconut-Flavored Pill Pockets

Believe it or not, cats tend to be fond of coconut, so these pill pockets should be a hit in your household. They are made with ingredients that you may not already have in the kitchen, but the ingredients go a long way, so once you stock up, you should be able to make new pill pockets regularly for months.

Put all the ingredients in a mixing bowl, then use a spoon to stir everything together until well combined. Place the mixture in your fridge for about 5 minutes so it can firm up. Then, roll small pieces of the mixture into balls, and form the space to place your cat’s pills inside the balls as you work.

5. Fancy Feast Pill Pockets

If you don’t have enough time to make homemade pill pockets for your cat or you just don’t want to, Fancy Feast can make for a great option on the fly. You don’t need any fancy tools or ingredients to make this work.

All you must do is use a teaspoon to take a little bit of food out of the Fancy Feast can, then place your cat’s pill on top of the food. Use your hands to mold the food around your cat’s pill, and the pill should disappear.

Final Thoughts

Pill pockets can make life easier for everyone involved if your cat must take pills regularly and doesn’t like doing so. Luckily, there are many great recipe options to choose from, so if your cat does not like one option, you can always try another until you find one that works for your cat. Just remember that pill pockets should not be considered food; they are nothing more than a way to get your cat to take their pill;  however, they do provide extra calories that should be considered in the cat’s daily allowance, especially if the treatment is long-term. While these recipes are formulated with cat-safe ingredients, always consult your veterinarian before adding anything to a cat’s diet, especially if they are on medical treatment.

Related Reads:

• 4 Homemade Cat Cake Recipes (Vet Approved)
• Homemade Cat Treats with Pumpkin – 3 Recipes (Vet Approved)

Featured Image Credit: Jakub Zak, Shutterstock