Study finds cats don’t have taste preferences for medicine

Madison, Wisconsin — Cats are incredibly fussy and cocky when it comes to food.

However, according to a recent study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we have little preference when it comes to drug flavor.

The purpose of this study was to find a way to increase drug acceptance in cats by comparing the acceptability of different flavors of liquid medicines. Easy to administer.

Pills can negatively affect the bond between owner and animal, as they are often forced down the cat’s mouth or throat. This can lead to increased inflammation in the esophagus and make cats more anxious about future treatments.

“Cats are incredibly difficult to medicate and don’t have many good options,” said Amy Nickellason.in a press release, is a board-certified canine and feline practitioner and clinical assistant professor at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine.

This is partly why Nichelason and her colleagues further explored flavor preferences for liquid pharmaceuticals that are easier to administer.

Cats in this study received drug-free oil- and water-based formulas in various flavors such as chicken, beef, and fish.

However, when the owner gave the cat various flavors at home, none of them became a favorite.

Scientists have discovered one interesting thing. That said, cats don’t like the sweet flavors in water-based formulations. Nikerathon said this was surprising because cats can’t taste sweetness.

“It’s interesting that they actively disliked sweet tastes because they lack the gene for sweet taste,” she noted.

But the cat still remains fussy. Overall, they preferred oil-based flavors over water-based flavors. Specifically, only 60% of cats disliked oil-based flavors compared to 85% of them who disliked water-based flavors.

There were some trends in preference for oil-based flavors, but those findings were not statistically significant, according to the researchers.

Owners often play a role in determining the taste of the medicines that veterinarians prescribe for their animals. The research suggests that this may not be the best idea.

Researchers have found that owners have a hard time guessing which concoction flavors their cats prefer.

“They said, ‘My cat would like chicken,’ and he liked fish,” Nickellason said.

Despite finding that cats have no preference, this study still serves as a stepping stone for cats to take medication.

“The moral of the story is to try what’s most likely to work,” Nickellason said in a press release. This means that you should use oil-based flavors.

Nikerathon said she and her colleagues would next add an unpalatable drug to an oil-based concoction flavor or flavor combination to see how it changes acceptance. said it would also consider a compounded chewable formula.

For now, Nichelason says there are a few things owners can do to ease a cranky cat when giving medication.

One way to do this is to give your cat a form of medicine that they like. This could be a chew, liquid, or tablet. If you’re not sure what your cat likes, you can ask your pharmacy for a drug-free sample so your cat can try it before adding drugs.

Giving your cat treats and extra love after administering the drug may also promote good results, Nikerathon said.

But she made a point of being honest with your veterinarian.

“If a formulation isn’t working and is causing you stress, let us know so we can work together to create a better dosing regimen,” Nikerathon advised in a press release.

And if one thing is certain, cats can always be a little unpredictable.

“Cats become cats,” concludes Nickellason. “They want what they want. They will do what they want. It’s hard to predict them.”