Giving a cat a pill is one of those experiences that sounds simple until you actually try it. The internet makes it look easy — just open the cat's mouth, drop in the pill, hold the jaw shut, and stroke the throat. In reality, you end up with scratched hands, a frantic cat hiding under the bed, and a soggy pill on the floor that your cat has somehow spat out for the third time.

There has to be a better way. And there is. Lickable puree treats are one of the most effective vehicles for hiding cat medication, and thousands of cat owners have discovered this trick completely by accident. Your cat gets so focused on licking the delicious puree that they swallow the medication without noticing.

Here's exactly how to do it — plus tips for liquid medications, supplements, and medications that are harder to disguise.

Why Lickable Puree Works Better Than Other Methods

Traditional pill pockets and treat wraps work for dogs but often fail with cats. Why? Because cats chew carefully and investigate their food. A pill pocket gets bitten in half, the pill is discovered, and your cat walks away — now suspicious of anything you hand them.

Lickable puree treats solve this problem in three ways:

  • No chewing required. Your cat licks the puree. There's no biting or crunching that would expose a hidden pill.
  • Strong flavor masking. The intense chicken or tuna aroma in Churu treats overwhelms the bitter taste of most medications.
  • Rapid consumption. Cats lick puree quickly and eagerly. The medication passes through before your cat has time to analyze what they're eating.

Method 1: Hiding Crushed Pills in Puree

This is the most common approach and works with most oral medications.

  1. Check with your vet first. Some pills should not be crushed — time-release capsules, enteric-coated tablets, and certain antibiotics lose effectiveness when broken. Always confirm with your veterinarian before crushing any medication.
  2. Crush the pill finely. Use a pill crusher or place the pill between two spoons and press firmly. The finer the powder, the less likely your cat will detect it. Coarse chunks are easier for cats to taste and spit out.
  3. Squeeze half a tube of Churu onto a plate. Create a small puddle of puree.
  4. Mix the crushed pill into the puree. Stir thoroughly with a toothpick or small spoon until the powder is fully incorporated.
  5. Let your cat lick the medicated puree. Most cats will clean the plate without hesitation. If your cat is particularly cautious, add the second half of the tube on top as a "chaser" to ensure they consume everything.

Important: Use the smallest amount of puree necessary to mask the medication. If you mix one pill into an entire tube and your cat only eats half, they've only gotten half the dose. A half-tube serving with thorough mixing gives better dose accuracy.

Method 2: Mixing Liquid Medications

Liquid medications are even easier to hide in puree treats.

  1. Measure the prescribed dose using the dropper or syringe provided with the medication.
  2. Squeeze a portion of Churu onto a plate.
  3. Dispense the liquid medication directly onto the puree.
  4. Mix lightly — liquid medications blend into the puree seamlessly.
  5. Serve immediately.

The 91% moisture content of Churu means the added liquid barely changes the consistency. Your cat won't notice any texture difference.

Method 3: Whole Pills in a Puree Stream

For small pills or capsules that can't be crushed, try this technique:

  1. Squeeze a small amount of puree onto a plate.
  2. Place the pill in the center of the puree puddle.
  3. Squeeze more puree on top, covering the pill completely.
  4. Let your cat lick from the edges inward. By the time they reach the center, the pill gets swept up with the puree and swallowed.

This works best with small, smooth pills. Large or oddly shaped tablets are harder to hide this way — crushing is more reliable for those.

Using Puree for Daily Supplements

Beyond prescription medication, lickable treats are excellent vehicles for daily supplements:

  • Probiotics: Sprinkle probiotic powder over a puddle of Churu and mix. The probiotic powder dissolves into the puree without affecting taste.
  • Joint supplements (glucosamine): Available in powder or liquid form. Mix into a half-tube serving.
  • Omega-3 fish oil: A few drops of fish oil blend seamlessly into tuna-flavored Churu. The fishy flavor actually complements the treat.
  • Lysine for herpes virus management: Lysine powder is commonly prescribed for cats with feline herpes. Mix into a daily Churu serving for painless administration.

Troubleshooting: When Your Cat Detects the Medication

  • Cat sniffs and walks away: The medication's smell may be overpowering the treat. Try using less medication per serving spread across two servings, or switch to a stronger-flavored Churu variety (tuna tends to mask better than chicken).
  • Cat licks around the medication: The pill isn't crushed finely enough, or there's a visible chunk. Crush to a finer powder and mix more thoroughly.
  • Cat ate some but not all: Use a smaller amount of puree to increase the concentration and ensure the full dose is consumed in fewer licks.
  • Cat is now suspicious of all Churu: Take a break from medicated servings for a few days. Offer plain, unmedicated Churu to rebuild trust. Then reintroduce the medication in a smaller, better-disguised dose.

Bonus: Churu at the Vet's Office

Bring a few tubes of Churu to your next vet appointment. Offering a lickable treat during examinations, vaccinations, and blood draws distracts your cat and creates a positive association with the vet's office. Many veterinary clinics now keep lickable treats on hand specifically for this purpose — they call it "fear-free handling."

End the Medication Battle

Giving your cat medication doesn't have to be a traumatic experience for either of you. A tube of Churu, a crushed pill, and 30 seconds of mixing can turn a dreaded daily task into something your cat actually looks forward to. Try it once, and you'll never go back to the old way.