What you are looking for are the "loaf" type canned foods. You can get the loaf consistency by avoiding food names that contain the words, "shredded", "flaked", "in gravy", "with gravy", "chunks", or "bites". Friskies makes quite a few loaf type canned foods. You just have to check the labels for the words that indicate something other than a loaf.

Laurie

That's what I did yesterday when I picked out the latest batch: avoided any that mentioned, "shredded", "flaked", "gravy",
"chunks", or "bites". It said nothing but the flavor. I opened it, and it's still in chunks (and has gravy too).

Can you tell me a specific flavor that is in loaf form?

Fancy Feast may be a bit on the pricey side for just a small amount to hide a pill (50 cents for a 3 ounce can, here.) But all of their "meals" are flagged as shredded, chunky, morsels, grilled, etc... anything without a flag (located upper left of the flavor name) is "loaf" type, though they do also have a bit of gravy that the kitties just LOVE.

Specific flavors in loaf form (good and squishy too) are Gourmet Chicken Feast, Tender Beef Feast, Liver and Chicken Feast, Beef and Chicken Feast, Chopped Grill Feast - remember make sure they do not have a "flag" as many of these flavors have chunky, minced, grilled etc versions.

Good luck!

I only have a few cans of Friskies in my cabinet at the moment, but they are all loaf styles. They are: Beef & Liver Entree, Classic Seafood Entree, Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Dinner, and Turkey & Giblets Dinner. There are many more loaf styles in the Friskies lineup, as well. In fact, you might be able to buy a case of mixed loaf styles of Friskies at K-Mart or Wal-Mart. I've purchased them there before.

Oh, another word you want to avoid on the labels is "filets".

Avoid "sliced" or "slices", too.

Oh great! Thanks for the specifics. I'll write those down and go shopping again tomorrow. I sort of remembered "dinner" being on the label of the "good" ones.

Has anyone else found their cat won't eat the chunk (or shredded, etc.,) styles? Not only can I not hide the pill in them, in the last 2 days she won't eat it at all. She'll lick the gravy off but won't eat the chunks. When I tried "squooshing" it with a fork and realized how rubbery it was, now I'm not surprised.

I read recently too (on a veterinary website) that the canned foods with "gravy" all have wheat gluten in them, and that wheat is undigestable by cats. The contaminated pet food scare recently (with wheat gluten that had melamine in it) has made me conscious of this.

Hi,
Same thing here, only I crush the pill and mix with warm water and than add the cat food. I have found by looking at the picture on the label of the can, you can see which is loaf type as opposed to which is diced, shredded, etc. And with crushing the pill, it goes in with all types of cat food and the water makes a gravy mix, along with the vitamin put in, so the old boy has adjusted to it fine.

Oh, yes. My Emma avoids anything other than loaf (which I have to also mix with H2O and mash up more!). She literally will sniff it and make gagging sounds while walking away if I try to slip something over on her!! Not spoiled or anything, is she?!!! To supplement her dry food each morning I give her 1/4 can of Fancy Feast Tender Beef & Liver Feast although sometimes she lets me slip in another flavor of same texture. Before the big recall she loved the Blue Buffalo brand with many flavors. I haven't been able to get that for a long time even though the store folks assure me that brand was NOT tainted.....so, why is it gone?

"Wellness"

Also, Beechnut Turkey baby food.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wellness Info

I put her pills in with the new can of loaf food today and she still rejected it. I know what the problem is, the antibiotic really stinks. I sniffed a pill straight and it made ME gag. Plus it's big so the odor factor is significant. I gave her a small taste of the loaf food straight and she loved it (got very excited and tried to get more). But the same thing with Baytril crushed and mixed in; she checks it out and walks away.
The other pills are really tiny (Prednisone and Phenobarbital), I think I can continue to give those in the food.

I'm going to have to try another strategy. I'll post a new topic, as this is now a different issue.

As far as "why is it gone" for your favorite brand: It's probably due to a supply chain interruption. Even if a brand did NOT use the contaminated gluten, manufacturers may be being extra careful and finding new sources not in China. Your brand may reappear later, or never reappear if a cost-effective source cannot be found. There are issues with many products, not just pet food. Did you hear about the recall of Fisher-Price toys painted with lead paint?
I also read an article recently on many forms of makeup being contaminated with metals and industrial poisons because a few ingredients (like talc) are imported from China. The label may say "Made in the US" but the components can be from anywhere. If an ingredient comes from elsewhere, it's safety is anyone's guess unless it's from a country with established industrial safety practices. Suppliers in China are under a lot of pressure to create better standards, but it remains to be seen whether it can be done, or how soon.

My cats are very picky. Only the "loaf" style Which is basically Fancy Feast "Gourmet". They also only like fish but won't eat the salmon probably because it doesn't have as much oil to lick off.

I sent you an email regarding flavoring the meds at the pharmacy. I hope you get it.
Otherwise, try something stinky like liverwurst.

(sorry that I mistakenly responded to your other thread -- just one of those days)

My cats also eat only the gravy if I give them the sliced or shredded cat food. With Fancy Feast, look for the word "feast" in the flavor name to get the "loaf" type food. Like Salmon & Ocean Whitefish Feast or Tender Beef & Liver Feast, which are my cats' favorites. Beef or turkey babyfood, as another poster mentioned, are also good.

It is so difficult to pill one of my cats that my vet now gives me her medicine in a liquid form. You do have to hold the cat still while squirting the stuff down her throat, but she would hold the pill in her mouth for forever and I would find them later all over the place. At least with the liquid form, I could be sure she got at least some of the medicine. (The other cat, thankfully, I can pill while she's asleep and she doesn't even wake up all the way.)

Did you try asking the vet to mix you the medicine in liquid form? I always do that if they can make it that way. I find it very difficult to give most of my cats pills.

I found this thread funny because my cat will barely touch "loaf style" canned food. He likes the shredded texture (he currently eats Meow Mix Select in the small containers).

Anyhow, if you are looking for a more quality food than what you get at the grocery store -- try Authority -- it is Petsmart's brand sold only there. All the varieties are loaf style.

Have you tried "pill pockets"?
They are sold/provided at many vet offices and are a squishy, smelly, gooey (if you hold them too long) treat - with a hole in it to place the pill. Sort of like an olive with the seed removed - you place the "pimento" in it.
I was taking care of my Auntie's cat (hyperthyroid/CRF/18 year old) who gave me terrible trouble the first couple of days. I got out the pill pockets and she didn't even realize there was a bitter tasting middle. She swallowed the whole thing and BEGGED (grabbing, swatting and biting) for more.
She ate only Fancy Feast wet food and there was no fooling her to hide a pill in her regular food - but these pockets of heaven were irresistible.
Good luck!

I heard about Pill Pockets yesterday. I did a search in this forum on giving a cat a pill and they came up. I'm planning to get some today. I have another thread going, on giving a cat a pill, which grew out of this one. The food (if it's loaf style) works to hide the 2 small pills just fine. It's the large and stinky Baytril that can't be hidden. And crushing it seems to make it smell more. Last night my husband and I gave it to her dissolved in water in a syringe. I thought we were either going to choke her, break a bone or frighten her to death in the process. She was shaking with fear while we tried to get the liquid down. Considering she's had a stroke, I believe she should not be stressed that much.

Ah yes, Baytril, the "purple pill of death" as far as my boys are concerned. Try doubling up the pill pocket - rip one down the side to be able to smoosh it over the one you put the pill in being sure to fully cover the pill. Even cover the pill in butter or food or tuna juice before putting it in the pocket - anything to mask the smell. Hoping it works for you.

I know how hard it is to pill them and avoid stressing them. Just remember it is for her own good and will help her.

Let us know how it goes.

This is kind of what I emailed you:

If your cat is prescribed a pill, but you know it's easier to administer liquid medication, ask your veterinarian if it comes in liquid form.

Many veterinarians can add flavors to liquid medication, such as chicken, tuna, or malt. If your veterinarian doesn't have those resources, your local pharmacy probably does. Ask your veterinarian whether the prescription can have added flavoring.

Some medications can be reformulated into transdermal form by a compounding pharmacy. Transdermal medication slowly absorbs through the skin. If you're unable to give your cat a pill or liquid, the transdermal method can be much easier. The medication is usually rubbed on the inside ear tip.

Altho I'm not at present medicating anyone, I know how difficult it is. I agree that liguids are much easier to squirt. I have mixed pills in baby food before..Just get the smelliest kind you can find. About the consistency of the food, I hate it that I need to examine every kind of label of every brand to find "squishy". Mine all hate chunky, for awhile liked filets, but now want squishy..FF is particularly hard to decipher. Some of their gourmet I get for the two old cats smell good enough for me..And fancy gourmet names as well...ie.wild salmon w/whipped egg souffle,Shredded wild salmon w/ garden greens, Shredded yellowfin tuna w/ garden greens and white meat of chicken w/ egg souffle..They are very squishy and no, I don't work for the company. In fact I don't often buy them..trying to add pounds to the oldsters.

I hide my 15-year old female cat"s thyroid pills(which are small) in a tiny pat of butter. She also eats Fancy Feast , but only flavors with gravy. She licks up the gravy and leaves the solid food slices or chunks of behind. I have another cat and a dog who gobble up any left-over Fancy Feast.

Another thought on the Blue Buffalo being unavailable, since it is one of the few brands apparently unaffected by the recall, a lot of folks may have "converted" to using it, increasing the demand for it.

This thread is great! I've been trying to find a canned food that my cat will eat (she's underweight - all that chasing the dog around!) and she actually liked the Fancy Feast loaf kind. w00h00!

Wellness!

There are several grain-free varieties.
It's loaf style.
My underweight, old cat has gained weight on it, and her joints seem much more supple.

Definately Wellness!

I wrap pills for cats in tiny bits of cream cheese. Pills for dogs in raw hamburger (or cream cheese if the pill is small and the dog is not feeling well enough to eat.)

Where do you buy this Wellness food?

I hadn't thought of cream cheese. Is that something cats like in general? She doesn't seem to like regular cheese.

We are down to 2 very small pills a day, which has made it much easier. In case it's useful to others...I found a very soft cat treat at Petco, "Animal Planet" jerky treats. I had already tried a few other brands that were too rubbery. These treats are small, pea-sized. I am pressing it flat between thumb and forefinger, pressing the pill in, then rolling the treat around it. Heat of hand makes them more malleable. It's working so far; and at $3 a bag is one quarter the price of the Pill Pockets. (I am still shocked at how expensive those are! $12 a bag, for 45 pieces! I don't like to feel like I'm being taken advantage of just because my cat is sick.) If we have to use big pills again I may still have to use those.

I buy Wellness at a local independent pet supply store (Bark 'n Purr). Wellness' website probably has a "find a retailer" link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wellness website

Another vote for Wellness and we also feed Natural Balance which can be purchased at Petco.

Some of the flavors do have grains in both, I read the labels and feed grain free.