Administering medications to cats can be a challenge as drug formulations are not designed for spontaneous intake by cats, but rather for assisted (i.e., forced) administration of the pill or liquid. The difficulty associated with doing this consistently and effectively results in poor compliance, widely variable bioavailability and poor clinical outcomes, on top of feelings of frustration, fear and guilt on the side of the pet owners. In view of the increasing importance of cats as companion animals in the western world, there is a need for adapted medication that is easier to administer.

The objective of this project is to explore the feasibility of combining food and pharmaceutical technologies to create a new formulation platform specifically designed for administration of medications to cats. The new formulation would enable spontaneous intake while ensuring delivery of the desired amount of active ingredient to achieve the intended pharmacological effect.