Apple Cider Vinegar for Cats
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How to Give Apple Cider Vinegar to Cats Orally

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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How to Administer ACV in Food or Water
Posted by Cat Lover (Malta) on 08/31/2024
 ★★★★★

DO NOT give or Introduce Apple Cider Vinegar to your cat mixed up with the crushed pills or any other medications especially if you have just started to introduce the ACV, otherwise they won't have their medications. It is incredible how intelligent cats are and they choose what to eat and what to drink even when they are strays. My strays have become very very choosy so be careful. First things first. I started with the medications first, crushing the pills and mixing them well with just little tasty sticky food so that the cat doesn't get suspicious. In the meantime whilst I feed him I feed his brother in a separate bowl and try to keep him possibly away from him so that they don't tend to eat from each other's bowl and I stay with him until he has ate the knob of food with medicine. Than I give him some different one with a little of ACV in it and I also make sure that at least he licks some of it and that's it. Then I leave the bowl on the floor, and they both share, but this way, I'm sure who is having what. I still have 5 days to finish up his Marbocyl pills but then I will continue to give him the Cystophan for at least a month. I have also consulted with my VET and she agreed that it won't do any harm. I will also continue to add water and ACV together with their pouches of food. Remember, Do not mix a lot; otherwise, they won't eat it at all. You have to always add gradually otherwise the food won't be tasty even if you add water, don't add a lot.

How to Administer ACV in Food or Water
Posted by Linda (Vancouver, Washington) on 11/10/2021
 ★★★★★

Buy Apple cider vinegar in pill form. I put one down my cat's throat every day and the next time I took him to the vet about two months later the vet said there are no more signs of crystals They're all gone

How to Administer ACV in Food or Water
Posted by Diane O. (Bronx New York ) on 06/17/2017
 ★★★★★

Today is my first day using Apple Cider Vinegar for my cats one has third eye and the other two have issues going to the litter box I made ice cubes of Apple Cider Vinegar I made a 1 cup of water 1 spoon of Apple Cider Vinegar my cats likes ice cubes in their water so I figured let me try it this way and she was drinking and licking the cubes. Fingers crossed.

How to Administer ACV in Food or Water
Posted by Theresa (Mpls., Mn) on 09/03/2014
 ★★★★★

To get your cat to take the ACV, make sure you have the right kind; raw, organic, 'with the mother'/live cultures. Take 1 part ACV and 10 parts water and dip your cat's paw in the solution; your cat will lick her paw to dry it and she will ingest the ACV in that way. Dip paw in solution as often as needed until you feel good about the amount she has taken in.

How to Administer ACV in Food or Water
Posted by Jd (UK) on 08/27/2014
 ★★★★★

I use a 50/50 mix with ACV and water and pour a small amount over my cat's normal dry food, I leave this for around 15 mins so all the ACV is absorbed into the food. I then mix a little nice wet food into the bowl with the ACV mix and the cat eats it up.

She doesn't love it but it's a good way to get the treatment into her.

Good luck

How to Administer ACV in Food or Water
Posted by Diamond (Mass., US) on 08/07/2014
 ★★★★★

I rescue cats that people no longer want, I found that many of these cats were having problems keeping food down, I waited a few months and watched what they ate, if anything, then watched to see if they could keep/hold the food down, three didn't so I added ACV in with their food; I did this for at least a month, now two years later they are doing great and just as healthy as ever. Now on the other hand I have a cat that is picky by no fault of hers, she tries to eat but then throws it up, I try different types of wet/dry cat food, I tried to put a very small amount of ACV in her wet food and she wouldn't eat it at all. Finally after months and many times of trying I decided to take her to the vets. I paid $130.00 for what I don't know, the cat is still sick, she has a rattling sound while coughing and appears worse. I am so sad because this is the only pet I have rescued that I cannot help. Thank you.

How to Administer ACV in Food or Water
Posted by Diamond (Mass., US) on 07/27/2014
 ★★★★★

I found a cat roaming the streets day in and day out for over a year even during the coldest of winters, she was a ragged looking cat, small and very thin. I picked her up and brought her home and gave her can cat food where I found she couldn't hold it down for very long; also one of her eyes was closed and draining. I continued to give her cat food with ACV and opened a capsule of salmon fish oil and put it into her cat foo. It took her quite some time to adapt, but after a few months she started to gain some weight, then her bad eye stopped draining and was fully wide open. She has been with me for over a year now and she has filled out in one of the greatest ways I have ever seen, she is her normal weight, she can see better and was a shabby bunch of mangled fur, is now fluffy & beautiful. I love my animals, It's God's gift to us.

How to Administer ACV in Food or Water
Posted by Monica (Palmyra, New Jersey) on 03/03/2013
 ★★★★★

I would like to make some suggestions for getting a cat to take Apple Cider Vinegar. I tried putting 1/2 tsp in his canned food and found he didn't want his food. Tried putting it drinking water... Wouldn't drink. Finally I mixed 1/2 tsp ACV in 1. 5 tsp tuna juice and put it slowly into the side of his mouth with a syringe and he lapped it up. Ran out of tuna juice so mixed up some strong chicken broth using a "base" or concentrated chic broth paste. He took it just as well as with the tuna juice. I know this adds salt, but some vets recommend a pinch of salt to stimulate them to drink more to help dilute the urine even more.

Charlie had been to the vet to be "unblocked" (expensive! ) He came home peeing little bits, often and licking his privates immediately after each pee. So he was still very irritted down there and I feared a relapse. So far, 3 days on the ACV and he is peeing less often, a little more each time and doesn't lick himself immediately after each pee.

How to Administer ACV in Food or Water
Posted by Kackiecnm (San Diego, Ca ) on 08/24/2011
 ★★★★★

I have read many of the posts for treating a variety of feline ailments from relatively mild to life threatening and the great and even miraculous results without the huge Vet costs and, even if finances were not an issue, the Rxs that they use from steroids to antibiotics have terrible side effects and often not only mask the many symptoms, as with steroids, but do not affect a cure and end up making your pet worse and increase their suffering.

However, there are so many opinions of how much to give orally (internally) regardless of the whether the ailment be a UTI, URI or GI etc. As far as how much ACV to dilute with how much water that it hard to figure out. And, topically I have read everything from using it undiluted on back of neck (which gets it into the whole system as the dermis is the largest organ or absorption:-) to a 50/50 mix to apply to wounds, mange, to clean out ear infections, be they a mite problem or bacterial infection, etc.

So, although a lot of what works is by experimenting trial and error as to dose, frequency, mode of application --- what we really need is a thread devoted just to this.

One thing I can share is that aside from maintaining your pet's health be he/she a feline or canine by putting a little ACV in their drinking water or moist food daily, the easiest way to treat a cat who is resistant is to mix what you believe is the proper dilution in a jar with a lid to use later, and suck up some in a needleless syringe with a plunge or an sterilized eyedropper and squirt it in the side of their mouth near jaw hinge --- not too fast as you may cause them to gag or choke, but if you are "calm and assertive" and speak soothingly, it's not hard to do at all --- if you have a really uncooperative large cat, straddle him/her and squat over him/her on your knees.

I have gleaned a few things from all of your posts that everyone seems to agree upon that ACV has:

My situation is that I have a cat with a rare systemic disease, Coccidioidomycosis, aka "Valley Fever" (a type of fungal infection that cats who go outside get from infected soil in SW states). Starts in bronchea with whooping cough type eposides (not fur ball type) and can stay "contained" there. But, once it disemenates, due to a failure of immune system, it is life threatening, often fatal and causes multiple awful symptoms from rapid weight loss, to hair loss in patches, (a lot due to poor cat constantly licking and scratching) whisker loss, GI problems, signs of pain as if arthritis, rapid atrophy of hind quarters, nervous system --- restlessness and actual panic attacks and more with every organ system involved. It is hard to diagnose. (Both Trad. And Alrntv. Vets couldn't in my case and I spent $100s ) It was only ater hours of research online that I finally figured it out myself. Anyway, my search also led to the blessing of finding Earth Clinic and the ACV remedy. I have started to apply a 50/50 solution to Jazz's bare patches as think using it straight may cause some burn --- am guessing at dilution that I am giving her orally AM and PM via method described above. Will keep you all posted, but would very much appreciate any "feedback" or referral to any more specific dosing info as to titre and amounts.

Thank you all, and blessings to my fellow guardians of the creatures who depend on us for care in exchange for the love and pleasure they give unconditionally to us.

Kackie

PS The benefit of administering the ACV dilution orally to your pet via either syringe or meaured dropper is that you know how much they're getting if your trying to treat for a specific thing. A little in drinking water per other posters' suggestion seems fine for "healthy maintenance. "

How to Administer ACV in Food or Water
Posted by Suzanne (Quebec, Canada) on 12/26/2009
 ★★★★★

1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar and 3 tbsp of water mixed in with 1 large tbsp of canned cat food

How to Administer ACV in Food or Water
Posted by Catherine (Montgomery, Alabama/U.S.A.) on 03/19/2009
 ★★★★★

On apple cider vinegar (ACV)for use in felines, I've read too many times that people are dosing cats orally, straight out of a dropper, on the fur/paws, with undilute vinegar...try some yourself right out of the bottle? It burns the mouth, throat, and stomach when it hits, so please dilute before administering. I use ACV myself, and for my cat's for eye and nose treatment (upper resiratory related).

I make an 8oz. glass of warm water with 1/4 tsp. ACV and 1/4 tsp. seasalt...I use this myself, and test on myself before dropping in cats eyes/nose. These amounts aren't caustic enough to cause burning pain. Restraint and medicating are always unpleasant to cats. Mine have grown accustomed to it, although none of us enjoy the process.

Initially they were panicked and struggled...they feel they can't breathe I imagine... but speaking softly/calmly, giving breaks from restraint to pet and comfort between drops they have learned to endure it without a big fight. My cats were infected w/a calici virus outside the scope of their annual vaccines more than a year ago when I helped a friend find homes for kittens, so we have to do this often. My cats are not cured by any means, but the ACV 1 tsp. per can of wet food w/water added, same in water bowel, and the eye/nose drops help to keep the sinuses from becoming full of stringy mucus, and clear the eyes in a matter of 3-4 days when it manifests there.

Just as a warning to other cat lovers, I have always made sure the cats/kittens I've fostered were FIV/FeLeuk negative before allowing them into my home, even in a kitty condo not in direct contact with my babies, NOT GOOD ENOUGH! In this case I wasn't warned the kittens had been sneezing. For those who foster and rescue, I have learned from the heartbreak of having 4 beautiful, healthy cats become chronically ill, never, ever to allow any other cat/kitten into my home without total quarantine, in the kennel and in a room away from mine, with stringent disinfecting...of room and yourself; hands, shoes, even clothes if you hold the visiting cats or they sneeze on you. Even a cat that appears well can be a carrier of herpes/calici/rhino and other diseases. Recently a pet sitter friend had the same thing happen...no sign of illness in the cats she sat, but she carried herpes virus to her three cats, one of them elderly and at risk.

Hope this is helpful, Catherine

How to Administer ACV in Food or Water
Posted by Susan (Columbus, Ohio) on 01/10/2009
 ★★★★★

I have two guinea pigs, one had a urinary problem and I added apple cider vinegar , a very small amount, I mix ACV and water 50/50 and add a small amount of that mixture to her water bottle, about 1/2 teaspoon. She has not had a problem since. After some research, I now also add organic cranberry juice, about 1/4 teaspoon to help in their vitamin C intake. Cranberry juice is also good in treating yeast, fungus, etc., when taken internally. For animals unsweetened is recommended, but you only need to use a small amount in the water. I also give this to my dog, ACV and cranberry juice. If your pets refuse to drink the ACV in the water, put a smaller amount in, it seems that even a very small amount is still helpful.

How to Administer ACV in Food or Water
Posted by Jill (Cranbrook, BC Canada) on 01/07/2009
 ★★★★★

I also had an issue with getting my cat to drink/eat ACV but then I realized that i had some of that sticky hairball stuff that you put on cats paws, so i mixed the ACV with that, spead it real good on the paw and poof!...she licked it off just like that! This is my first time trying ACV for my cats bladder infection so im hoping this is going to work wonders like i've been readin so far on this site....I'll keep you all posted!

How to Administer ACV in Food or Water
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 05/13/2008 490 posts
 ★★★★★

The easiest way to give your cat ACV is to add it to its drinking water. If your cat usually drinks about one cup of water per day, I would begin adding l/4 to l/2 tsp to its drinking water (your cat might refuse to drink it if you put too much in it to begin with) and gradually increase it to about l tsp per day. If you get the desired result, hold it at that level, if not, you might add a wee bit more.

How to Administer ACV in Food or Water
Posted by Pat (St. Louis, Missouri) on 03/23/2008
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

ACV remedy: My two cats, 9 months and 2 years, wouldn't drink the ACV in their water. So I took a gallon jug of water and added 1 drop of ACV. They drank it.

When the jug is 3/4 empty, I refill it with water and add another drop of vinegar and have kept repeating this, slowly increasing the amount of ACV by 1 drop. I have been doing this for about two weeks and they are tolerating it well.

Soft stool has been corrected, and fur is glossy and smooth. Still have some trouble with flatulance in 2 year cat.

Thanks so much!



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