SubQ Fluids * Other Syringes and Needles * Oral Prescription Meds
Oral Non-Prescription Meds and Supplements * Capsule Making Supplies * Injectable Meds
Glucose Testing * Enemas and Suppositories * Blood Pressure Monitoring * Miscellaneous Things
I’m often asked which products I use with my cats, or which products I recommend based on what others have said. To make my life a little easier I decided to compile that list here.
You can find all of these products from other online suppliers or local pharmacies, this is just the list of what I use to help you get started in your search.
SubQ Fluids
For subQ fluids I use the syringe method, so the products I use are slightly different than what is needed for the drip method. See the SubQ Fluids page for more information.
Product | Method Used With | Where I’ve Purchased |
Lactated Ringers 1000 ml (See this page & pay $25 for a whole case) | Both | Walgreen’s Pharmacy, Thriving Pets, Chewy |
IV Line | Drip | Thriving Pets (anything except the 30 inch line from this page will work) The Braun lines DO NOT have separate injection ports for giving additional meds. The other lines do. |
Syringes – 60 ml Luer Lock | Syringe | Thriving Pets, Blowout Medical |
Extension lines | Syringe | Thriving Pets Hey Med Supply Save Rite Medical (ships to both USA and Canada) |
Winged Infusion Sets (Butterfly needles) 21g 3/4″ | Syringe or Both | Hey Med Supply, Blowout Medical ( SV21BLK) |
Terumo Needles (if not using butterfly needles) | Drip or Both | Med-Vet, Thriving Pets |
18g Needle (for drawing fluid into syringe from bag) | Syringe | MedLab Supply, Thriving Pets |
Sharps Container* | Amazon | |
IV Pole* | Drip | Vitality Medical, Amazon |
*suggested, but not strictly required
Other Syringes and Needles
Product | Where I’ve Purchased |
Oral medicine syringes | 1ml, 3ml, 5ml, 10 ml all FREE at local CVS pharmacy |
Luer Lock Syringe w/o needle | 1 ml on Amazon 3 ml on Amazon 10 ml on Amazon |
Insulin Syringes* | Multiple sizes at Blowout Medical Multiple sizes at Total Diabetes Supply, including options with half-unit markings These may be cheaper at a local pharmacy. Depending where you live you do not need a prescription to buy them. |
Needle Clippers** | Amazon |
*Insulin syringes have a “units” measure, but it’s really just based on a fraction of a milliliter. A U-30 syringe = 0.3 ml, a U-50 syringe = 0.5 ml and a U-100 syringe = 1 ml
**Needle clippers will snip off the needle from an insulin syringe and store it internally like a sharps container. Needle clippers make it much safer to dispose insulin syringes with other municipal waste if your local laws allow that.
Oral Prescription Medications
Product | Where I’ve Purchased |
Cerenia* | Allivet, Chewy, Valley Vet |
Ondansetron | Walgreen’s Pharmacy |
Omeprazole, Ranitidine, Famotadine | Local grocery store |
Prednisolone | Valley Vet, Chewy, Allivet, VetRx Direct, Vet Approved Rx |
Lactulose | Chewy, Walgreen’s Pharmacy |
Mirtazipine 7.5 mg tablets** | Walgreen’s Pharmacy |
Sucralfate | Valley Vet Supply |
Chlorambucil | BCP |
*Cerenia in the 24 mg strength is a much better deal than the 16 mg strength if you’re able to cut it down to the right size dose for your cat.
*Allivet is the best price I’ve found for Cerenia. They have an autoship discount and they will price-match if you find it cheaper elsewhere.
**Check out Human Prescription Savings at Walgreens for tips and coupons to save money on these items.
Oral Non-Prescription Supplements
Product | Where I’ve Purchased |
Aluminum Hydroxide | Amazon Chewy Thriving Pets VetRx Direct |
Potassium Citrate | Swanson Vitamins |
Methylcobalamin (B12) (oral) | Amazon |
B Complex (oral) | Amazon, Swanson |
Niacinamide | Amazon, iHerb |
Saccharomyces Boulardii (probiotic) | Amazon |
Renadyl* | Amazon |
FortiFlora* | Amazon, Chewy, Petsmart |
Thomas Labs Bio Case Pancreatic Support Dog & Cat Supplement | Amazon or Chewy |
*Renadyl from Amazon comes from the Thriving Pets store, so either way you’re ultimately buying from Thriving Pets.
*FortiFlora is sometimes cheaper if you purchase packs of 2 – 3 boxes, but not always! Before buying a larger kit be sure to divide the total price by the number of boxes and verify you’re getting the best deal.
*Fortiflora is sold locally at any Petsmart that carries the “prescription” diets. FortiFlora does not require a prescription, but will be with the Purina prescription items.
Capsule Making Supplies
Product | Where I’ve Purchased |
Pill Cutters I find that nail clippers actually work best, or a standard razor blade | Small clippers on Chewy Medium/Large clippers on Chewy |
Gloves or finger cots Keep your hands clean and keeps pills from getting sticky | Nitrile gloves on Amazon Nitrile finger cots on Amazon |
Empty gelatin capsules | Size 3: unflavored on Amazon chicken flavor on Amazon beef flavor on Amazon Size 4: Amazon Size 5: Amazon Or, shop all 3 sizes at Thriving Pets |
Capsule-making machine match the machine to your capsule size! | Amazon |
Injectable Medications
Product | Where I’ve Purchased |
Cyanocobalamin (B12) | Allivet |
B Complex | Veterinary: Aspen B Complex is available without a prescription Henry Schein B Complex requires a prescription Human: My preference is to use a human prescription version from McGuff Compounding Pharmacy |
Folic Acid* | McGuff Compounding Pharmacy |
Lantus Insulin | local pharmacy using the GoodRx discount |
Potassium Chloride** | Thriving Pets |
Aranesp 25 mcg/mL*** | Walgreens Pharmacy |
*Injectable B Complex does not come with Folic Acid, so this must be purchased separately
**Must ONLY be injected into a fluid bag, DO NOT DIRECTLY INJECT IN YOUR CAT
***Check out Human Prescription Savings at Walgreens for tips and coupons to save money on Aranesp
Glucose Testing
These are the “veterinary” glucose testing products. Before purchasing, check out the information from Feline Diabetes about using cheaper, and more readily-available human monitors. If you plan to get a human monitor, don’t focus on the price of the starter kit (meter, test strips and a few lancets), focus on the cost of the replacement test strips. The replacement strips are where you’re going to spend your money, so you want these as inexpensive as possible.
Veterinary Monitor and Supplies
Products | Where I’ve Purchased |
AlphaTrak2 glucometer (starter kit) | Amazon, Chewy |
Extra Lancets | Amazon, local pharmacy |
AlphaTrak2 Test Strips* | Amazon, Chewy |
PetSure Test strips | Amazon |
PetSure Test Strips and Lancets (combo pack) | Amazon |
AlphaTrak2 Test Solution | Amazon, Chewy |
*PetSure test strips are compatible with the AlphaTrak2 glucometer
Human Monitor and Supplies
Products | Where I’ve Purchased |
Glucometer (starter kit) | Amazon, or local store brands |
Test Strips | Amazon |
Extra Lancets | Amazon, local pharmacy |
Freestyle Libre Sensors* | Walgreen’s Pharmacy |
Freestyle Libre Reader* | Walgreen’s Pharmacy |
*See Blood Sugar Monitoring for more info about Freestyle Libre, and check out Saving Money on Human Prescriptions for some potential cost savings ideas.
Enemas and Suppositories
Blood Pressure Monitoring
Products | Where I’ve Purchased |
Contec08A-Vet BP machine | Amazon |
Extra BP cuffs in small sizes | eBay (seller links are constantly changing) |
Miscellaneous Things
Products | Where I’ve Purchased |
Baby Scale (for weighing the cat) | Amazon |
Antster Ant Prevention Feeding Station | Amazon |
Litter Boxes: Large or extra large storage bins Watch the instructional video | Target |
Dremel Tool (for cutting litter boxes) | Amazon |
Plastic Crate Trays (for under the litter boxes) | Chewy, Petsmart |
Pee Pads (for under the litter boxes) | Chewy, Amazon, local discount stores like Ross, Marshall’s, TJMaxx |
Large incontinence pads (for protecting furniture) | Disposable or Reusable on Amazon |
Pill Popper | Medi-Vet |