Cystease tablets - is there an easy way to break them open?

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

I think I've got the knack now.  It's not terribly easy and sometimes I make a complete pig's ear of it, but I've abandoned the knife stabbing!

[Millys Mum]

Iv never had a problem pulling them or any capsule apart, cystease seem abit fuller than zylkene, maybe try holding them harder when twisting?

[BevBunny]

well I struggle to pull them apart - that's the problem!  Am I doing something wrong?  I've tried pulling them apart and twisting them, but they dont' seem to come apart easily so I usually resort to stabbling them with a knife to get the powder out.

Oh I see, sorry I misunderstood slightly. I sort of stick my nails in the end as I pull and twist them apart, it doesn't matter if you squish the ends a bit the powder stills comes out. I make sure I haven't just put moisteriser on my hands tho, as then it becomes impossible! I did once cut the end off with a pair if nail scissors and that seemed to work on too. Persevere, cos I'm sure its nicer for the cat than making them eat it whole!

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

well I struggle to pull them apart - that's the problem!  Am I doing something wrong?  I've tried pulling them apart and twisting them, but they dont' seem to come apart easily so I usually resort to stabbling them with a knife to get the powder out.

[BevBunny]

I've been giving my rabbits cystaid on one meal a day for almost 10 years, its really easy to just pull the capsule apart and sprinkle the powder onto their food - can't you just do the same for you cats?

I've always had either the cystaid and or cystease brands and it works fine with both of these - the latter is much better value for money (I think I got the last lot form VetUK).

[tab]

Im afraid I stick them in Ambers mouth and she tends to swallow them, then I give her food. I did find that if I put them down in front of her she picked them up and chewed them but didnt swallow them unless I actually put them in her mouth. I am really careful now to stick them too far down her throat though as she gulps if I do that and I worry about hurting her.
love
Tab

[Leanne]

I just pull them apart too, they are a little fiddly, I think this is because they are smaller than zylkene ones.

I used to cut them with scissors but was getting in a right mess with them and spilling it everywhere.

[Lottie (Team Svartalfheim's)]

I think I just twisted them apart when Pinball had them.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

I tend to stab at them with a knife to break open the capsule and as long as stab it thoroughly, I can then usually twist it apart and empty the contents of both halves into the food.  But it is a bit of a faff.  With the zylkene I just twist it and it comes apart - no stabbing involved!  Am I missing a trick?