Can I donate leftover medication?

[RockCrushesLizard]

My cat was on a raft of medication before he had to be PTS - thyroid, kidneys, all sorts.

I have quite a few of lots of these left, with the prescription labels on. Is there anywhere I can donate them or give them to someone? It would be a shame for them to go to waste, there's hundreds of pounds worth.

I have no clue on if someone would take them. Is there a local cats protection you could phone and ask? Or a local animal shelter who might take them?
I’m sorry for the loss of your cat

Just like unused human medication they should be returned to the dispenser for disposal. Charities in the main will not take them as as honourable as you maybe they can't guaranteed that the medication has not been tampered with.

@RockCrushesLizard - I completely understand the sentiment behind your thinking, but I don’t think they would (and would be worried if they did). I think there would be strict protocols in place and would be too much of a risk.

I returned my boy’s medication to the vet for safe disposal as didn’t’t want to just put it in normal household waste.

I’m sorry for your loss - and it’s lovely that you’ve thought of helping others.

So sorry to hear that you lost your lovely cat. Do you have any friends with pets that may be able to use the medication? As others have said I don't think any pet organisation can take them but maybe someone who knows you could use them?

The dog rescue near me takes leftover dog medicine so you might find a cat rescue centre that does.

Thank you for the sympathy - it's been a while now in fairness, and he had a great life.

I just keep looking at the meds and thinking how much charities/families could save if they could use it, but I see the point that it could have been tampered with, so they might not take it.

When our old girl was PTS we had some unstabbed/unopened insulin. We binned the part used one. I asked our vet and she had another client with a diabetic cat who was struggling with costs so they were passed on via her. I hope she didn't break any rules as she was lovely and did the best by our cat so assume she did by whoever it was passed on to.

Yes. I returned the late Maia's medication to the cardiologist. They keep it for people struggling to pay for their pets medication. It broke my heart to take it back though.

Apologies posted too soon. I think charities can't take them (the big names won't feed their resident cats opened food but will be passed on to ferals). I'm not sure of you can post them on Freecycle and the like. How about of a friend of a friend who may need them?

Unfortunately charities can't use them. I always think it seems like a terrible waste.

I am in exactly this situation and I asked the vet and she said they couldn’t reuse it, like you I wanted to give to people who perhaps would otherwise not be able to afford it. It seems such a waste.