What is the best way to get a house cat to take a pill?

Answer 1

Shove it down it's throat. Mine are all little bastards and eat the food around it and spit the pill back out.

Answer 2

The best thing is to accept that the cat will not be taking the pill!!

Unfortunately, this probably isn't an option. Check with your vet before crushing the pill. As the other person said, some pills it's not safe to crush them up or take them apart. Putting the pill at the back of the cat's throat and massaging the throat is the preferred method. Cats are extremely good at NOT taking pills hidden in food or they may not finish the food, meaning they didn't get their proper dose. Even when you use the method of massaging the throat, you might think they've swallowed the pill and they may still end up spitting it back out, so watch the sneaky little creatures.

Like I said, just accept that you won't win! LOL

Answer 3

Well, depending on the cat's temperament, you may need someone else to restrain the cat while you administer the pill. Open the cat's mouth (this can be accomplished by gently pressing on the side of its mouth) then quickly put the pill the back of it's throat and close it's mouth and hold it shut until it swallows. Rubbing it's throat can induce it to swallow. (FYI: If your finger is in the back of a cat's throat, it is more difficult for them to bite you) Also, the same procedure can be used (and is often easier) on a dog.
If it is just impossible to do it this way (because you are getting bit, scratched, etc) then you can try to put it in food. Crushing the pill should only be done if you know it is NOT a time-release, slow-release type, and you shouldn't try to open or crush a capsule-type pill. Wrapping it or hiding it in food is a possibility, but cats often figure it out no matter how sneaky you are. Although it may seem like more trouble, the first option guarantees that the cat has swallowed its meds.

Answer 4

if your cat likes cheese, just put it in a piece of cheese, that works for my cat. If not, my cat also likes yogurt so I would put a bowl of yogurt out and just mix the pill in it, either crushed up or whole, depending on the size of the pill. Also, the easiest way may be just to mix it in with the cat regular dry food and maybe he won't spot it! If all else fails, have someone help you hold him and use your fingers to place the pill near the rear of his throat and massage his neck, this is what my vet does. Good luck!

Answer 5

When I have to give a pill to my cat I roll it in some meat or mix it with Tuna. Of course it depends on the size but some pills you can open and put the contents on the food too. Hope it helps!

Answer 6

Find out what meat the cat likes best then wrap the pill in a little bit and put it on the floor in front of the cat or let it eat it from your hand depending on how timid it is.

Answer 7

We have to give our cat a pill on a daily basis and we found that the best way to do so is to crush the pill and mix it with some moist food. He doesn't even realize that he's taking medicine and eats it all everytime.

Answer 8

wrap the pill in butter, open the cat's mouth and stick the pill in the back of the throat. hold the cat's head up while while keeping his mouth closed and massage his throat until he swallows.

Answer 9

I always find that wrapping the pill in either a piece of ham or shoving it into a chunk of chicken or tuna works. Cats are pretty feisty animals but when offered a piece of ham, I have yet to find one that will refuse!

Answer 10

Not sure about cats, but for dogs I hide the pill in peanut-butter.

Answer 11

Crush it and mix it in with a small amount of canned food. That's the only way my animals took their pills.