What is the best way to give a cat pills?

Question

Has had to take pills for several months now but is very fed up with medication, got sick again and has to take more pills. He is biting and already sent his owner to the doctors for antibiotics and a tetnus shot. Will have to take pills rest of his life. Cat is 12. Any ideas? Is also a pretty finicky eater.

Answer 1

It is very difficult to pill a cat, especially if the cat is large. The Vet should have a piller that you can use. Otherwise, take one hand and put it n the cat's head on each side of the ears. Use the other hand to open it's mouth. Put the pill in, but not too far, and close the mouth, and massage the chin and throat. You should fffel the cat swoallow the pill. If this doesn't work, consult your Vet.

Answer 2

A few easy quick steps to giving a cat a pill:

1. Dress in a thick leather bikers outfit

2. Locate the said cat.

3. Take a long deep breathe

4 Put on the Rhinoceros hide gloves, ( this is important to prevent scratching )

5. Close all doors and windows to the house, Close the curtains so the neighbors can Not see the ensuing battle.

6. Remember you are preparing for war.

7. Take a large swig of any type of whiskey. Everclear is recommended.

8 Take said psycho kitty to the bathroom, and close the door. This lessens the chance of said war party from removing its self and running.

9. Take another swig of Everclear, by this time your vision should be going.........

10. Put on a face Mask. ( I cant tell you how many times Ive seen someone less one eye...for the battle that is about to take place!!!!!!!)

11. Grab pill, and said cat. ( preferably not in the same hand )

12. Use Jaws of Life to pry said war parties mouth open.

13. Take a pea shooter. Place pill in pea shooter, taking a deep breathe, remembering not to have the pea shooter in YOUR mouth when inhaling, lest you take kitties dose

14. Shove end of pea shooter in said war victims mouth, and blow real hard.

15. Retrieve said pill, that the cat has miraculously spit out, and flush it down the toilette ( yet another reason for being in the bathroom ) Take another swig, and two Valium. Repeat steps 8 to 14.

16. Take cat to the vet, Have doc give said pill, then take yourself to the ER.

17. Pass vets office, on the way to the pet shop to buy gerbil.

18. Conveniently forget to pick up said war victim from said vets office.


Seriously, Try some hamburger, or maybe some canned cat food.
If that doesn't work, straddle the cat, grabbing the cat behind the head, and pulling it back. Pressing gently on the hinges of the jaw, opening the mouth, and then pushing the pill over the tongue to the back of the throat until the swallow reflex happens, to which the pill will slide down, or should. Release the cat, and apply antibiotic salve to any scratches you may have obtained.

Answer 3

Only a few options when dealing with cats, the first is to crush it up and put it in a little of his favorite food. A small amount that he would finish in a few bites, this way you are guarenteed to know that he has finished it.

The next is to buy something from your pet store or local drug store it has a cute name, but basically it looks like a long tube with a syringes, this is suppsed to help you push it down the back of his throat. I persoanlly have never had luck with this./

The last can be done a few ways, but the way that I find works with all animals; is to sit behind the him with him in between your thighs (obviously keep him calm there, pet him and talk to him), than lift up his throat with your weaker hand and keep the pill hidden in between your pointer finger and thumb, and with you stronger hand pry his mouth open and slip the pill in eith the other hand far back into his throat, than use both hands to keep his mouth closed and stroke is throat until he swallows. It takes a few tries to get used to it, but it really is the fastest stress free way. You have to be firm, not agressive or hurt the cat,, if you show any hesitation he will see this, and react to it.

Answer 4

There is a such thing as a cat piller, that way you don't have to stick your fingers in the cats mouth.. it's about as long as a straw and the pill fits on the end of it and you stick it in the cats mouth then press the button and it shoots it to the back of the mouth.
be careful if you smash it up that the kitty is getting all of the pill and not leaving some of it in the food.

Answer 5

wrap his body in a towel tightly. put him between your legs and pry his mouth open and put pill in back of mouth. Hold his mouth shut so he can swallow the pill. It may never get any easier though. Some medications cannot be smashed up and put into food, if you try that, then make sure you can do it from the vet. Good luck to you and watch out for the bites

Answer 6

My cat is terrible at taking pills, he can hold them under his tongue then spit them out when your not looking. You can get these pill taking sticks from the vet, you put the pill in one end, pry his mouth open (I'm guessing thats the hard part, maybe get someone to hold his legs), then put the stick as far back as you can, pop it in then clamp his mouth shut. The sticks are good because you can get it further back without losing your fingers.

Ask the vet about liquid medication that you squirt into the back of his throat.

Do it when he's asleep, he won't be as agile.

Answer 7

I've had to do this with a friend's cat when I house-sat. The best way is to smash the pills up as best as you can (with the back of a spoon works good) & mix them really well into wet food such as Fancy Feast or something similar. The cat won't know the difference.

Answer 8

Sorry to hear that. When my cats had to take pills I usually dissolved it in water or orange juice. But depending on the medication your cat has to take I wouldn't try this. I also use to give pills to them by putting in the corner of their mouth and then stroked their throats to make it them swallow. Most of the time it worked and other times it didn't. Have you tried going to your vet and asking him if the medication comes in a liquid form? Having your cat take a liquid form of medication is easier on the cat and ones fingers. :O)

Answer 9

I've hidden pills in tuna and other favorite foods, wrapped the cat in a towel opened the mouth wide and stuck the pills in, and used baby animal feeders to force meds. Check with your vet

Answer 10

I grab my cats, pry their mouths open, and push the pills way back in their throats. I have been doing this since they were little (most of them were strays, and needed meds right off).

If they fight me, I wrap them in a towel, tightly, like a mummy, and then pry and push.

I have never had any luck giving cats pills in food. They eat the food, then spit out the pill, every time. :-))

One of my cats is a biter. When he goes to bite me, I give him a sharp little smack on the nose, just like his Momma would do.

He trusts me more than any of the others do. They all love me, and follow me from room to room, continuously.

Good luck to you.