Any tips on pilling cats?

Question

Does any one have a fool proof way of getting their cat to take tablets? My cat has to take a beta blockers everyday and its a battle to get them down her. I'v tried hiding them in treats and food, she just eats it then spits it back out, when I try to open her mouth she clamps it shut and i cat get it open, Help!

Answer 1

From behind the cats head, where she can't see your hand, cover the top of her head with your hand and use your thumb and forefinger to grasp right behind her canines. her mouth will automatically open. Pop the pill in the back of her throat, and let go of her mouth to move your hand around her nose and lower jaw (gently, of coarse) to hold her mouth close - you aren't gripping, just gently holding so she doesn't open her mouth. Do a quick puff of air, aimed at her nose and her tongue should dart out, showing she has swallowed. So hard to explain this, but pilling a cat really is easy once you have learned this technique. Since you have to give a pill everyday, you will soon learn this! here is a website with pictures to show and maybe better detail. :) Good luck.

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/pilling_a_cat.html

Answer 2

What a nightmare. I had exactly the same problem with a cat that needed to take daily pills for a month. In the end I crush them up into a powder with some really strong tasting fish like mackeral and gave him that at the start of his dinner when he was hungry. Most of the time he ate it all and didn't seem to notice too much. Sometimes I gave him too much fish and he left a bit and there was no way he'd eat it. I had to get the balance just right and keep changing fish because he would twig and refuse it.
Good luck.

Answer 3

Fisrtly, don't crush the pills unless your vet advises you it is safe to do so as this can change the effect of the medication. My top tips are marmite smothered all over it, or mayonaise or butter. Otherwise, hold head still with left hand and tilt back, pry jaws open with right hand and drop the pill down the back of the throat. then close mouth and hold for a little while or until you hear a gulp. Make sure your cat can breathe though!!

Answer 4

I used to have a gorgeous gentle black and white cat who was the most loving little cat in the world, until you tried to get a pill down her throat. Then she turned in to the demon cat from hell with bells on. The only way to do it was to wrap her in a towel (a bit little a baby in swaddling) with just her head showing. Then prise her mouth open (as gently as possible) chuck the pill down and rub her throat with one finger until she swallows (and I mean swallows at least 3 times). You might need a hand with this as it is important to hold it's mouth closed while you do it.
This probably sounds a bit harsh but towel wrap won't hurt her, you are safe from the saber claws so will be more gentle anyway (rather than in fear for your life) and just to prove it worked and didn't hurt her, she lived for 21 years!!!! That's a heck of a long time for a cat!
Just make sure you keep an eye on your cat afterwards, especially once it gets the hang of what you are up to. They can get very handy at "swallowing" the pill for your benefit but actually stashing it elsewhere in their gobs and spitting it out a few moments after you set them free. Good luck!

Answer 5

Peanut Butter works sometime crushing up the Pill will work but make sure you hide it something the Cat will eat. I've just opened up the Cats mouth and put the pill way back in their mouth and closed the mouth.

Answer 6

I have found out that the less you struggle with them the better. My mother used to grab the cat and restrain them and try to force the pill down their throat. No wonder they fought back!

I just walk up, pop their mouth open and put the pill in the back of their throat. Then hold their head upwards a little and rub their throat so they swallow.

If you have already tried all of this and it still doesn't work you might try a pharmacy that can make the pills into something your kitty will like by adding flavor. (They always know when you try to disguise it).

Try this website:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/general.cfm?N=3001&gid=270

It's for Dr. Fosters who can customize your cats medicine into something they will like!

Good luck!

Answer 7

I don't envy you having to do this on a daily basis! I have never been successful in getting any supplement or pill in a cat's food.
I use the plastic "pill-popper" which your vet and pet stores have.
You go in the side of the mouth at the back and get the thing as far back in the throat as you can and then "shoot" your loaded popper into the mouth and down the throat.

Good luck!

Answer 8

Every Cat owners WORST night-mare!!

I wrap mine tightly in a towel and then open their mouth by gently pressing either side AT the back of the mouth. As quickly as possible I drop the tablet trying to reach as far back as possible then hold their mouths closed and stroke down their neck. If you do it right they have to swallow. The towel is for my protection. And if you press in the right place they cant NOT open up. Ask your Vet to show you if unsure. I find hiding tablets in treats never works for Cats as unlike dogs they tend to chew their food and find the tablet. Dogs will swallow a small chunk too quickly to notice anything!
Good Luck!

Answer 9

Aha, cats are stressful like that, are not they? I remember while i replaced into little, we had a cat which replaced right into a soreness to grant pills to. you will placed it in his mouth, stroke his throat, and then grant your self a pat on the back which you someway controlled to tension feed your cat devoid of inflicting any tension. then you definately'll placed him go into opposite, and he'd spit the pill up back. (no thought how he even did that!) Then it may be repeated persistently. :| have you ever asked your vet no count in case you are able to ruin it open and sprinkle the powder on their food? you mustn't try this with some pills. you additionally can wrap the pill in a handle of a few type, yet i assume you have already tried this.

Answer 10

A vet or pet supply store has what they call a pill gun or pill shooter
It only costs a few dollars and saves the cat some stress as well as saving ur fingers & loss of meds.

Take care & good luck
P.S. DON'T give MILK to a cat (like the others say in here)....they can't digest it-lactose intolerant....