Anyone have any tips on how to give an uncooperative cat his medicine?

Question

I need to give these small pills to my cat for about a week because he has a cold. anyway its the second day and it was really hard trying to give him the pills because he either shuts his mouth tight or spits out the pill. any tips?

Answer 1

1. Pick up the cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm
as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either
side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while
holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth.
Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from under chair. Cradle cat
in left arm and repeat process.

3. Retrieve cat from bedroom and throw soggy pill away.

4. Take a new pill from foil wrap. Cradle cat in left arm holding
rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill
to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top
of wardrobe. Call spouse in from garden.

6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between the knees. Holding
front and rear paws, ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse
to hold cat's head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler
into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap.
Make a note to buy a new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully
sweep shattered figurines from hearth and set aside for gluing later.

8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with it's head
just visible from beneath spouse's armpit. Put pill in end of drinking
straw, force cat's mouth open with pencil and blow down straw.

9. Check label to make sure that pill is not harmful to humans. Drink
glass of water to take taste away. Apply band-aid to spouse's forearm
and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10.Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in
cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force
mouth open with spoon, flick pill down throat with elastic band.

11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply
cold compress to cheek and check records for last tetanus shot.
throw t-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12. Call the fire department to retrieve cat from tree across the road.
Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid
cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.

13. Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly
to leg of dining room table. Find heavy duty pruning gloves from garage.
Force cat's mouth open with small trowel. Push pill into mouth followed}
by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour 1/2 pint
of water down throat to wash pill down.

14. Get spouse to drive you to emergency room. Sit quietly
while doctor stitches finger and forearm and removes pill remnants
from right eye. Stop by furniture store on the way home to order
a new table.

15. Arrange for vet to make housecall.

Answer 2

Hello, I know it can be torture trying to get your kitty to take his meds, I have 4 cats and have had the same problem. I find 1 of these 2 things works...
1)... if you are right handed... hold kitty tight to your body, while he's standing on a bed or counter, with your left hand around his body and your left hand holding his face. (from behind his head put your left thumb on one side of his mouth, and left forefinger on the other side of his mouth. Get ready with the pill with your right hand.... give his mouth a little squeeze with your left hand, 99% of the time he'll open that mouth quick, put pill allllll the way to the back, hold him tight because he'll squirm. Close his mouth and rub his throat for him. It may get spit out the 1st time, but eventually you'll become a pro, and he'll know what to expect when you put him in that "headlock" position.
2) You could always try to bribe him. Some moist cat food, the canned kind. But beware, those slippery kitties have been know to eat all the food and leave the pill. Or some cheese, hiding the pill, maybe even a piece of chicken. Just don't use pork, cats aren't supposed to have that.
Good luck!!

Answer 3

My husband and I took our 2 year old cat with us home for the holidays (11 hour drive each way, both Thanksgiving and Christmas). Everything actually went very well, but I think we also just have a really mellow cat. Some things that worked for us: -Bringing a crate and a harness/leash, so that our cat couldn't bolt out of the car when we stopped. -Bringing our cat's litter box with a small amount of litter (she never used it, but it gave us piece of mind) -We did not give our cat food or water for several hours before the trip (to prevent carsickness and trips to the litter box; although we did give our cat small amounts of water during the trip, and she never did use the litter box) -We also packed a few toys and played with our kitty during the trip; it also provided us with entertainment during the long car ride. Our vet suggested that we take short car rides with our cat first to gage their comfort in the car and did let us know that some cats do travel better with sedatives. You may want to call your vet and ask if that is an option.

Answer 4

OMG!!! Where are you people getting this from??? You will get bit if you try to pry their mouth open with your fingers!!!

It's much easier than prying their mouth open with your fingers. You have to be quick to do this successfully, but this will work. If you are right handed, take the cats left ear (facing you) between your thumb and forefinger, pinch and pull back. This opens the cat's mouth. As you are pulling back slip the pill into the cat's mouth and then quickly let go of his hear and hold his mouth shut with your right hand and massage his throat with your left.

This does NOT hurt the cat and works everytime!

Answer 5

You have to use your finger and thumb and grab the mouth where the jaw is and force it open. fingers being back here you won't get bit. once open, tilt the cats head back and toss the pill to the backside of the tongue. cat is now forced to swallow it. mind you once you throw it in, let go so the cat doesn't choke.

It takes some practice and might help if you put the cat between your legs so its back side is against your groin area. Cats will try to back up as you insert the pill, your body being there prevents this and helps trap them.

After they do a few licks and you know its down, praise the cat highly for a bit. After a few pills and some praising they won't struggle as much.

Answer 6

OMG!!! Where are you people getting this from??? You will get bit if you try to pry their mouth open with your fingers!!!

It's much easier than prying their mouth open with your fingers. You have to be quick to do this successfully, but this will work. If you are right handed, take the cats left ear (facing you) between your thumb and forefinger, pinch and pull back. This opens the cat's mouth. As you are pulling back slip the pill into the cat's mouth and then quickly let go of his hear and hold his mouth shut with your right hand and massage his throat with your left.

This does NOT hurt the cat and works everytime!

Source(s):

cat owner & rescuer of 15 years



Um... What she said.

Will you marry me? That was just... Um... Just marry me.

Answer 7

Hi there...consider using a pet piller (a syringe that administers the pills--photo of product: http://www.1800petmeds.com/pselect.asp?LV=110&PG=Pet%20Piller%20Singles&AFFID=GG&ID=18958695 ). There's a two-fold problem with crushing the pill and mixing it into the food: (1) most cats will eat around the medication and (2) if they do not eat the entire food portion they will not receive the full dosage required as well.

Here's a step-by-step video on how to pill a cat done by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: http://www.felinevideos.vet.cornell.edu/pill_or_capsule/

[edit] here's a website that shows how to manually pill a cat: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/pilling_a_cat.html

Answer 8

Try sticking the pill to a small bit of ham with marmite (disgusting, I know). Make sure the ham isn't too big, or he'll eat the ham and leave the pill. If that doesn't work, put it in a bit of cheese
***
By the way, I sympathise. My cat's hell when you try to give him pills (I've still got the scars from his kidney infection).

Answer 9

As so many other people have suggested you can crush up trhe pills and mix it in his FAVOURITE FOOD so that he invariably laps it all up.
Alternatively dilute the crushed pills in milk. Take a empty syringe (without the needle). Fill the solution in it and force it inside his mouth. This works with my dog who can be very adamant at times

Answer 10

I have been told by my vet to wrap the cat firmly in a towel so you can use both hands to tilt the head, and put the tablet down the throat.

Answer 11

you need to pry open his little jaws and quickly,gently aim and push down his tounge, and put the pill in the back of his mouth, have him in your arms as you would hold a baby. after you put the pill directly in his throat. close his jaws, and rub his throat gently as your holding him. talk him through it as well. let him know and assure him that its to make him feel better. and that he can trust you. good luck GET A GOOD GRIP, if theres two of you get help. sounds like your new at this. SO BE CAREFUL hell let you know. ruthiebrat. LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED HELP. lots of experience, and love animals with all my heart.