any suggestions on how to give a cat medications?

Question

my cat has been precribed a pill that she has to take once a day. having a hard time giving it to her.

Answer 1

Hi there...here's an instructional video by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for Feline Health on how administer pills to a cat: http://www.felinevideos.vet.cornell.edu/pill_or_capsule/full_movie.shtml which also includes how to use a pill syringe as well.

Answer 2

I had a cat that if I could put the pill in with his favorite food, he would eat the food and the pill would be left alone in the bowl when done. I never figured out how he managed that.

If I crushed the pill (if it was a crushable pill... ask your vet first please) he would not touch the pill.

You can open the cats mouth, toss in the pill, hold the cat's mouth closed, stroke the throat until the cat swallowed. However, with this one cat that resulted in, a few minutes later, the cat spitting out the pill.

I do not know what this is officially called but I wound up getting a "pill popper". That is a long plastic device with a slotted rubber end in which you can put the pill (it held the pill). It had a 'plunger' that pushed the pill out with some velocity when pushed.

I found that using the pill popper was easy with all of my cats. If it was a larger pill I had to break it in half because my pill popper would not hold larger pills (there might be some that do).

At first, with the fiestiest, I had to wrap her mummylike in a towel (I learned to do this, actually, quite comfortably for the cat and it took me only a minute), tuck her under my arm, and use the pill popper. Soon it became so easy that I would just, without towel, tuck her under my arm and 'pop' the pill. Get the pill popper pretty far back in their mouths so they have to swallow.

I obtained my pill-poppers from the vet but I know you can get them at some good pet supplies stores.

I know someone who used a cut-off syringe the right size for the pill given her by the vet for, basically, the same thing. She swears by it. She said she had to get a different sized one for each pill though.

A cat treat for the cat after she has taken her pill is always a good thing to do!

It is going to be annoying for awhile but if your cat is on this long term and you manage to find a way to give it with as little stress as possible, the cat just gets used to it.

The better you get at giving the pill, the easier it is on the cat, which makes it easier on you... and so forth.

Oh, I do have the occasional cat scratch from before I became proficient at medicating cat. Well, I lied. I have quite a few.

Answer 3

Giving a kitty a pill, especially one that does not taste good, is difficult. I have attached a link to videos that may give you some ideas. I know you don't want to stress her in the process of giving the medication. One of my cats takes a pill that also must have a bad taste. I go between several methods to trick her into taking it. -- One is to put it in a moist kitty treat. I give her a plain piece first, then a piece with the pill, the another plain piece. -- Another trick is I crush it and and put it in a spoonful of meat flavored baby food (just make sure it does not contain onion). -- You can also try hiding it in a tiny bit of cream cheese or peanut butter, just enough to conceal the pill. Hope these ideas help. Purrs to you and kitty.

Answer 4

I agree with the poster who said check with the vet before crushing it. not only for the dosage, but if the pill is bitter, the cat will slobber all over the place to get the medicine out of her mouth. I had no success with pill poppers.

I learned from the internet exactly how the vet gives pills. It was so easy when i learned the trick.

You first corral the kitty's bottom in the crook of your arm (left arm if right handed). This prevents her from backing up. She can either sit or lay down, it doesn't matter.

NOTE your right hand is free for the second step, with pill at the ready. Then with your left forearm aligned to kitty's spine, and your left hand over her forehead, gently grasp both sides of kitty's jaw (at widest point of jaw, sort of under ears). Gently pull kitty's head back and up toward her body so that the line-up of her nose and mouth are parallel to the ceiling (kitty's nose and mouth make a straight line). This position is immobilizing for the cat.

With the pill in right hand (between finger and thumb ready for release), put ring or middle finger of right hand on bottom teeth, then use that leverage to push her bottom jaw open. Drop the pill so that it falls in the hole made by back of kitty's tongue and the top of her palate. Then close kitty's mouth and gently keep it closed until she swallows. You will know she has swallowed for sure when she licks her nose.

Also in this position, you will find it easy to keep her like this for several moments if you need to inspect her teeth, tongue, gums.

Always praise kitty and pet her afterwards and she will learn getting pills is okay.

This is very easy to practice with any type of kitty, mean or nice, without a pill. I recommend practice before you do the actual deed. you will be amazed how easy it is.

Then practice rolling the pill in butter, it just slips down her throat without her trying to hold it in her mouth. The butter makes it slippery in your hand before you give it to her so practice makes perfect.

Answer 5

My cat hates medication and would never eat the cheese with the pill in it, and he would refuse to eat his wet food..I think he knew it was in there. So what I do is cradle him in my arms like a baby, and gently open his mouth and put it as far back as I can. Then you hold his mouth shut (gently!) till he swallows. He got used to it and never bothered him when I did it that way. When you do it that way and your cat has done well, give them some treats as a reward. That way they will associate taking the pills with treats. It sounds a lil harsh but its not harmful at all.

Answer 6

I use the plastic "pill-poppers" you can get from the vet and probably at a pet store. I load up my "gun", go in from the side of the mouth and pop it down the throat.

Try the cheese bit though. Cats always know when there is a medication in their food and mine will not eat it. They are now making "pill-pockets" that they have in pet stores and that puts a palatable coating around the pill.

Answer 7

Well, first try wrapping it up in a piece of cheese or something along those lines and giving it to her. If she won't take it, you'll have to force it down. To do this, place your 1st finger and thumb on either side of her mouth and squeeze to make her open up, then push the pill down her throat with your other hand. You have to push it all the way down as far as your finger can reach or it will come back up. You will probably need someone to hold her by the back of the neck while you do this. Don't worry, it won't hurt her!

Answer 8

My cats hate taking pills too. I have found that if none of the above methods work I just ask the vet to prescribe the medicine in a different form such as a liquid or a shot.

Good luck!

Answer 9

My niece gives her cat the pill in a piece of lunch meat (wrap it up good) Also you can buy the pill pockets, probably from your vet. I don't if Pet smart or any of those stores carry them or not.You can buy something at the pet store that you can insert the pill in and then put it in the side of their mouth to the back of their mouth and plunge it into their mouth.

Answer 10

I would ask your vet for liquid.It's easier....if pill is the way you'll have to try and figure out what it likes and hide it in it.Or...last measure pry open her mouth and stick the pill down her throat.I am giving my cat liquid now as we speak and thats not a pleasent choice either but better than being sick.Pick your poison.