How can I give my cat his medicine?

Question

It's a pill. It's horrible...I've tried everything, mixing it with food, giving it to him with butter, what can I do? My kitty is sad and he's starting to run from me. :(

Answer 1

How To Give A Cat A Pill

If you have ever tried to give a cat a pill you know

how difficult it is. The following instructions are fool proof!

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

This is the difficulty of giving cats medicine. Is this a pill that has a bitter taste? If it is, then it is better not to crush it up as it will make them drool a whole lot and foam at the mouth. You may have already discovered that if it is.

First of all, I recommend being very calm when you approach your cat. Spend some time with him just stroking him and giving him some attention before you attempt to get the medicine down him. I also find it helpful to go into a bathroom where the cat can't take off.

During this process the most important thing is to stay calm and confident. When you are ready, have the medicine in one hand (your right if you are right handed). Then move your left hand back over your cats head and push his ears down . With your thumb and middle finger in towards the edge of his mouth, tip his nose back and using your thumb and finger to gently wedge his jaws apart. Note: your fingers won't need to go into his mouth. Then put the pill at the back of his mouth. Close his jaws with your hands, massage his throat and blow gently on his face. This usually startles them enough to swallow. Follow up with love and a treat that he likes. That is the usuall method for pilling a cat.

Now, if that doesn't work... and it might not especially if your cat has gotten wise to you.... you may need to do the following...
Get an appropriate sized hand or bath towel. Whatever will be large enough to wrap him in without swallowing him too much or having his feet hang out. Put the towel over his back so that his head is showing from under it. Sit him down and push his front paws down a bit toward the belly. Wrap on side of the towel around his paws and then wrap the other side snugly over it. Then whatever is hanging down over his feet should be wrapped up toward his belly as well. You will end up with something like a kitty burrito and you will probably still only have a little time before he struggles out of it. Use the same "pilling the cat" technique as described above. Often it is helpful to have a second party hold the cat or give the medicine. Enlist help if you are still having a hard time. That should do the trick.

Also, if you really can't do it, most vets will be happy to demonstrate for you the first time. There is nothing better than a hands on demo. Good luck.

Answer 3

Hi there...here's an instructional video on how to pill cats (includes pill syringe) by
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for Feline Health:
http://www.felinevideos.vet.cornell.edu/pill_or_capsule/full_movie.shtml

Answer 4

I'm giving my cat tablets at the mo and i kneel down and put him between my legs and lean forward so if he struggles he cant go anywhere, open his mouth and pop the pill to the bk of his throat and close his mouth and stroke his chin until he licks then i know hes swallowed it, its best to do it quick, coz if u worry bout how your cat is feeling or anything like that itl take longer and will be more traumatic for both of you, you could also try squirting a bit of water down after the pill so he has to swallow

Answer 5

Ask your vet if they know of a compounding pharmacist who can make it into a liquid. My cat is HORRIBLE about taking pills and any time we need to give her medicine we have it made into a liquid. They can even make it tuna flavored. She still fights it a little but once you squirt the medicine in her mouth she can't spit it out like she could a pill. It is SOOOOO much easier!!!!

Answer 6

Contact your vet and let them know your difficulties. perhaps they have the same medicine in a liquid form which can be easier to give. Or perhaps they have a piller. A special instrument that helps get the pill to the back of the throat so they can't spit it out.
Good Luck.

Answer 7

It might seem mean but it works: you get the pill in one hand, with the other hand open his mouth up wide. You need to place the pill at the back of his mouth so it's easier for him to swallow. Once you've got the pill in his mouth, close his mouth with one hand and keep it closed so he doesn't throw it up. Stroke his neck softly and it should be gone. It's hard to do but it works.

Answer 8

Put the pill in his mouth close to the back of his throat. With your other hand stroke his throat lightly with your finger. It causes a swallowing motion in cats. He can't help but swallow and his medicine will be gone. Good luck. :)

Answer 9

I have a cat that does the same thing..I have a pill dispenser thing that is for animals..You put the pill in the tube then put it in your cats mouth and I guess it shoots it way back in the mouth..That works great for my cat..You can purchase them at your local pet shop..

Answer 10

Put it in his favorite food, the one thing he can't resist to eat. Also you can crush the pill into powder and add to warm milk.... all cats love warm milk.

Answer 11

Either be tough about it or get the pill popper device from the vet.