How do you give a cat a pill? And, do those pills from the pet store really work for worms?

Question

I've tried the liquid that goes on food but my cat is too smart and wouldn't eat it.

Answer 1

One way is to force-feed it to him/her. Take your cat by the scruff of its neck, pry open its mouth with your other hand and with the pill in that hand, then pop the pill in the cat's mouth, close its mouth, and don't let it open it. Rub its throat and talk nice to him/her. The cat has no choice but to swallow the pill. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is how vets/vet technicians do this to both dogs and cats.

If you don't like that method, get something your cat absolutely loves - might be something you normally wouldn't give them - ice cream, my cat loved the beef baby food (human baby food) -- something that you can mix a crushed pill in - but not too much 'treat' that the cat won't finish it.

I've done both methods on 2 different cats. One got smart to the pill crushing and I had no choice but to force feed.

Pet store meds? For dogs/cats, I'd stay away myself. I'd go to a vet.

Answer 2

If you give a pet a pill. Boy, what a miserable experience that can be! Anyway, does your cats like any soft foods? In dogs, if you put a pill inside a hot dog, that works. Try putting it inside a soft food that he or she likes.
As for the pet store pills, I think you'd be better off getting a prescription. Those pills may work, but probably nothing will be better than something your vet gives you.
Hope I helped!

Answer 3

I wrap the pill in a small piece of cheese. I picked up the worm pill from the vet. I later found out that you can buy a liquid that can just be added to their food. It seemed to work.

Answer 4

There is something called "Pill Pockets" you slip the pill in and give to the cat. It is like a cat treat and the cat is unable to "smell" the medicine. As far as pet store products for worms, I personally have never used them. I take my cats to the vet for all their health concerns.

Answer 5

Drontal is a very good multi-dewormer available at your vet. If you have a regular vet, you can bring in a stool sample instead of the cat. Vet bills are a reality of being a pet owner. Get used it. OTC medicines and treatments are useless and could harm your pet. Pick up some Frontline or Advantage while at the vet. Cats get tapeworms from ingesting fleas while grooming. Where there's a tapeworm, there's a flea and vice versa.

Answer 6

You open the cats mouth put the pill as far back as you can. then close his mouth before his fast little tongue pushes it out. hold his mouth closed. do not cover his nose and do not hold to hard to hurt it. usually when they stick there tongue out it is swallowed though there are those cats. I have one. I smashe the pill up and put it in a very small tsp of moist cat food, if you give to much he may not eat it all and it wont do to good.

Answer 7

If you give your cat wet food, crush up the pill and put it in the food. I had to do this with my kitty and he would always get the pill. If he didn't I would move the bowl around until he did. Good luck.

Answer 8

Gently squeeze the cat's mouth apart by applying pressure with two fingers of one hand (thumb and forefinger) on both sides of the back of the jaw. The mouth will open and you pop in the pill as far back into the cat's mouth as you can. Close the mouth holding it shut and stroke the throat.

Answer 9

You could try grinding up the pill and mixing into vanilla pudding or some other treat that your cat likes. My Cat however caught onto this so i ended up having to hold him and dump the ground up pill into his mouth- that was the only way i could get him to eat it.

Answer 10

You can do one of two things. Put it in their food and watch and make sure they eat it or if it is in a pill form stick it far back in their throat then hold their mouth shut until they swallow. Or try putting it in a little peanut butter, just make sure they are eating all of it so they will be getting the benefits of the medicine.
Good Luck.