My cat has to take pills for Ten days and he FREAKS out when I try to administer them. Anybody have tips?

Question

ALSO....It DOESN'T HELP to hide it in the food. Believe me, I have tried that. I about lost a finger trying to give them to him today (LOL) and he needs the meds for an infection. HELP!!!

Answer 1

Antibiotics can often be given in a liquid suspension. Ask your vet about that, it might cost just a little bit more but it's easier to administer -- squirt it from an eyedropper at the back of the throat and it's done.

If he must have pills and won't take them hidden in food (treat food, like hamburger or tuna), then the safest 'forced' way is this:

Get an eyedropper and fill it with milk, or special cat milk from the pet store (Yes, regular milk can give cats diarrhea, but this is far too small an amount to make him sick and most cats like the taste). **this tip is from my vet**
Protect your hands and arms; long sleeves and gloves if needed.
Wrap kitty in a towel. Be sure his paws are wrapped. This coccoon soothes some cats, and it always makes things safer for you.
Have someone hold him if possible while you give the pill. Whether you have help or not, though, the next step is the same. Open the cat's mouth by squeezing his cheeks firmly, but not forcefully -- you want to make him open up, but not hurt him. Quickly toss the pill in, trying to get it at the very back of his throat, past the tongue.
Immediately put the eyedropper in his mouth and release the pressure on his cheeks, squeezing the dropper so the milk washes the pill down. You want a good flow but you don't want to choke him by squirting it all at once too fast. This is important! It washes the pill down, forces him to swallow, and most importantly makes sure that the pill doesn't cause an acid burn on the back of his throat! It's just as important for a cat to wash down a pill as it is for YOU to when you take one.

Answer 2

Medicating cats... always fun... some of them can be nightmares...

As many suggested, you may first want to try crushing it into a powder and mixing it w a strong smelling liquid she likes, like tuna oil. Wait for a few minutes before giving it to him: one so that the pill soak up the smell and taste, second so that he is more anxious and hungry when you finally give it. Breaking into pieces may not work, as some cats are great at licking everything off the pill, but the pill.....

There are some pill poppers or pill guns that can be bought at some petstores, or you could borrow one from your vet.

If all else fails, there are some compounding pharmacies that can turn the pill into a treat, and you simply feed it w his food. Your vet may have a local address for one of those pharmacies. Problem w this, it takes time and by the time you get your pills back, the ten days may be up. But FYI for future reference.

Answer 3

You can mash up the pill and put it in some canned cat food. Make sure the wet food has a strong odor of it's own (tuna is good) -- that way they can't smell the pill. Warm it in the microwave on a paper plate to make it smell good. More likely to eat it all that way. This works best if the cat usually gulps down his food. Pill gun works, too, but you might still need two people, or back him into a corner. You will still need to pet his throat. It might be a good idea to keep him in one room for awhile after he gets his pill. My cat would look like he swallowed it and then go in the next room and spit it up behind the couch. No wonder he looked so smug afterwards.

Answer 4

As a couple have already suggested, crush the pills into powder (or close to it) and mix into a kind of wet food your cat loves- regular canned/pouch food is fine, or you can do some tuna or other people-quality canned meat. Just make sure you use as little of the food as possible when administering the medication, so you're sure the cat will eat it all and gets the full dose of pill. It wont do him much good if he only eats half the food and gets half the medication.

Answer 5

I have 2 tricks that work great for me, put it into a meatball of some sort, get some kind of yummy stinky meat like tuna or soft cat food that is irresistible and poke the pill into it then give to the cat, don't let the cat see you setting it up, they are way to smart to go for it if they know your up to something, the other ways they mentioned on her work too, but this is how we do it at the clinics I've worked for if we have to pill them, we also used pill guns. Ask your vet to sell you a pill gone. It's quick and easy and the main trick is getting it over the tongue, once it's past a certain point on the tongue, the cat can't spit it back out and the pill gun lets you pop it right past the point of no return. Good luck, pilling cats was my favorite!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

I use a plastic "pill popper" which I got at the vet's. Probably pet stores have them too. I just strong-arm the cat with my loaded "gun", go in from the side of his mouth at the back jaw hinge and fire away. I always kiss him on his nose when it goes down. I'm sure he hates the kiss worse than the pill.

I think the liquid form is rather easier. I use the same technique as with the popper. Kinsey has his thyroid medication in pill form. I have always had liquid for the antibiotics.

When the cat freaks out, you freak out and a vicious cycle begins. So try to be as "professional" as your vet would be. It's time now, let's do it, there it goes down the hatch and it's over.

Answer 7

crush it and put mix it with a small amount of wet cat food or tuna... that should do it! Don't use too much, because you want her to eat it all and get all of her pill -- just a spoonful should do. I had to give my dog pills for a long time, she was pretty sick, so I tried to find "treats" that I could hide the pill in. Never had any trouble! Good luck!

(If this doesn't work, try putting it in his mouth and holding the mouth closed. Rub his throat to make his swallow.)

Answer 8

Well there are a couple of things you can try:

1. go to your local pet store and see if they carry a pill gun-that may help.

2. Ask your vet if it is available in a liquid form either from vets office or pharmacy.

3. If all else fails, call your vet and tell him/her the problem and see if you can bring the cat in daily for meds. When I worked at the animal hospital we did this quit often for people who had a difficult time medicating their pets. Most vet offices will do this at no charge to you.

Good Luck!

Answer 9

Get a pill grinder (available from your vet, or perhaps at a pharmacy) and grind the pill up into a powder (you can also use a mortar & pestle). Mix up the powdered pill in a small amount of canned tuna, or any other food that your kitty can't refuse. He will never know the difference and will love it!

Answer 10

Is there a possiblity your vet would give you the injections for him? The vet could teach you how to give your cat the injections. I have a cat that acts the same way, and it is very stressful on him. I had my vet show me how, and now I get injections (they cost more) and give them myself. They wont freak out, and trust me, it's much easier than the pills. Other than that, I have tried everything, and this was the best way for me. Good luck!