Cats — cute, sassy little felines that we all know and love … but there is no secret about how difficult it can be to get your kitty to take a pill. If your cat is sick (or just getting them to take their flea meds once a month), it can be downright challenging trying to get a pill into his or her throat. Cats, on the other hand, are much less accepting of a pill hidden in their category favorite treat. In this article, I will take you through the methods and tips for how to give a cat a pill.
The Problematic Pilling of Cats
What makes giving a pill to your cat so difficult? Cats are naturally skittish creatures and become quickly unnerved when their environments or routines change. This caution also applies to anything out of the ordinary — like if you put the pill in their food, or try sticking it into the back part of your cat’s mouth. Cats also have a particularly strong gag reflex and will spit out any pill you try to give them.
Cats are smaller and come with more damage to holding them still without causing panic or injury. Knowing this makes it easier to be patient and gentle with yourself, because really what else can you do?
Preparing for the Task
The main problem with how to give a cat a pill is preparation. But before getting started, here are the steps you need to take:
Know the Medication:
Know your dosage and any special instructions from your vet. Certain medication should be given with food, while others have to be taken without any food. Ensure the pill may be crushed or opened (check your Treatment Plan). A few drugs glut their viability when squashed and this is the reason always check it out with your vet beforehand.
Choose the Right Time:
Choose a time when your cat is calm and peaceful. Do not try to pill your cat when they’re stressed, say following a vet trip or during playtime.
Prepare the Environment:
Go to a quiet, comfortable place where you can work undisturbed. You’ll also want to have the pill, a towel, treats (to bribe them with after), and clean water that is easily accessible by you where they can’t see it out before starting.
Keep Calm:
Cats can sense when you are tense, so try and be as calm and patient as possible. Your stress and anxiety are often picked up by your cat, making the chore even harder.
Methods to Give a Cat a Pill
There are a number of ways to give your cat his pill. Which one is right for you will vary depending on your cat personality, the type of medication and likely how comfortable you are with handling your Cat. The methods most commonly sought are:
1. Direct Pill Method (Manual)
Although this way seems to be the easiest, it can also prove quite difficult if your cat is one of those that will not put up with being held still.
Steps:
How to Give a Cat a Pill: Position Your Cat:
Lay your cat flat on a table. A squirming cat may benefit from being wrapped in a towel or blanket (with only the head exposed). Oat This is known as the “burrito” method, which creates a more secure wrap for your cat.
Open Their Mouth:
Softly incline your cat’s head back and apply pressure with you thumb on one side of its jaw, while using the index finger to do so in the other. This will make their mouth open.
Insert the Pill:
Rapidly and gently place the pill as directly onto their tongue. Do not shove the pill in their throat down, as then can lead to choking.
Close Their Mouth:
Hold your cat’s mouth closed for a few seconds. You also can gently massage on their throat or blow in his/her nose to make them want swallowing fruits.
Reward:
Once the pill pushing process has been accomplished, reward your cat with a treat or some cuddles to make them associate it all as less negative.
Pros:
Fast, and when done right, straight to the point.
Cons:
May be stressful if you have a resistant cat.
2. Pill Pocket Method
These are special treats in which a tablet can be broken up and hidden inside the hollow bit of it. Pill Pockets are eaten by a large percentage of cats who cannot determine that there is any medicine in them.
Steps:
Insert the Pill:
Put the pill in there leaving none of it exposed.
Offer the Treat:
Treat your cat with the reward as you do for any other treat. If your cat is wary, consider a few empty pill pockets first to establish trust.
Monitor:
This only works if you are confident to see your cat consume the entire thing and do not spit out the pill.
Pros:
Easily, with minimal stress on both you and your cat.
Cons:
All cats are not in love with pill pockets; some of their taste buds may still detect the pill.
3. Crushing and Mixing with Food
Once again, hiding the pill in your cat’s food could work if you find they are a picky eater. Of course, not all pills can be crushed — make sure to ask your vet before attempting this method.
Steps:
Crush the Pill:
Crush the pill into a fine powder using either a pill crusher or mortar and pestle.
Mix with Food:
Sprinkle the powdered pill in a small amount of wet food, or strong-smelling treat such as tuna or chicken. Just be sure the portion is small enough that your cat can finish it before leaving.
Monitor:
Be certain that your cat finishes all the food for an entire dose of medicine.
Pros:
It’s way less stressful than the pill sandwich.
Cons:
However, other cats will know that a pill is in their food and eat around it. Plus not all pills will crush.
4. Administering via a Pill Gun (Pill Popper)
A pill gun or a pill popper can be used to shoot the medication straight down their throat and avoid them spitting it out.
Steps:
Load the Pill:
Insert the pill into the tip of a pet-pill gun.
Position Your Cat:
Lay your cat on a flat surface, and as gently as you can tilt their head back.
Insert the Pill Gun:
Use one hand to hold your cat’s mouth open and load the pill gun into the back of their throat.
Release the Pill:
Depress the plunger to release the pill into your cats mouth.
Close Their Mouth:
You can then help the cat swallow by gently stroking its throat and holding their mouth shut.
Reward:
Reward your dog with a treat or some love for taking his pill successfully.
Pros:
Just as manoeuvrable as the manual process, and means your cat is unlikely to spit out her pill.
Cons:
A few cats will struggle still and it requires practice, also to be skilled at using the pill gun.
5. Liquid Medications
If it is just impossible to convince your cat, then ask your vet if the drug can be compounded into liquid form. If your cat cannot detect the taste of liquid medications and is willing to take them, administering such treatments becomes much easier.
Steps:
Draw the Medication:
Then measure the correct amount of liquid medication in a syringe or dropper.
Position Your Cat:
Gently, but firmly hold your cat and tilt his/her head back slightly.
Administer the Medication:
Carefully slide the syringe into your cat’s cheek (not down directly in their throat.) Gently push the liquid causing your cat to swallow.
Monitor:
It is important it does actually swallow the medication they do not just spit it out.
Pros:
Some cats take it easier than pills.
Cons:
Some medications may not come in a liquid form at all while others might still be resisted by some cats.
Tips and Tricks for How to Give a Cat a Pill
We know how stressful it is to administer a pill for the cats but these few tips can make this process easier!
Use Positive Reinforcement:
After you have successfully administered the pill, reward your cat with treats or affection and play. This will allow to develop a positive attitude towards this process.
Stay Calm and Patient:
Keep in mind that cats can very much feel your mood, so best to be calm and patient. Which means when you are getting stressed out, there is a chance that it will trigger your cat to become anxious too.
Enlist Help:
If your cat is really bad, enlist a friend or family member to help hold her while you give the pill.
Practice Makes Perfect:
If you do not succeed on first attempt, keep getting back up. Your cat may be one of the first that you try this method with, or it could take a while to find what works best for your pet.
Consult Your Vet:
If giving your cat a pill is difficult, you can always call your vet for advice. They may have even more handy hints, or they might recommend something out of the box in terms of a different type of medication.
Tips for Success
Be Calm and Patient:
Cats feed off your energy. The calmer you are, the greater likelihood your cat will stay calm too.
Practice Makes Perfect
Administering medication may be not easy at first however with a little practice both you and your cat can feel very comfortable about this process.
Treat Your Cat:
After having successfully given the medication to your cat, reward her with a treat and yes cuddles.
Conclusion
Administering medication in the form of a pill can be an overwhelming experience for anyone who owns a cat, much less one owned by someone inexperienced. Whether you are hiding the pill in food, manually administering it or using a tool such as a Pill Popper; patience and persistence is key. It is very important to make sure that your cat gets the doses of medication needed in good time for them to be able handle their health problem. With time you and your cat will get used to procedure making things easier all around. These are general guidelines and should not replace the advice of your veterinarian, tailored to meet the specific needs of your cat. I hope this article help you in learning how to give a cat a pill.
FAQs
A: It your cat swallows the pill but then spits it back out, try again with a different administration method (e.g., food or by using an oral capsule popper). If she continues not to take the pills, ask you vet about possibly using a compounded version of her medicine or in liquid form.
A: Many pills cannot be crushed because they are designed to release slowly in the body. You should always replace one form of medication for another in your cat only on the advice of their veterinarian. In case the tablet can be crushed, adding it to a little piece of strongly fragrant food and mask its taste.
A: Always see to it that you reduce stress by providing a calm environment and help avoid physical resistance such as aggressive handling (be gentle) to give some positive reinforcements, for instance treats or affection after administering the pill. You can wrap up your cat in a towel to prevent any movement and other tools that help you pop pills — so your feline won’t see them, which helps the things move more smoothly when giving liquids.
