How to Medicate Your Cat With a Pill

By eHow Pets Editor

Rate: (4 Ratings)

Most cat owners cringe when the vet says Tabby will have to take a pill. Follow the steps below to make this task less stressful for you and your pet.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

  • Cat Beds
  • Cat Foods
  • Cat Nail Clippers
  • Cat Or Dog Medication
  • Cat Treats
  • Veterinarian
Step1
Check the label to make sure the medication is for your cat, and for the specific medical condition she's being treated for. Make sure the medicine is not out of date.
Step2
Place the cat where she's comfortable - on your lap or a textured surface such as the carpet, a couch or a bed.
Step3
Kneel or sit beside your cat with the pill or capsule in your right hand, between your thumb and index finger.
Step4
Place your left hand on your cat's head. Put your thumb behind her right canine tooth and your left index finger behind her left canine tooth.
Step5
Lift her lips gently - don't pinch - and place the middle finger of your right hand on the incisor teeth of her lower jaw.
Step6
Open your cat's mouth by pushing down on her lower jaw with the middle finger of your right hand while tilting her nose upward with your left hand.
Step7
Deposit or drop the pill or capsule in the back of your cat's mouth, behind her tongue.
Step8
Close her mouth and quickly point her nose down at a sharp angle. This will cause your cat to swallow automatically.

Tips & Warnings

  • Remain calm and relaxed. Your cat will sense if you are anxious and react accordingly.
  • Have a friend hold the cat's front legs so she will not attempt to pull your hand away.
  • Trim your cat's nails to avoid being scratched.
  • Call your veterinarian and ask for a demonstration or a different form of medication if you are unable to give it as prescribed.
  • Use caution if your cat has a history of biting or scratching.
  • Check with your veterinarian to be certain it's safe to handle the medication if you are pregnant.
  • Do not attempt to conceal the medication in your cat's food or water. If your cat refuses to eat or drink, she will not get the proper dose of medication and will become dehydrated, which could worsen her condition.

Comments

| View All Comments
Flag This Comment

on 11/15/2007 Giving cats a syringe full of water right after the pill will help keep them from spitting it back up. Great article!

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 9/10/2006 I have a cat who needed antibiotic pills twice a day, for two weeks. There was no way she was letting me open her mouth. So, I crushed the pill into a powder and mixed it with a couple drops of gravy from some canned cat food. Then I put the mixture on my finger and then smeared it right above her upper lip. Cats hate being sticky and dirty, so even though it tastes bitter, she licks herself clean! Mission accomplished!

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 8/2/2006 I take the easy way out. I dissolve the pill in a teaspoon of tuna or salmon juice (from a can). She gulps it up every time!

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 6/30/2006 Lift the head back, slip the pill in to your cats mouth then quickly blow on his face. Works every time. By the time he has figured out what the blow in the face was for, the pill has gone.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 3/16/2006 At your local Pet Supermarket, PetCo, PetSmart, etc., you can get this device that looks like a syringe but the top is cut into fours. You put the pill in the syringe, slide it back, open the cat's mouth and pop it in. I work with a cat rescue and we are always giving pills to the cats for worms and this makes it so much easier!

Post a Comment

POST A COMMENT

Request a New How-To Article

Looking for more How To information? Chances are there’s an eHow member who knows how to do what you’re looking to do. Submit an article request now!

eHow Article: How to Medicate Your Cat With a Pill

eHow Pets Editor

eHow Pets Editor

Category: Pets

Articles: See my other articles

Related Ads