How to Give a Cat a Pill

Getting a cat to swallow a pill is no easy task. Follow these steps to keep your cat healthy by administering the medicine your pet needs.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pill
• Treat

1. Gather your pill and a treat and place them somewhere you can easily reach. Make sure the pill is already removed from its case.

2. Grab your cat, which is not always easy! Use whatever tricks may work for you to get a good hold of him, but it is usually easiest if you can pet him nonchalantly and grab him from that position.

3. Hold the cat firmly against your body and under the arm of your non-dominant hand so that your dominant hand is available.

4. Grasp the pill with your free hand and lift the cat’s nose to the ceiling by holding her cheeks. Her mouth will open slightly.

5. Open his lower jaw gently wider and place the pill as far in the back of his mouth as is possible.

6. Allow the mouth to close, quickly grab a treat and offer to the cat. Keep hold of the cat with your hand under her chin to prevent the pill from being spit out. The treat should help prevent the cat from spitting out the pill.

7. Watch for the cat to lick his lips which is an indication of swallowing. Open the cat’s mouth to verify that the pill has been swallowed.

8. Release the cat and offer another treat. Praise the cat as well.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are afraid of being clawed when the cat tries to wiggle free, place a towl or blanket over you and wear long sleeves to prevent this from happening.
• Coating the pill in a little butter provides lubrication and will make it easier to swallow.
• When following the pill with a treat, use something the cat loves but does not get very often. Tuna is an excellent option.
• Speak in a soothing voice to the cat during the process.
• If the cat has a hard time swallowing the pill, try offering more treats or gently blow on her nose to promote swallowing.
• Do not try to approach the cat from the front. The cat will be able to escape more easily if you do.

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[Gwuen]

on 12/6/2008 Pill poppers work great as well, and the pet stores and vet offices sell them for about $2.50. All of the above works well on my other cats, but the pill popper works best on one hard headed boy I have who literally foams at the mouth after wards and during. We laugh about it because he looks like he had rabies or something when he does it, but it is not funny because the pill usually gets ruined. Therefore, pill popper all the way!