How to Get a Cat to Swallow a Pill

Having trouble getting your cat to take his or her antibiotic? Here are some pointers to make it better for you both.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A comfortable place to sit, a relaxed demeanor, and a soothing voice.

1. Get the pill you need to give to your cat and sit down on your couch or easy chair - a place where your cat often sees you on a normal evening at home.
2. In a relaxed tone, summon your cat as you normally do or just wait for him or her to come your way. If it is common for you to pick your cat up and snuggle with him or her, do so.
3. When your cat is relaxed, place him or her next to you. If you are right-handed, place your cat on your left side, next to your hip. Reverse sides if you are left-handed.
4. If you're right-handed, slowly place your left hand on your cat's left side, stroking him to make him feel comfortable. Place your right hand on the right side. Hold him, gently pinning him against your body with your left arm and gently squeezing his mouth open. This is when he will become a little annoyed with you, so it's important to speak softly and move quickly to the next step.
5. Now, while his mouth is open with your left hand, make sure his head is facing upward (it probably will be because he will be giving you a nasty look). Drop the pill down on the back of his tongue and quickly close his mouth. Hold it closed and gently stroke his throat, speaking softly and relaxing your grip on him. Rubbing his throat will make him swallow the pill.
6. The last two steps should have gone fairly quickly and you can rub his neck, cheeks, and head some more to help him relax again (if he hasn't darted off by now). By using this method, I can get my cat to swallow a pill in seconds flat, with little stress to each of us.

Tips & Warnings

• Act relaxed, like it's a normal day and nothing is different. If you have a cat, then you know they are very in tune to your moods and movements. Try to act natural and let your cat approach you as he or she normally does or summon him or her in the normal fashion.
• Don't offer your cat a treat to get him to come take a pill. Your cat will probably run the next time you offer him a treat if he associates it with the pill-taking process. You can, however, give him a treat afterwards because it will be a nice reward.