How to Give Medicine to a Cat Orally

Giving medicine to a cat can sometimes be a challenging ordeal if you do not know what to do. Here are some methods that will help you triumph over the task of giving your pet medication.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   How to give medicine to a cat in pill form using your fingers: First have your pill ready and place it between your pointer finger and thumb (on your non-dominant hand). Then using your other hand place it over the top of the cats head with your thumb on one cheek and pointer finger on the other. Gently press in cheeks (near corners of the mouth) your cat should open its mouth. If it doesn't open its mouth-use the middle finger of the hand, holding the pill, place it on his lower jaw(being careful to keep your finger between and not over his sharp incisors) and push down. Once open place the pill quickly at the back of the tongue and close his mouth. Do not release his head as he will try to dislodge the pill. If he does not swallow blow gently into his nose.

2. 
    

   How to give medicine to a cat in pill form using a pill pusher: Place the pill in the pill pusher and open your cats mouth using the same technique as above. Once open place the pusher in the cats mouth and press until the pill is dislodged onto the back of the cats tongue. Allow the cat to close its mouth and swallow.

3. 
    

   How to give your cat gel medicines: Any medicine in a gel type form can be given to a cat either by mixing with a small amount of wet food or by wiping it on the cats paw which the cat will then begin to clean off by licking.

4. 
    

   How to crush and administer medicine to your cat: If you are attempting to give your a pill in tablet form you can crush the pill using a pill crusher. Once crushed this can be added to a small amount of wet food and given to the cat.

5. 
    

   How to give your cat liquid medicine: Using a dropper open your cats mouth as above and place dropper between cats teeth and cheek back near the corner of its mouth (where the upper and lower jaw comes together). Slowly dispense medicine so that the cat can swallow without choking. Make sure not to hold the cats head to high as it can cause the medicine to get into its windpipe and cause the cat to choke.

Tips & Warnings

• Blowing gently into the cats nose can promote swallowing.
• If possible have a syringe dispenser or dropper full of water nearby to give your cat if they appear to have issues swallowing or to help the pill go down more smoothly.
• Make sure there are no food or eating restrictions with the medications you are administering.

[TeryLynne]

on 11/28/2008 Wonderful article and great tips. 5*

[cadence]

on 11/28/2008 Great tips. Cats do not like taking pills.

[ElizabethLeigh]

on 11/28/2008 Very informative! I used to have cats, and yes this can be very challenging!