How to Give a Cat an Oral Medication

Dogs are easy! Put the pill in some hamburger and most of them will eat it. Cats - not so easy! Try this method when giving your cat a pill or liquid oral medication.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• small room with counter
• your cat, of course
• the medication
• a helper (optional)

1. Take Kitty into a small room with a counter, like the bathroom, and close the door. Have your helper hold your cat so the cat is facing to the right (if you're right-handed). Or, if you don't have a helper, place the cat so his rear is against a wall and he is up against your body.

2. Put the pill or eye dropper (for liquid meds) in your right hand. Put your left hand behind his head and use your left arm to block him from moving away from you. With your left hand around the back of his head, use a finger (on the left side of his head) or your thumb (on the right side of his head) to push into the corner of his mouth (at the point just in front of the jaw hinge). Pushing into his mouth will cause him to open his mouth. With the right hand, approach from the side of his head (not straight in from the front), push the pill into his mouth as far back as possible, then with both hands, gently close his mouth, hold it shut, and lift his head up a little to make him swallow. If you placed the pill back far enough, he can't spit it out. If you approached from the side vs. the front, you have reduced your changes of being bitten.

3. If you're giving a liquid from an eye dropper, put the tip of the dropper in the back of his mouth and then squeeze the bulb. The liquid will dispense into his throat and he will swallow it automatically.

Tips & Warnings

• If Kitty does spit out the pill, don't give up. Try the technique again. It gets easier with practice.
• This technique works on dogs, too, and horses!
• Starting out right on the first attempt will reduce the chance of a struggle with your cat. He won't be suspecting it the first time around. If you've blocked his movements to sides and rear, it will be easier to control his head and get his mouth open.

[starlady]

on 9/4/2009 THANKS for your feedback.

[meowysmiling]

on 8/23/2009 Great write : )