If you’re like most cat owners, you have struggled at one time or another while trying to give your cat a pill. With a little bit of advice and patience, you will be a pro in no time.
The easiest thing to do is to try to hide it in something that he likes to eat. Here are some ways we suggest disguising your cat’s medication:
- If it’s a liquid, you can dissolve it some tuna broth. Simply pour the tuna water out of the can and add the liquid contents of the medication.
- Hide the pill in a little bit of cream cheese, plain yogurt, or vanilla ice cream.
- Try using a product called Pill Pockets. It is a soft, hollowed out treat that you can form around the pill.
If your cat is more cunning than the average feline and you are still having issues, then you will have to pill your cat. This means that you will physically need to put it down their throat. If you are worried about being scratched, we recommend wrapping your cat in a thick beach towel like a burrito. With only their head sticking out, you will have more control. This techniques is easier with two people, so try recruiting a friend!
Once your cat is secure, stroke the top of your their head to let him know that you’re there. Next, come in with the same hand and place your fingers right behind the canine teeth. Once your fingers are placed, he will naturally open up his mouth. Next you will want to point his head up to the sky and use your other hand to drop in the pill.You will need to do this quickly, and as far back as possible. The good news with cats is, they have a short face, so you won’t have to reach back into their mouth too far.
However, if you’re still hesitant to place your hand in their mouth, you can also use a device called a pill wand. This is simply a long, syringe like apparatus that holds the pill at the tip, protecting your hand and fingers.
Once the pill is placed in their throat, you will want to close their mouth and gently stroke their chin and neck, this helps the pill go down. If it gets stuck, they will typically spit it out. Once saliva comes into contact with the pill it may become very slippery. If that’s the case, you may need to get a new tablet and start over.
If you have a cat that needs to take multiple medications, you can use empty gelatin capsules. With this product, you can place multiple pills into one capsule, and save yourself the hassle of pilling your cat multiple times.
If you are still having issues giving your cat a pill, or if you have any questions, we are happy to help. Contact us.