Sometimes you have to give your cat a variety of pills, from deworming pills to antibiotics. Unfortunately, cats usually like to spit out pills, or refuse to swallow them. There are several strategies you can use to give your cat pills without stressing you and the animal.
Step
Method 1 of 6: Recognizing Drugs
Step 1. Read the dosage instructions carefully
Follow the directions on the medicine container. Pay attention to the amount of medicine to be given at one time, how often to give the medicine, and how long you have to give the medicine.
Consult your veterinarian if you have any questions about the dosage or procedure for administering the drug
Step 2. Keep the slow-release pill intact
Some pills are formulated to release their active ingredients slowly over several hours, and this performance can be impaired if you crush (crush) the pill. Follow the veterinarian's instructions for administering the medication.
Step 3. Check if the medicine should not be taken with food
Some medications should be given on an empty stomach. So, the effectiveness of the drug will be compromised if you hide it in food. In this case, the drug should be given without any companion.
Method 2 of 6: Holding the Cat
Step 1. Prepare a wide towel or cloth
Cats can be handled in a number of ways, depending on whether you're doing it yourself or getting help from someone else. However, all methods work if you have a large towel or cloth to wrap your cat in, or as a cat seat.
Step 2. Ask others for help
Ask a friend to help hold the cat so it doesn't struggle. Help from someone else will make it easier for you to handle the cat.
Step 3. Place the towel on the kitchen counter or regular table
Lay out a towel or cloth on a kitchen counter or regular table. The height of the table makes you comfortable, and makes it easier for you to administer the pills. When laid down on a towel, the cat will feel comfortable and will not slip on the table.
Step 4. Place the cat on a kitchen counter or regular table
Gently lift the cat and place it on the table. Ask someone else to hold the cat by the shoulders, with their head facing you.
Step 5. Wrap the towel around the cat's body
If your cat likes to scratch, it's a good idea to wrap it around with a towel. Spread out a large towel or cloth and place the cat on it. Wrap the towel around the cat so that the animal is wrapped in the towel and its paws are tightly pressed against its body. Make sure the head is outside the coil. This method is commonly known as "burrito coiling", which prevents the cat from clawing.
This method is often called a burrito twist, which is similar to a baby being swaddled. The cat's arms will be attached to the body so the animal will not be able to scratch
Step 6. Place the towel-wrapped cat on the table
If someone helps, place the cat wrapped in a towel on the table. Ask the person to hold the cat still as you prepare to open the cat's mouth and insert the pill.
Step 7. Kneel down to hold the cat
If no one is there to help, wrap the cat in a towel. Kneel on the floor. Place the cat between your thighs, with your head facing your knees.
Make sure your hands are free and can insert the pill
Method 3 of 6: Opening the Cat's Mouth
Step 1. Lift the cat's head
Once the cat is held, open its mouth.
If you are on the right, hold the cat's head with your left hand. This way, your dominant hand will be free to administer the pill
Step 2. Place your index and thumb on the cat's forehead
Form an inverted U using the index and thumb of your left hand. Place these two fingers on the cat's forehead.
The fingers will be attached to both sides of the cat's face along the cheekbones
Step 3. Place the tips of your index and thumb on the cat's upper lip
Place the tips of your index and thumb on your upper lip so that your thumb is on one side of the cat's face and your index finger is on the other.
When the cat's head is lifted with the nose tilted toward the ceiling, the jaw will open slightly
Step 4. Gently press the cat's mouth with your thumb and fingertips
When the jaw is slightly open, press the thumb and fingertips down and into the mouth. Keep the cat's lips between your finger and its own teeth. When a cat feels its lips against its teeth, the animal will naturally open its mouth so that it doesn't bite its own teeth.
If you give your cat a liquid medication with a syringe, you only need to open the cat's mouth slightly. If you want to give pills, you have to open his mouth wider
Method 4 of 6: Giving Pills
Step 1. Hold the pill by pinching it
With your dominant hand, pinch the pill using the tips of your middle finger and thumb.
Step 2. Apply pressure with your index finger to open the cat's mouth
Place the tip of the index finger on the cat's chin, between the two lower canines (the large fang-shaped teeth). Apply gentle downward pressure, and the cat's mouth will be fully open.
Step 3. Drop the pill into the cat's mouth
Try to drop the pill on the back of the tongue. If the pill is tossed far enough behind (and when the cat tries to spit it out), contractions in the cat's tongue will actually push the pill toward the throat and cause the pill to be swallowed.
If you drop the pill on the tip of your tongue, keep the cat's mouth open and use the middle finger of your dominant hand to push the pill behind the tongue
Step 4. Remove the cat's mouth
Once the pill is in the cat's mouth, make sure it is swallowed. As soon as the pill is inserted correctly, remove the finger from the cat's mouth. Let the cat close its mouth and swallow the pill by lowering its jaw.
If you are unsure whether the pill has gone deep into the mouth, hold the cat's mouth shut until you see it swallow the pill
Step 5. Blow the cat's nostrils gently
Some cats are really stubborn and won't swallow. If you experience this, gently blow on the nostril to trigger the swallowing reflex. When a cat swallows, the animal will begin to swallow saliva. Release his mouth and check that the pills are not spit out.
Step 6. Give a drink after the cat swallows the pill
After the pill is swallowed, give the cat water and food. This is to ensure that the pill actually travels down the esophagus and into the stomach.
Step 7. Use a pill-feeding device if necessary
If you're a little afraid to put your finger in your cat's mouth, use a pill-feeding kit. This is a plastic device that serves to grip the pill.
- Clamp the pill with the pill dispensing device.
- Open the cat's mouth.
- Very carefully, insert the tip of the tool into the back of the cat's mouth.
- Press the boost valve to drop the pills. The pill will fall down the cat's throat.
Method 5 of 6: Giving Liquid Medicine
Step 1. Open the cat's mouth
You do not need to open his mouth fully to enter the liquid medicine. Open its mouth just enough to allow enough room to put the syringe in the cat's mouth.
Don't hold the cat's head up. This can increase the risk of breathing fluid into the airways leading to the lungs
Step 2. Place the nozzle into the pocket between the tooth and cheek
Slide the syringe nozzle against the teeth. Keep the syringe in the bag between the teeth and the cheek on one side of the cat's mouth.
Step 3. Gently press the plunger valve to drain the liquid
Allow the liquid medicine to enter the cat's mouth. You will need to stop pressing the valve frequently so that your cat can swallow liquids calmly and comfortably.
If you are using a bulb syringe, press the ball slowly and gently to drain the liquid into the cat's mouth. Do it slowly and stop often
Step 4. Avoid giving the cat too much liquid
The most important thing is not to let the cat's mouth fill with liquid, and give the cat a chance to swallow. If you spray too much liquid into its mouth, your cat is at risk of inhaling and sucking the liquid into its lungs. This can have serious consequences, such as pneumonia (pneumonia).
Step 5. Take the syringe when it is empty
After all the liquid medicine into the cat's mouth, immediately take the syringe and let the cat cover his mouth.
If the cat struggles, you may need to administer the liquid medicine in two stages
Method 6 of 6: Hiding the Tablets in Food
Step 1. Get rid of the food for a few hours before you give the pill
Some medications are specially designed for small cats so they can be easily hidden in food. Starve your cat by getting rid of all food in the hours before you give the medicine.
Step 2. Hide pills in wet food
Feed the cat as much as a quarter of the usual portion, by inserting a pill in it. After the food is finished, give the leftovers that you have not given.
To increase the likelihood that your cat will eat food, try feeding it its favorite food. Hide the pills in the food and serve
Step 3. Use Pill Pockets
Pill Pocket is a delectable brand of cat treats that have a cavity in which a pill can be inserted (like jam in a donut). The delicious exterior of the treat will mask the taste of the pill so the cat will happily swallow it.
