How to give a pill to a cat

An owner is always responsible for their pet, including when treating illnesses. Therefore, when treating parasites, giving vitamins, and other supplements, the question of how to administer a pill to a cat often arises.

Sometimes this process can turn into a real "battle," especially for inexperienced cat owners, and end tragically—the owner is bitten and scratched, and the cat still doesn't take the medicine. All of this can be avoided with the right technique and a few secrets.

Content

1 Popular methods
- 1.1 Adding to food
- 1.2 Dissolution in water
2 Limitation of movement

Popular methods

You can give a pill to a cat in the following ways:

adding to food;
dissolved in water;
placing it on the root of the tongue (with or without instruments).

Important! Before choosing one of these methods, carefully read the instructions for the medication and consult a specialist.

Let's look at the secrets and possible disadvantages of each of the three methods.

Adding to food

The key here is to choose your cat's favorite treat, be it food, cottage cheese, cheese, or something else. The whole pill is hidden in a small ball of suitable food. It's important to supervise the process to ensure the cat eats everything, including the medicine, as the pill can sometimes fall out of the cat's mouth.

If you can't seem to give your cat a whole tablet, consider a decoy option, where the medication is ground into powder and mixed with your pet's favorite treat. It's best to add it to a small amount of food so the cat eats it all; otherwise, the therapeutic effect will be lost.

What are the disadvantages of this method?

Not every drug can be mixed with food; some are taken only on an empty stomach.
There are products in special capsules and shells that cannot be divided into parts or crushed, as they will lose their positive effect, since they are intended for mixing not in the mouth, but in the stomach.
Due to the unpleasant taste of some tablets, a heightened sense of smell, and sensitive taste buds, cats are surprisingly adept at eating everything but the medication itself. If a powdered tablet is added to food, the cat may experience a bitter taste and simply refuse to eat, making it impossible to calculate how much has been consumed.

Dissolution in water

If, after consulting with a doctor, the doctor gives the go-ahead to dissolve the medication in water, you can use a small syringe without a needle (a 2 ml syringe is most commonly used). Draw the resulting mixture into the syringe and, holding the cat in any convenient position, insert the tip into the pet's cheek and gradually infuse the medication.

Important! The stream shouldn't be too strong, otherwise the cat will simply run away and not receive the full dose. It's recommended to administer the medication drop by drop.

At the root of the tongue

A proven method, the most popular and effective.

The cat should be seated with its back to you (this makes it easier to open its mouth and makes it more difficult for the animal to escape).
Take a pill.
Open the pet's mouth by lifting its head up and pressing the fingers of your free hand on the base of the jaw.
Place the tablet on the root of the tongue and close the cat's mouth.
Stroke your pet's throat towards the chest until the medicine is swallowed.

Important! Next, check to make sure there is no medication in the cat's mouth and give it some water to drink.

If there is a special device, like pill dispenser (introducer) or regular tweezers, it is better to use it to protect your hands from possible scratches and bites.

A simple guide to properly administering a pill to a cat using a pill dispenser:

Fill the pill dispenser with water and insert the pill;
open the animal's mouth;
insert the introducer into the back of the pet's mouth;
Press the button to release the medication from the device.

Tip: If it doesn't work the first time, try practicing on regular dry food. Your cat will get used to it and allow you to give her a pill.

Limitation of movement

Holding a pet is easy if the owner has a helper. But what if you have to do the procedure alone and don't want to get scratched? In this case, restraining the cat's movements will help. A simple towel or blanket will do the trick. How do you do it correctly?

Take a large towel/blanket and place it on a table or other stable surface.
Place your pet on the table.
Wrap him in a towel/blanket, with his entire body and paws inside and his head outside.

These simple methods will help treat your cat or give it vitamins without unnecessary trauma or stress. It's crucial to reassure your cat throughout the entire procedure, pet it, speak kindly, and be calm and confident in your actions. Then everything will end well.

How to properly give medicine to a cat:video instruction: