How To Get My Cat To Take His Pills!

[MisterMan]

Hi.. it used to be easy to get a syringe of liquid medicine and just give it to him but he spits it out. So I have moved on to pills.

He likes his dry kibble so hiding it in a chunk of Tuna is useless.

I wrapped him in a towel so he could not scratch me but he is biting and he is NOt a mean cat. not a biter.

So please share your tips and experiences .. sorry if this thread has been done before!

[mangotogo]

Hi,

Make sure that cat has it's 4 feet on the ground/table. Index and thumb are used to hold either side of the muzzle: tip the head upwards ,so the nose points to the ceiling. Use the other hand to open the mouth by depressing in between the canines( fangs). Push the pill gently but quickly over the tongue.

Try yourself to look up to the ceiling and you will see that your mouth almost opens automatically. The head tipping makes it easier to open the mouth. Do not insert your fingers sideways in the mouth: make sure your index goes in between the canines( fangs) : less chances of getting bitten.

If the cat tastes the medication it will drool and salivate. Stop and wait until it is calm again as a slimy pill will be hard to handle.

You can wrap the legs in a towel but the main objective is to pont the nose to the ceiling from a normal standing position.

Now....there are cats that are impossible to pill. I speak from years of experience and a fair few bites!

[phaethon]

Above is good advice. One trick I picked up that may work is based upon the fact that from kitten-hood cats are used to being picked up by their mothers and carried by the scruff of the neck. Obviously and adult cat is too heavy to do this routinely without it being painful but they can respond to restraint by grasping the scruff (handful of loos skin behind the neck) quite firmly by becoming passive and even purring. Lift the cat and support some weight by grabbing the (slightly less scratchy) hind legs, this is useful for giving injections into the abdomen, but will also extend the neck and, like the above post, cause the mouth to open - useful for ketamine spray or tablets. Applying the injection or tablet makes this a two man operation, though it is possible, once scruffed, to wrap the body in a towel and tuck the mummified cat under the scruffing arm leaving your other arm free for treatment. You have to be firm and confident - no feeling sorry for your pet, hesitating or bottling out. When finish release at arms length and don't expect a thank you.

However, these techniques need a lot of practice and you will get scratched and bitten and, since you have only one cat to practice on and s/he will be a quick learner...

Try scruffing your cat gently at first as part of petting, becoming firmer after a few tries and see how it reacts. Follow-up with treats. Have bandaids and antiseptics nearby.

Chok dee.

[alexisthetiny]

Mangotogo's advice is good. If you want it to slip down easier, a dab of butter on the pill is good too. It's worked maybe 3 times before my cats wised up. Another good one is to buy the smelliest, saltiest canned food you can find, say, Sardine flavor Friskies, grind the pill up and mix in well with a portion of the food. There won't be a big honking pill for the cat to discover and spit out plus the stink and salt will convince your cat its being given a treat. Cats are a pain to pill, some days I wish they could be a little more dog like.

[Cuban]

Any animal can work out pretty quickly what is normal and what is not normal, anything not normal is probably going to taste bad or involve a trip to somewhere they don't like. So you could train the animal into thinking that on the occasions that you are holding it and giving it small tasty morsel ( see other thread) that all you are doing is giving it a small lump of tinned mackrel etc. The cat will spit it out thinking you are trying to dope it again - then maybe sniff at the fish and take it.

Early on with my dogs I had them doing all the things I could think that they would have to do at some point in connection with teeth and mouth inspections, cleaning ears, having things removed from paws and the smell of iodine used on wounds etc. Just to ensure that when I need to do it in a serious non-play situation it is not a new exeriance for them to cope with on top of whatever has happened.

Last night was a good example. There was a loud crash from outside while we were upstairs, looking out of the window I couldn't see the dogs so investigated. During their 'play' they had collapsed a cheap chipboard table throwing the contents across the porch. The dogs were excited by the noise, jumping around and were looking for reassurance from me, my concern was to check for injuries as the table and it's contents were heavy. Getting them to stand and give me paws and tails etc. for a once over is totally normal for them so they accept that as that is happening things are OK.

As for pills - they had some a few months back - always after I had prepared their meals but not yet fed them - the chicken or fish smell from my hands to the pill ensured they lined up and would have taken a double dose had they had the chance. They haven't had pills for a while - I think they will get fake pills tonight before dinner, just to remind them.

[mdechgan]

I had lots of practice with this.

The trick is the squeeze the sides of the mouth with your thumb and finger on each side near the cheeks.

With enough pressure the mouth will open. Once the mouth is open with your other hand make sure your finger is wet or greasy with some milk or good tasting sauce and just push the pill down the throat. Not too far since they may choke but just enough so that they will swallow the pill themselves.

It could help if you get someone to help you and hold them down during the process.

Edited September 20, 2008 by mdechgan

[Patsycat]

Crush the pill up in some milk or cream and then spread on his fur, he will then lick it off. I was worried about the amount of medicine he was actually getting but whatever ailment he had at the time (and he's had many) seemed to clear up. He did make funny faces at the taste though!!

[MisterMan]

I had lots of practice with this.

The trick is the squeeze the sides of the mouth with your thumb and finger on each side near the cheeks.

With enough pressure the mouth will open. Once the mouth is open with your other hand make sure your finger is wet or greasy with some milk or good tasting sauce and just push the pill down the throat. Not too far since they may choke but just enough so that they will swallow the pill themselves.

It could help if you get someone to help you and hold them down during the process.

This seems to work..either a bit of vitamin E oil or this sort of paste like nutrient stuff for when the cats are not eating. My older cat seems a lot easier. Also not ticking my fingers in from the side and ony from the front is also great advice. And of course 4 feet on the ground.

Thanks for all the replies!

MM

[bina]

with cats, not like with dogs, no squeezing the jaws; u have to pull one finger on the lower jaw pulls downward and the other hand pulls on the upper jaw (by the nose, or the pointiest point of the cat's face)and your fingers have to go over and back of the tongue... beware of cats' teeth, they are worse then dog's teeth by far, and harder to get a cat to open its mouth once its biting u...

i should take pics of my arms to demonstrate cat claw and teeth marks....

bina

israel

[Patsycat]

There was a thing on the internet a few years ago about how to give your cat a pill.

Seriously, if you can get the medicine in drop form and put on the fur or as my vet suggested around his whiskers and he will groom himself and hopefully get well soon.

Good luck. I think all of us here have scars.... I had a great one right down the bridge of my nose from my eyebrows which missed my lips and ended up on my chin. I looked like my face had been cut in half!!

[sbk]

Wow, guess I got lucky. Or perhaps its the fact I had my cat from a very young kitten (she wandered over to our house, starving and scabies ridden-had to rescue the sad kitty ) and she learned early on that regardless of what happened she was going to take her pill . But I never had issues from my cat, neither did the vet when we got them on the island. I would have to force her mouth open and push the pill in but she never scratched nor bit me.

[Cuban]

I have no idea if animal pills are engineered as are some human medication, for slow release while dissolving in the stomach. Although I would not expect dire results - checking that it is OK to crush pills for your pet might be wise and take only a few minutes of your time.

[bina]

a large majority of pills and liquid meds are people meds used on animals; there are some that are made specifically for dogs or cats (not approved for people to use but could be useful... and some that are for the specific physiology of the animal, and some that come as syrups in liver flavour for instance, instead of strawberry flavour fo rchildren.) some liquied antibiotics come as LA (long acting = 3 days) to be used on animals that need antibiotics for a large period of time, or for use with goats/horses cause u dont have time or want to have to injec tthe animal every day-- a nasty horse is easier to give injections to if its once every three days rather then every day. and some pills are disolved right away but the affect is from 12 to 24 hours, like BUTE with horses and goats, or flunix (an anti inflammatory). dont remember seeing slow release pills for dogs...

bina

[draggons]

Sorry but couldn't resist this.

How to Give a Cat A Pill:

1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

3.. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.

4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.

6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10. Retrieve cat from neighbour's shed. Get another pill. Open another beer.. Place cat in cupboard, and close door onto neck, to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw Tee shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12. Call fire department to retrieve the dam_n cat from across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.

13. Tie the little bastard's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.

14. Consume remainder of scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.

15. Arrange for ASPCA to collect mutant cat from hel_l and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.

How To Give A Dog A Pill

1. Wrap it in bacon.

2. Toss it in the air.

[skippybangkok]

Sorry but couldn't resist this.

How to Give a Cat A Pill:

1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

etc.................

Mega lol........... yeh, thats just been my experience - just gave up.

[Nienke]

Have read that several times already, but it just remains very funny!

[Cuban]

Sorry but couldn't resist this.

How to Give a Cat A Pill....

...How To Give A Dog A Pill

Fantastic - best thing written on TV for ages.

[Patsycat]

Especially the doggy bit.

[MisterMan]

that was so funny!