how do you give liquid medicine

I hate giving amber meds and she hates taking them. I roll her in a blanket (USED to be I used a towel), and put her on her back as best I can, and open her mouth with one hand and inject the stuff with the other.

Is this right way to do it or is there an easier method??

You really shouldn't put a cat on their back to give liquid meds. It can flood the lungs and make the cat choke. The best way is to kneel on the ground and cross your ankles behind you. Take the kitty and place her so her back is between your legs. Take the eyedropper or syringe, and scruff the cat gently, raise the lips, insert the eyedropper and slowly squeeze the liquid into the mouth, don't jam it into the back of the throat as that engages the gag reflex. Then let the cat go.

I don't have an answer, but I would like to hear one. Simba FREAKED out when we had to give him liquid wormer. I wasn't smart enough to try wrapping him in a blanket, though. I had huge scratches on my tummy where he got me with his back claws through my shirt.

amber is not the type to sit quietly while I handle her. Im sure most cats arent. I have huge scratches to prove it! I dont push the syringe into her mouth, I just open the mouth and squirt it in.

I was thinking if there was some way to put it into some kind of treat or something? or does that only work with dogs?

Oh! even the vet showed me to put her at an angle (an angle is what I do, not really flipping her over completely)

The reason this position works so well is because when a cat is being held, she will back pedal against what is holding her. This way, she pushes against the inside of your legs and can't get away. It is really a quick and easy way to give meds. I didn't think you were jamming the meds in her mouth, I am sorry if I gave you that impression. I just know that with a cat that fights you in giving meds sometimes, the syringe goes further back in the mouth than normal. I have one cat that the minute she hears the medicine bottle shake- she is ZOOM out the door! There are special meds that can be converted to a paste you rub on their ears. You can talk to the vet about this-.

i can understand the back-pedaling, but then she will just twist! It works good at the vets because she is scared. and they have that metal table. but at home, thats a whole 'nother ball game. I open the mouth forcibly because it is the fastest way I know how to give her her stuff then let her go. if I dont, it will take longer and put us both on more stress. i usually wait until she stops moving (like a fraction of a second) then squirt. I let her chew it for a sec and she continues to 'chew' as shes walking away.

I will try to put her between my knees (making sure I wear full on combat gear) *next* time she needs something. There is always a next time isnt there?.

why cant they just understand we're trying to help them??? things would be so much easier.

I don't know. But as I said when that medicine bottle shakes- one cat is gone in 60 seconds! I just keep praying she never gets really ill- I would have to cage her just to get meds in her.

Can you give it to her in a small amount of wet food?

originally posted by sicycat
Can you give it to her in a small amount of wet food?

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have you tried that with your scaredy cat hissy? I will try, next time, and hopefully she wont be any the wiser. maybe with those sardines...?

I have done this twice.
The first time I was shown how to hold the cat and squirt the liquid in his mouth. It looked easy the only problem was my hands shake when I get nervous. So I was nervous which made the cat nervous. Little medicine got in his mouth.
The second time I put it on the wet food. It was eaten with no problem.

I just have to say that hissy's method works *really* well. When Jack was sick I had to do the same thing to him. At first I figured he'd be less scared if he wasn't wrapped up and boy did I pay for that - he bit me really hard and scratched my arms up. After using the towel for a while he would run from me. Jack had a pretty severe URI and couldn't breathe through his nose really well, so I couldn't shoot all the medicine in his mouth at once. What I did is, while holding him, I'd kind of kiss him on the top of his head and pet it as best I could with the hand not holding the syringe. I spoke calmly to him during "Medicine Time" and he stopped squirming so much. I imagine this might be impossible with some cats, but for him it worked really well in addition to hissy's technique. Good luck!

hissy's method works. It's quick and easy.

It was shown to me by my my fiancee's older sister when she had to give meds to her cat. It's the one I use and I don't get scratched on my legs. But wearing long pants is a good idea. And stay calm and in control. Your furbaby can pick up on stress.

Originally posted by hissy
The reason this position works so well is because when a cat is being held, she will back pedal against what is holding her. This way, she pushes against the inside of your legs and can't get away.

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I do this position sometimes when I need to cut Zoey's front nails. However, she just runs forward and gets away, she doesnt 'back pedal'. How do you stop that?

Luckly I have help giving liqiud meds to my cats. My mother usually helps by holding the cat firmly but not tightly with all 4 paws tucked under her arms while I give the meds by tilting the head back.

Is there someone who can help you with Amber?

They don't like me for a few minutes afterwards (I don't blame them).

Right now I'm having to give Sphinx yet another round of liquid meds for URI. UGH.....