Giving Cats a Pill

There has to be a better way.....okay here's the sitch...Pandora had tapeworms 3 months ago, and we gave her Droncit from the Vet and it took care of the issue, tried to dose Pearl, even though she didn't have an infestation, but Pearl is feisty and would literally pretend to swallow wait and spit it out.

Well we gave up cause we figured Pearl would be fine.

Well noticing the same symptoms, took Pearl in, now she has a tapeworm (but now she doesn't have fleas anymore so that problem is taken care of, neither does Pandora, cause they gave us stuff for that too).

I just spent the last 15 minutes trying to get Pearl to take the Droncit. Given her age, it was half a tab, I think she got most of it. I got my hand clawed to bits and a small bite.

Do you guys have any tips on the best way to get your cat to take a pill. Especially for a cat as feisty as Pearl.....cause five of the twelve times I tried to give it to her (placed it in, held her mouth shut, rubbed the bottom of her jaw), she acted like she swallowed, waited till I put her down and then spit it out.

my kitty had to take pills....I always just put it in the way back of his mouth, so that it would sorta choke him (didn't like that part) then use an eyedropper and put a few drops of water in at the same time to help it go down, that way he has to swallow

Yes, Pill pushers are an awesome thing. I got one from my vet when I had to give skittles his meds. For a while, he tried the wait then spit it out thing, but I wasn't going for it.

I held him and gently rubbed downward on his throat to force him to swallow. It worked very well and doesn't hurt him at all. (though the water idea sounds great as well.)

We just put it in the back of there throat and then they cant spit it back up, and my cats just swallow it.

So far I've had to give Cindy pills several times. I grind them up into powder and mix it with her food. She eats it, and doesn't even know she's taken a pill. I don't know what I'll do if I ever have to give her any that can't be mashed up

I just had to give Astrid a second dose of her worming meds - and failed miserably. The medicine ended up squirted on my leg, the rug, and everywhere but the cat. Who scrambled away and is now totally scared and mad at me, hiding and not eating her dinner.

I guess I will be calling the vet tomorrow to see what to do next - this is so frustrating. I hope I never have to give her a pill. Medicating this cat is definitely a two person operation.

I had a big, tough tuxedo male I had to give large pills to for urine crystals - I just broke it in half chucked it in as far I could and I put a tiny dab of butter on his nose so he would lick it off and swallow the pill(s). I made sure he swallowed and always had water ready in case he wanted some - he never did. I can't believe he was easier to medicate than this tiny girl tabby cat!

The best way I have found to pill my 12lber (he's now 15lbs) was to kneel next to him in a corner (where his butt is in the corner), hold his head like a baseball, lift it until his nose it pointed at the ceiling, and then with the pill between my thumb and forefinger on the OTHER hand, I use the middle finger of that hand to open the jaw more (when you point their nose up, they lose some control over their jaw, loosening it up) and then drop the pill in at the back of the throat.

Close mouth, rub throat and see if that works.

Good luck!!!

My Big Joey will have to take pills everyday for the rest of his life because of crystals in his urine. (it reduces the acidity ... he won't eat special food) and he is great taking them thank God because he taked 2-4 a day..I swear I could throw a peanut m&m down there and he would swallow it. Now my Bella needs meds everyday for her cancer and it's a suspension liquid and she fights us and she has such a tiny head it's hard to hold her and we don't want to hurt her and she is also very dramatic! It's only 1 ml you'd think it was more..sometimes it ends up on my husband!

I know how you feel. My Princess is a monster when it comes time to give her medicines. I swear it's like trying to wrestle an elephant!!! She can spit any pill at least 3 feet. My vet showed me how to grap her head and open her mouth and that's made it easier. If you put your thumb and forefinger on each side of her mouth and tilt their head back the cat will kind of go limp. Then drop the pill way back in their throat and they can't spit it back up. I hope that makes sence I couldn't really explain it that great. Maybe you vet can show you how to do it. Another suggestion is to wrap your cat up in a blanket or towel to prevent them from scratching you.

Hi,

When I had to give medicine to my cats, I wrapped them in a towel, not too thight however, but just enough so they could not move. And gave them their pill the way others described it above. Do not forget to give a treat to your cat after, so he-she can link this painful moment with at least a pleasant one!

N.

my Sunny puts up the fight of her life when i have to give her meds, which isn't very often, thank goodness. what i've found as the best way is to put her between my knees (while i'm kneeling on the floor), wrap a towel around her body, like a staight jacket, and force the pill down the side of her mouth. she'll spit it out repeatedly, but i just keep popping down. she eventually gives up and takes it. and since she's all wrapped up in the towel, she can't paw the pill out of her mouth. amazing spitter, though especially for an animal that's not supposed to be able to spit!

What I do is, grab the cat by the scruff with one hand, and have the pill in my thumb and index finger of the other hand, and force the motuh open with my middle finger, pop the pill at the back of the mouth, and push it down as far as I can with my index finger.. then let go. That always works for me.

Some people say thats cruel, bu when you got up to 20 cats to pill twice a day.. it's the fastest and most convienent way.

i feel very fortunate that Stoli likes to take pills, or so it seems. I just sit on the floor, pet him so he'll sit between my legs face out (the same direction as me) then with one hand i open his mouth, tilting his head up and with the other hand I pop the pill in as far as I can go. Hold his mouth shut, rub his throat, kiss him then give him a nibble of wet food. He and i both enjoy those moments I think.

Renovia

everyone has to have seen this before! it still makes me giggle so i'm going to post it:

how to give a cat a pill:

Pick cat up 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.

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

Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw away soggy pill.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Retrieve cat from neighbors 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.

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 jab. Apply Whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw t-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

Ring fire department to retrieve the f***ing cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil-wrap.

Tie the little *******'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 fillet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 liters of water down throat to wash pill down.

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.

Arrange for RSPCA to collect mutant cat from Hades, and ring local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.


HOW TO GIVE A DOG A PILL:

01. Wrap it in bacon.

We bought the pill pockets and gave Mika 3 (1/2 pill in each one) and Bijou 5 (2 1/2 pills). Worked like a charm.