Giving your cat a pill, how hard can it be?!

Most of us cat owners have at some point had to give their feline friend a pill for one reason or another, however getting a cat to take pill is probably one of the hardest things to do on earth. We have therefore put together some tips and advice from our experience that may help you.

Check with your vet, they sometimes give a "pill pusher" when they prescribes pills to cats. This is just a little tool that makes pill giving easier. The pill goes onto the end of the tool, and you slip the end into the back of the cats mouth. Make sure it is near the back, or your cat will very quickly spit it out. Then you just give the "pusher" a gentle push and the pill will come out and the cat will have to swallow it. It's not very easy to describe, but your vet can show you.

Also, it helps if you can make giving the pills a two person job. One person holds the cat gently but firmly, the other administers medicine.

It would be helpful to wrap your cat firmly but gently in a blanket. This prevents the cat from scratching you and restricts its movement a little more. Just make sure you're gentle, never squeeze your cat.

Another way is to crush the tablet between two spoons until it is a fine powder. Mix in a little butter or margarine until all of the powder is in the little ball of margarine or butter. Then place the ball onto the back of a spoon handle near the edge. Have it handy.
Now go find the cat. Wrap the cat securely in a thick towel or blanket and place on your lap. Now get the spoon and prise the cat's mouth open by one hand over the top of the mouth and the other under the lower jaw. At this part you must be quick keep the jaw open with your finger at the inside of it's mouth not on the teeth and then place the handle of the spoon with the mix on it as far back on the tongue as you can and wipe it off onto the tongue.

Release the mouth keeping fingers intact and continue to hold the cat wrapped for a minute or so until you are sure the butter has melted taking the medication with it.

Another way is to do the same with the tablet then wipe onto the cats forepaws at the top. The cat will then feel the need to clean it but you cannot be sure it got the whole treatment this way.

If the cat has a penchant for sardines or tuna something strong in taste and aroma you could again crush the tablet as explained above and mix it in with say a teaspoon of the sardine or tuna that way it should all be taken.

If the medication cannot be given on an empty stomach make sure the cat has less than it's normal amount of food first, medicate then offer the remainder of the food.
Another suggestion is to disguise the pill in a small blob of peanut butter that you stick to the roof of the cat's mouth. That way they concentrate on dealing with the peanut butter and the pill goes down by default. You can also crush the pill and mix it with the peanut butter.

Ultimately, you need to be gentle but firm with the cat - don't be afraid of hurting it or you won't be able to hold on tightly enough and the cat will squirm its way free. Grasp the cat's head in one hand and tip it way back so the chin is pointing up. This will make it easier for you to pry the cat's mouth open and help prevent the cat from biting you (too much, anyway). If you are right-handed set the cat down and tuck his body under your left arm like a rugby ball, holding his head back with your left hand. With the pill between your right forefinger and thumb, open her lower jaw open with the remaining fingers of your right hand and stuff the pill as far back in his mouth as you can. Once you get the pill in the cat's mouth, keep hold of the cat and make sure to hold the mouth closed for a minute and maybe stroke the throat gently to encourage swallowing. If you let the cat go right away, it will most likely spit the pill right back out at you.