I have a cat that is nearly ten years old who was in need of medication. He is a big stubborn old cat and very difficult to handle when he doesn't want to do something. The first tablet I tried to give him following the approved method of putting the tablet far to the back of the tongue and the holding the mouth closed. It didn't work. I retrieved the pill and tried hiding it in his food, and that didn't work.
Today I got the next pill out and crushed it (powdered it), and then I mixed it with cheese spread and smeared it on his foreleg and left him to it. A few minutes later I checked him. He had cleaned himself and in the process had taken the medication.
By Sharyl from Adelaide, Australia
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Be sure cat's nails are trimmed. Put on a light jacket (not your best one). Set the cat on a stool or something higher. Love and pet the cat; talk gently.
When my cat needed medication, I learned pretty quickly that none of the tips I'd read worked with him. Get canned cat food with gravy. Open the capsule or crush the pill and mix with the gravy.
Store the tablet for as long as you can with the cat's kibble or treats -- long enough for it to take on the smell of the food. Serve the tablet along with the kibble/treats.
Can't get your pet to take their vitamins? This morning, I had a flash of genius. Take a small handful of a favorite treat and add the vitamin pill.
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Does anyone have any ideas on how to "pill" a difficult cat or get him to ingest Panacur powder (He has worms)? Our vet tried 6 times to "pill" the cat and was unsuccessful, so we tried the Panacur powder instead. He will not eat this either. We have tried mixing it with everything we know that he will eat, but 2 days later, that food is still there. I think he would rather starve.
Is the taste/smell strong? Maybe mix it with a little tuna juice? the strong smell may cover it, and what cat could resist?
Our cats worming medication comes as a paste in a disposable syringe (without the needle of course). I give her a cuddle and open her mouth and squirt it in - then she doesn't have a choice....
I forgot to add that you would have to crush the pill and mix it with margarine or something pastelike....
Like mentioned...you can mix it with tuna, milk, canned food, eggs etc...depending on what he likes. And if that doesn't work try a dropper...mix your powder with some milk or something he likes and use a dropper. That is like forcing him to take it...but if he won't take it on his own that might be your only hope. And you will be able to make sure he takes it and takes it all. Good Luck!
I agree with trying tuna. I've never known a cat to refuse it. They usually knock down who and whatever is in the way to get to it. Good luck!
I have found that by wrapping my cat securely in a blanket (make sure all his feet/claws are gently tucked inside a big towel) and holding him, a helper can often get a pill into him; but as long as you have the powder, try the tuna - be sure to add some of the tuna water.
My two cats had worms about 2 years ago. The vet wanted to charge me for visits and prescriptions. I just went to Walmart and got the deworming liquid for around $3.00 and it worked. You just hold the cat and put the medication in their mouth as the directions on the bottle say.
My cat is very difficult to give pills to also. I hide it in a little bit of flavored hairball remedy and he licks it right off of my finger. The pill is whole.
Use caution when giving over the counter medications. Worm medication is given to treat a SPECIFIC kind of worm. ( There are many different kinds) Try the tuna and if it doesn't work, get a helper , wrap the cat, pry his mouth open and put it as far back as you can.
Sounds like my cat! She won't take pills either...even crushed up in something. I tried yogurt, pet treats, canned cat food... she is too suspicious. I have heard of liquid meds for pets that can be tuna, or beef, or whatever, flavored,( the BANANA flavor my vet has does not appeal (haha) to my cat).
I found a site called flavorx.com that will help you find a vet or pharmacy near you that will change the pills to a flavored liquid... I'm going to call the one near me tomorrow for prices etc so next time my cat needs a rx, I'll be prepared.
To get pills down a cat, use a straw to blow the pill to the back of their throat, then blow on their nose while holding their mouth together and their reflex action is to swallow the pill. Keeping the cat immobile in a towel is a good idea, along with petting and cuddling.
When my mum's cat was ill we had the same problem.
Eventually we were told to mix the powder into butter or fish paste. The trick then is rub the paste onto the cat's fur. He could not help himself, he just had to clean it off...and got his medicine at the same time.
I have a thing called a "cat piller" that I got from my vet years ago. I actually use it for my dog who is almost 17 & takes 4 pills a day. It's sort of like a syringe but the top is flexible plastic & open to insert the pill, then there's a plunger to push the pill into my dogs throat. She doesn't really like it but it's quick and gets the job done. I can insert up to two small pills at once.
I just found a product that works for fleas, worms, tics, and ear mites. My vet gave it to me and you just have to put it on the back of the neck. It's called Revolutions It worked great for my 3 guys.
Good Luck to you
We've had to give pills to our older cats and it could be difficult. We had a "piller" device that worked pretty good. Hiding it in food will work or first use a pill splitter to make it smaller....they are smart tho and sometimes they will actually eat all the food and the pill will be left! Also if it's not too big, just pry the mouth open, sort of throw in at the back of the mouth, close mouth quickly and rub under the chin to make him swallow. We don't have any cats at present time but I would investigate whether or not a liquid form of the medicine is available....sure would be easier, I would think! Good luck!
Your question jogged my memory to a time that I accidently took the cat's medicine.....not intentionally.I have adult attention deficit, so I try to do a lot of things at one time.My Doctor said that people like me are valuable at work, because they can mult-task.I remember I had been up late and getting ready to take some tylenol, I just got the hands mixed up.I remember placing a fast call to my Mother in law, I now would call Poison Control. It turned out okay, but I am more careful now.Two other things happened with this cat, when it was a kitten it swallowed a needle and thread, and also I had it on a leash taking it for a walk on a super hot day.I had hold of the leash, when all of a sudden,the cat (Mocha) started doing these gigantic looking jumps, like a ride at the carnival, I was so worried that it would crash it's head into the sidewalk.Apparently it bit a bug and the bug bit her back.So obviously, this trivia info, is not to be meant as a tip, but a little humor, if you can get the right mind picture, but then I guess you had to be there.
Thank you all so much for your ideas. I will definitely try them!
We had to give our dog pills once when she'd had surgery. We crushed the pill and put it on a piece of cheese and mushed the cheese up all around it to make a ball. She practically inhaled it.
Can the medicine be mixed with water? If so, use a syringe with out a needle, like you can buy in the infant dept. and open the mouth, and slowly push the liquid into the side of the cats mouth. Slowly, so they won't choke. Good luck.
Does anyone know how to administer cat oral medication to a very uncooperative cat? I have tried the back corner of her mouth and all I get is claw marks from very self manicured sharp claws?
By Tanya Johnson from P. R., MN
Are you coming at him/her from behind? That's how I have to do it. Also, put on a coat or something that will protect your arms from attack. Hold the front legs with one hand and squirt with the other. If it's too much, try putting it in the food. My cat liked it mixed with vanilla yogurt. Don't give too much; just a couple of spoonfuls, since yogurt can lead to runny bowel movements.
My cat refuses to take a pill. I crushed the pill in her wet food that she loves, but she won't go near it. The vet only gave us one. After I already did this I learned that if it's bitter they won't eat it. So how can I fix this and get her to eat the food?
By Jackie D.
I had this problem with giving clindamycin to my cat. I rubbed a little butter on the small pill. Then I wrapped in a half teaspoon of tuna I had fixed for sandwiches (my cat loves it). Then I put it on the floor like it was a treat. The cat ate it so fast he never even noticed the pill. The reason I put butter on the pill was so the moist tuna would not pick up the flavor of the bitter pill. it worked. Good luck.
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Instead of taking the time to sit on my cat and shove his worm medicine down his throat time and time again, I did this.
For those of you that have a hard time giving a pill to your cat, this works beautifully.
My kitty won't take her pills. There is no way I can run her down, wrap her in a towel and force a pill down her throat twice a day.
