How do you give a cat a pill?

Many people may find it very scary and problematic to give a pill to a cat, but it turns out to be much easier if you approach it the right way.

First, be sure to check with your doctor or read the instructions to see if the pill can be divided, crumbled or administered with food.

Second, choose the easiest way to administer the pill to your cat.
 

Before you start the procedure, make sure that:

• You have prepared everything you need in advance

• You have enough time and know exactly what you are going to do and how you are going to do it.

• Be careful with the cat, stay calm and do not put yourself in danger if the cat is aggressive.

• If possible, always have a second person (preferably someone your cat knows) to help restrain the cat.

BUT START SIMPLY BY TRYING TO PUT THE PILL IN THE CAT'S FOOD.

• Make sure the tablet can be taken with food. There are a number of medications that should be taken with food and some that should be taken strictly after a meal.

• If setting with food is an option, make sure your cat is hungry! Put all food away for 12 hours so the cat will want to eat.

• Some medications are formulated specifically for cats and you can try them simply as a treat. Remember to put the tablet on your fingertips, not in the palm of your hand. However, cats often do not want to eat the pill themselves because (even if it was tasty) the taste and/or texture is unfamiliar to them.

• If the pill is small, hide it in a small amount of your cat's favorite food, such as a soft cat food (or cat food jelly) that she really likes: soft cheese, a small piece of soft meat, fish, or in butter.

• Make sure the tablet is completely hidden or submerged in a small amount of food.

• You can offer food in a regular cat bowl or from your hands/fingers - at your discretion. Please note the precautions when handling the tablet: for example, some tablets cannot be crushed or divided.

• If your cat eats the food, make sure it eats the tablet as well, rather than leaving it behind and spitting it out. You can then give your cat the rest of the food.

• Some cats have a knack for finding the tablet in the food and spitting it out or just eating the food around the tablet.

• If it is safe to do so (consult your veterinarian or read the instructions included with the pill), you can crush the pill and thoroughly mix it with a small amount of very palatable food. This works best with appetizing tablets and with a tasty, strongly flavored treat that the cat really likes (such as canned fish in oil).

You can also use a special pill shredder.

IF YOU ADMINISTER THE PILL MANUALLY, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO TREAT IT GENTLY

If the cat does not want to take the pill voluntarily or with food, you will need to give the pill manually.

It is very important to hold the cat gently and safely. The procedure will be more successful if you have another person helping you.
 

HOW DO I HOLD THE CAT WITH MY HANDS?

Make sure your cat is standing on a stable, non-slip surface such as the floor, a hard table or chair.

Allow the cat to sit directly in front of you, with its back to you.

Gently hold each front paw above the elbow, pressing your hands against the cat's sides.
This helps prevent the cat from running away, keeps the cat upright, and controls the front and back paws and claws.

 

 

 

CATS CAN BE RESTRAINED WITH A TOWEL OR A BLANKET

This may be especially appropriate for very dodgy cats or if you don't have a second person to help hold the cat.

Use a medium sized soft towel - not too large or it will be bulky.

Place the towel on the floor or a flat, stable surface and then place the cat on the towel, with its back to you.

Wrap one side of the towel and then the other around the cat's neck so that the cat is wrapped like a baby and cannot pull its front paws out of the hole.

Gently but firmly hold the cat in the towel.

 

 

 

 

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING READY BEFORE HOLDING THE CAT. TRY TO DO IT QUICKLY BUT CALMLY SO THAT THE CAT DOES NOT GET FRIGHTENED

• The person giving the pill to the cat does the following: in one hand holds the pill (thumb and forefinger).

• With the free hand, hold the cat's head on the top of its head.

• The head should be held gently but firmly between the thumb and forefinger, with the thumb and forefinger reaching down on either side of the jaw at the corners of the mouth. In this way, the head should be fixed and pulled back and with the middle finger of the hand holding the tablet, pull the lower jaw down and open the mouth.

• Keep the head tilted back and quickly place or drop the tablet as far as possible on the root of the cat's tongue. Try to place the pill on the center of the tongue as far back as possible - the further the pill is pushed back, the harder it is for the cat to dispense it back.

• Hold the jaw closed for a few seconds and wait for the cat to swallow. Gently massaging the neck may help. If your cat is licking its lips or nose, it means it has swallowed a pill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES THAT CAN HELP

"Tablethalizer" (available at the veterinary pharmacy) - this is a syringe-like object with a plastic piston (and no needle!).

The pill is placed in the soft nozzle on the end, and it is released by pushing down on the piston (practice before using it on your cat).

A pill dispenser can help you insert the pill directly onto the root of the cat's tongue, avoiding the need to put your fingers in the mouth.

After a little practice, this can be very effective, and many people find it quite easy to use.

The pill can also be used by hiding it in a gelatin capsule.

 

"Pill Separator"

This small device allows you to carefully divide tablets into halves or quarters.

First make sure that the tablet can be divided (some have a special coating and should be given whole)

Place the tablet in the "V" recess in the bottom half of the divider. If you close the lid (with a sharp blade), the tablet is cut in half.

Make sure the tablet is cut into even pieces and make sure the cat receives the correct dose.

 

Gelatincapsules (available at the veterinary clinic)

An empty gelatin capsule can be used to put two or more small pills inside so that they can be administered in one sitting. The two halves of the gelatin capsule can be separated, the pill parts placed inside, and then the two halves put back together.

The capsule can be especially useful if your cat requires more than one type of pill (for example, you can put two small halves of two different pills into one capsule)

Always consult your veterinarian before giving more than one type of pill at the same time.

Capsules can be administered manually by oiling or using a pill shredder.

 

"Tablet crusher"

Always check with your veterinarian to see if it is safe to crush a tablet and give it this way.

Crushing the tablet into a fine powder may make it easier to mix with a small amount of palatable food.

Some crushed tablets can be mixed with a small amount of water or oil (such as from a tin of tuna). This can then be dialed with a syringe (without a needle) and gently dropped into the edge of the cat's tongue.

Crushing the tablet to a fine powder without losing the dose is best done with a suitable tablet crusher.

Place the tablet in the base of the tablet crusher and screw the lid on to crush the tablet. Unscrew the lid and the powdered tablet can be used.

Thirdly, do everything with confidence and always remain calm. If you encounter difficulties, always ask your veterinarian for advice. We are always ready to help