In our eyes, nothing can be harder than giving a cat medicine. It ranks right up there with a bath, don’t you think? Before you even reach for the bottle your cat senses the impending battle – quickly running to the back of the house where you just know there is a hidden claw sharpener!
There are a few things a cat owner can do to make medicine time a bit easier. Your first line of defense is the element of surprise. When kitty isn’t watching, get yourself a large towel, the medication and any further supplies you will need.
For pills, we suggest purchasing a Pill Popper, making things a bit more easier for both you and the cat. Pill poppers hold the pill in a soft tipped end. You push a “syringe” down as you hold the tip towards the back of your cat’s throat. The pill literally “pops” out into a place that makes it hard for your cat to spit out the pill.
Take a towel and quickly scoop up your kitty, swaddling him or her in the towel. This protects you from scratches and the cat from being injured. Talk softly while moving quickly. Try to hold your cat on his or her back like a swaddled baby resting in your arms. Carefully use your thumb and forefinger on either side of your cats mouth to open it. Pop the pill into your cat’s mouth and hold the mouth closed until you see the pill is swallowed. Never cover your cat’s nose during this process. Sometimes you can gently stroke your cat’s neck in a downward position to help the pill go down.
Some people are able to disguise medicine in a bit of food. This is not always a good idea. If your cat does not finish the food you won’t know how much of a dose he or she has taken. Furthermore if the food trick does not work, you are out one very important dose of medicine.
For oral liquid medication, use the towel trick – again, having the medicine at your side and ready to administer. And if you have someone near you that can be your partner in crime, certainly make use of their services. Four hands are often better than two when it comes to giving a cat a pill!
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