Critter Corner: How to Give Your Cat Meds Without Being Bitten

The first time you try to give your cat oral medicine will set the stage for further attempts – for both you and your pet. Keep these points in mind, and your lives will be easier.

Getting the medicine:

Usually the first time medicine is prescribed you are at your wit's end. You have taken a very unhappy animal for a car ride, worried as the diagnosis was made, and are thinking about the upcoming bill as your cat glares at you and the vet prescribes easy-to-administer oral medication. This is the time to stop and consider the options and ask questions.

• How much leeway is possible when administering the dose? Is it better to give slightly too much or too little?

• Are there different formulations available (tablet, liquid, flavored liquid or topical)? Ask now to get a starter amount of medicine in several different forms.

• Find out if there are several types of dispensers (pill plungers or oral syringes), you can take with you, especially if you expect difficulty.

• Check exactly what is meant if the label indicates "no food." Often times it means no large meal, but a food carrier or wrap for the pill is OK.

Getting home:

You know your cat best of all. Consider if it’s better to "add insult to injury" and give the meds right away, or wait several hours until they have calmed down.

Look over the dosage and familiarize yourself; then dispense the medicine. This may be as simple as getting a pill out, or loading the oral syringe.

Getting ready:

• Option #1 – Offer a tiny piece of a "decoy treat," a treat with no medicine inside. If that is gulped down, then try disguising the pill or liquid in with the same food. Favorite carriers for medicines are pureed meat baby food (like beef, chicken or turkey), or human quality canned sardines or tuna. Be frugal, and keep them wanting more.

• Caution: Cats, unlike dogs, tend to chew their food, so watch that they don’t spit out the pill. If you have more than one animal exercise caution as other cats may want the leftovers, or a helpful dog could grab an unexpected treat.

• Option #2 – Place your cat on a countertop or table. Anywhere that is well lit and at waist level. This is ideal for handling and making sure the medicine is swallowed. Some suggest wrapping the cat in a thick bath towel, but it can cause a panic attack on the cat’s part, and can be difficult if the towel is too large.

Administering (see video):

• For a right-handed person, firmly trap the cat’s hind end between your left elbow and ribs, supporting the length of the cat with your arm.
• Gently hook your left hand under their chin and pull back/up at the corners of the jawbone. This should get their mouth to open.
• An oral syringe can be inserted between the cheek and gum and the medicine squirted in.  If you need to administer a pill and have deft fingers, aim for the middle back of the tongue, but don’t push too hard.
• Hold the mouth shut, massage the throat, or even gently blow in their face. This will help with the swallowing reflex.
• Finish by petting and gradually relaxing your hold. If possible, follow up immediately with a special treat in the same spot.

Many medicines will need to be given for the cat’s whole life. If you find the liquid dosage is too much for your cat to swallow, ask if it can be formulated in double strength. Check for different diameters of oral syringes until you find one that is easy to see, and easy to use.

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