How to Give a Cat a Pill

Getting a feline to do anything unwillingly is a challenge few owners look forward to. Here is a guide to how to give a cat a pill while minimising stress to you and your cat.

Giving a cat a pill is one of those tasks cat owners keep their fingers crossed they won鈥檛 have to do too often. But unfortunately, there are times when you need to give them important medication. It鈥檚 not as easy as it sounds: there are claws and teeth you need to stay clear of, and cats are experts at spitting out pills.

What to consider before giving your cat tablets

Before we get to our tips on how to give a cat a pill, the first thing you should do is check with your vet for any restrictions on how the medication should be administered. Certain pills can be mixed with food, while others must not be. Some pills can be crushed or divided, but others cannot as this could risk damaging your cat鈥檚 oesophagus or stomach. This is because the medication will no longer be protected by the outer coating of the pill. Knowing this information can help you decide on the best way to give your cat the tablet.聽

Once you鈥檝e established what you can and can鈥檛 do with your cat鈥檚 medication, there are a few methods to get past those feline defences and give your cat the pill.

What鈥檚 the easiest way to give a pill to a cat?聽

Depending on the type of medication, you can easily give a pill to your cat is by hiding it in food. This could be in wet cat food, in a bit of tuna or with a treat but make sure it鈥檚 a small amount so they鈥檙e bound to eat it.

What happens if my cat spits out their pill?

Some cats are clever and spit out the pill whilst they鈥檙e eating. To make sure they鈥檙e swallowing it, check the food they鈥檝e eaten and stay with them whilst they eat. If they continue to spit the pill out, try another method.

Other than this, a good way to administer cat pills is by hand. Read on to find out more.

How to give your cat a pill: 5 easy and scratch-free methods to try.

There are some other methods to can try when giving your cat a pill which will (hopefully) leave you scratch-free! See the five ways we list below.

Use a pill popper

This device removes the need to place your fingers in the cat鈥檚 mouth, but can damage the back of their throat if used incorrectly. Only use a pill popper if you have been shown safe technique by a vet or vet nurse. Put the pill in the device and push down the plunger to release the tablet in their mouth. Try it first with a few treats to allow your cat to get used to the new delivery system.

Give their medication with food

If the vet advises that mixing the medication with food is possible, choose your cat鈥檚 favourite treat and sneak the pill in. Make sure the treats are small enough so that the cat won鈥檛 have to chew it. Give them their treat, followed by the pill itself and another treat. Avoid putting medication in your cat鈥檚 food bowl as you cannot be sure they will consume it. The tablet could dissolve over time, or be spat out. This also risks other household pets eating the meal and taking medication which is not prescribed for them and can be dangerous.

Use a pill crusher

In cases where the pill can be combined with food, another way to deliver the medication is in powder form mixed in with a small portion of their usual diet or with a little water. Use a pill-crusher device to make sure the dosage stays the same and you won鈥檛 lose part of it in the process. Make certain that your cat is eating the food that contains the crushed medication, as otherwise you will need to try an alternative method. As discussed above, do not allow other household pets to consume medication that is not prescribed for them.

Ask for alternatives

For cats that won鈥檛 accept a pill in any shape or form, some medication is also available in other forms such as oral liquids or veterinary injections. Unfortunately, some medications do not have good alternatives, but it always worth asking your vet what options are available.

Give them the pill by hand

If all else fails, you can try to give your cat a pill by hand. For this method, you鈥檒l need a bit of patience as you鈥檒l be manually placing the pill in their mouth. But don鈥檛 worry, we have a 10-step guide to how to do this safely below.聽

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How to give a cat a pill聽by hand in 10 steps

Knowing how to give a cat a pill can be difficult. So, here鈥檚 a step-by-step guide to administering medication to your cat by hand.

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6 safety tips when giving a cat a pill

• If your cat scratches or doesn鈥檛 like being held, try wrapping their body and legs in a towel, allowing only their head to remain exposed.
• Always hold over the top of their head to reduce the risk of being bitten.
• If your cat is particularly unruly, get another person to hold them while you administer the pill.
• If you or your cat are getting stressed, stop and give them a few treats and gently stroke and soothe them before trying again.
• If you get bitten by your cat, contact your GP for advice. Cat鈥檚 teeth harbour nasty bacteria which can cause an infection.