Easy Guide: How to Give Your Cat a Pill in 3 Simple Steps

A few days ago, my friend told me what transpired when she tried giving her cat a pill. I couldn’t help but burst into a loud laugh.

After giving her some ideas, I realized my dear readers may be having a similar struggle.

Thus, I wrote this article to show cat owners who are having a hard time giving their pet a pill how to get the job done.

As you read on, you’ll learn the right steps on how to give a cat a pill and other ways to make the process easier.

In this post, you will learn

• How To Give A Cat A Pill – Important Tips!
• Alternative Ways To Give Your Cat A Pill

Are you ready? Then let’s get to business!

How To Give A Cat A Pill – Important Tips!

1. Find Out How The Pill Should Be Administered

I like the idea of mixing pills with food even for the kids. It removes the fear of ingesting a bitter substance.

Unfortunately, it is not all pills that can be mixed with food.

Also, some pills can be crushed and administered in a powdered form. Then some can be cut in half and administered twice.

Still, other pills must be given wholly to avoid any damage that can result after the pill has been cut and it loses its protective covering.

Therefore, you should first confirm from your vet if there are any restrictions on how a medication should be administered before giving your cat a pill.

Got it? Good!

2. Give Your Cat The Pill

After you have confirmed the best form to give your cat his pill, the next thing is to give your cat the pill.

Follow this guide to give your cat a pill:

1. Approach your cat when he is calm and relaxed (preferably lying on all fours).

If he is standing, then stand behind him (so he doesn’t pull back)

1. Pet your cat a little and hold him securely against your body

• Now, with the pill on one hand and holding the upper jaw on both sides with your other hand, tilt your cat’s head up.

His lower jaw will drop open then put the pill behind his tongue.

1. Next, you rub his neck as the head is still up and count 1 – 3 (giving him enough time to swallow the pill).

You need to be fast with this. Giving your cat a pill should not take more than 10 seconds so that he does not get defensive.

1. When you return your cat’s head and confirm that the pill was swallowed, praise and give him a treat.
2. Where your cat did not swallow the pill, let him spit it out and give it another go. Most preferably, a while later. However, have you known the ideal weight for your cat?

Easier said than done, huh? Maybe the next tip will help.

3. Cut Down The Bad Sides Of Giving A Cat A Pill

Before your cat ever needs a pill, you can train them with treats (that is, following the steps mentioned earlier) to get them used to have your finger in their mouth.

This is an instrumental approach especially for kittens to reduce stress later when they need a pill.

Secondly, to prevent scratches, you can wrap your cat in a towel and expose only his head before giving him the pill.

Also, while administering the drug, ensure your hand covers the top of your cat’s head to avoid being bitten.

If he bites you, get some medical advice to avoid the risk of any infection.

Where the process is unsuccessful after different trials, use treats and strokes to soothe your pet before trying again.

Lastly, get an additional hand if your cat is very stubborn.

Alternative Ways To Give Your Cat A Pill

Say, you have failed several times after attempting to give your cat his pills, here are other methods that you can try:

1. Administer The Pill With Food

Once you have confirmed from your vet that it is okay to give your cat his medication with food then your job becomes easier.

How to:

1. Hide the pill in a tiny treat that your cat can swallow easily without having to chew.
2. First, offer your cat a treat without the pill, the one with the pill, and another one without the pill.

Caution: Don’t put the pill in your cat’s food bowl, your cat may not lick it up as he feeds.

And another pet may trespass and eat the food, thereby taking a medication that was not meant for it, which can be harmful.

Also, the pill may dissolve quickly and make the food bitter, causing your pet to reject the meal altogether. However,  have you known 9 Common Cat Eye Problems With Signs & Major Causes Of The Problem

2. Invest In A Pill Popper

This is a device that enables you to give your cat a pill without having to put your finger into his mouth.

You need to be careful though. Because the pill popper is long, it may injure your cat if you don’t use it properly.

So, take your time to understand the safe technique before using the pill popper.

The advantage of using this device is that it sends the pill farther behind the tongue so that your cat swallows immediately.

How to use the pill popper:

1. Put the pill in the device
2. Follow the steps mentioned earlier to open your cat’s mouth

• Then push down the plunger to release the pill

1. Wait for your cat to swallow the pill

Pro tip: first feed your cat treats with the device to help him get used to the new style.

1. Try A Pill Crusher

A pill crusher can also come in handy when you are thinking of how to give a cat a pill.

I like the pill crusher because it ensures that your cat gets the exact dose prescribed for him.

After crushing the pill, mix the powder with your cat’s food and serve him immediately.

While you’re at it, ensure that no other house pet eats from that bowl. However, have you known Top 10 Cat Health Problems: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Quite tasking, right? Just give it your best shot!

Take Away!

When you have attempted every method mentioned earlier and your cat seems to beat you at it, you can try alternative ways of administering medication such as oral liquids or veterinary injections.

Where these options are not available, your vet will proffer another solution. However,  do you know whether you can use dog shampoo on your cat?

Conclusion

We have now come to the end of our discussion on how to give a cat a pill. Did you find it helpful? I sincerely hope so!

The tips shared above notwithstanding, every cat parent’s experience will be different when it comes to administering feline medication. Don’t fail to ask for help when you need some.

Got other ideas on how to give a cat a pill? Let’s hear it in the comments section right now.

Before you go, please share this article with other cat owners on your list, thank you!