Get your cat to take a pill and spare yourself the battle wounds

Many medications can be taken with food allowing you to crush the pill and mix it in to your pets food in hope of disguising it and fluffy gobbling it up obliviously.

However not all medications can be administered this way. And no matter how placid your cat is and how trusting your cat is of you, getting your cat to physically swallow a pill can turn into an outright battle. (Generally the cat wins.)

Here are a few tips to help minimise the stress for both yourself and fluffy:

1. Have the pill ready before hand. A good suggestion is coating it in butter which can help lubricate for swallowing.
2. Get your cat nice and relaxed, talk in a soothing voice with plenty of strokes.
3. If there is someone else around it may help to have an assistant.
   
4. Grab a towel or a blanket - it may help to wrap your cat up although some cats find this distressing in which case a good firm hold will do.
5. Snuggle the cat under your arm and with your free hand grab the pill. Use the hand holding the cat to gently pry open it's mouth at the corner of it's lips.
6. The pill should be placed as far back into the mouth as possible. A pill dispenser would be ideal if you have one.
7. Allow fluffy to close mouth, keeping her snuggled close to your body, and a hand under the chin to prevent the pill from being spit out.
8. Stroke her head, neck and chin area to encourage swallowing. Look for signs that she has done before releasing her from your hold.
9. Offer a treat once you are sure the pill has been successfully swallowed and praise fluffy for her efforts. Ultimately you want this to be a positive experience to minimise stress with future medication administration.
   

published 3 years ago

schmeidi

641 points