Administering pills to your cat may be easy for some, but for many it’s a daily struggle. Thankfully, there are several methods that can make the process less stressful both for you and your cat.
1. Special treats
The best way to give your cat a pill is by using treats that are made specifically for this purpose. The treats are soft, sticky, and tasty so that your cat will have no idea they are taking medicine!
2. DIY Pill Pockets
Instead of purchasing treats, you could also try making your own. PetMd recommends forming “meatballs” out of your cat’s canned food. Make one with their pill, and a couple others without.
3. Crushing the pill
If your cat still refuses to take the pill, you could try crushing it into a very fine powder, and then mixing it with their wet food. Make sure you check with your vet first; some pills are not intended to be crushed.
These three methods work fine as long as your cat is allowed to have food with their medicine. In the case that they’re not, your best bet is to restrain your cat and give them the pill directly.
4. The direct way
Place one thumb and forefinger on either side of the cat’s face and apply gentle pressure at the space between the teeth. Once their mouth starts to open, press down on the lower jaw and deposit the pill as far back as possible. Close the mouth and massage their throat until they swallow. To make sure the pill doesn’t remain in the esophagus, give your cat a teaspoon of water from a syringe or eyedropper.
No matter what method you use, make sure to give your cat lots of praise afterward!
