Just like humans, cats can also get sick.
I like to think they generally have strong immune systems, but they aren’t invincible.
My cat Wonkie has gotten sick several times over the years and when he first got sick, I didn’t know what to do.
My thinking at the time as an owner was that Wonkie would never get sick.
He was incredible, he was immovable, and he was immortal in my eyes.
But sadly, I was proven wrong.
Not in the sense that he wasn’t incredible or immovable, but in the sense that he wasn’t immortal.
His normally high-functioning immune system would falter every now and again and that was proof of his imperfection.
So whenever he got sick, the veterinarian would prescribe me some pills for Wonkie to take.
If I had a dollar for every time I failed to get Wonkie to take his pills because of his skepticism, I would probably be a millionaire by now.
No joke.
I actually had to take Wonkie back to the veterinarian just to have him show me how to administer pills to him.
It took a lot of practice and patience, but eventually got the hang of it.
And that’s what I want to get into today.
So without further ado, let’s talk about how to get your cat to take its medicine.
6 Simple Steps to Get Your Cat to Take Its Medicine
Use a towel.
Place your cat in the middle of the towel and wrap the towel around it on both sides. This will keep your cat from scratching you in case it doesn’t like you trying to force it to take pills.
Hold your cat by its cheekbones.
If you’re right-handed, use your left hand to hold your cat by its cheekbones and vice versa if you’re left-handed. This will help you stabilize the cat.
Gently apply pressure to the corners of your cat’s mouth.
The key word here is “gently”! Use a finger to gently open your cats mouth.
Drop the pill down your cat’s throat.
The pill should be dropped as close to the back of your cat’s throat as possible.
Quickly close your cat’s mouth.
After you drop the pill, quickly close your cat’s mouth. This will eliminate the possibility of your cat spitting the pill out and help your cat ingest it.
Rub your cat’s throat.
This will encourage your cat to swallow the pill. Or, you can also use a syringe filled with water and have your cat drink the water from the syringe to help swallow the pill.
Video: How to Pill a Cat
If you still don’t know how to get your cat to take its medicine or if you’re afraid of your cat scratching or biting you when you try to pill it, don’t worry! I have you covered. Just check out the video link below and you should be good to go!
Key Things to Remember When Getting Your Cat to Take Its Medicine
- You can also pill your cat without using a towel. You should only do this if you trust your cat’s temperament and are confident that it will not scratch or bite you. There is always a risk if you try to pill your cat without a towel.
- You can hide the pill in some food. Some cats just won’t take kindly to you trying to pill them whether you use a towel or not. Try hiding the pill in their favorite food the next time they eat. This can be a huge advantage for you as an owner as cats will generally eat without nitpicking their food.
Final Thoughts on Getting Your Cat to Take Its Medicine
Pilling your cat doesn’t have to be a complicated process, but it can and should be done with care.
If you’re a beginner like I was, I strongly recommend using a towel and following the steps outlined above.
It saved me many physically unfriendly reactions from my cat.
Figure out what works for you. You should practice pretending to give your cat its medicine if you feel that it will make things easier for you.
Practice makes perfect. And remember, you’re only helping, not harming, your cat by giving it its medicine.
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