Knowing how to give your cat medicine is something every cat owner
needs to know because most likely you will need to administer medicine at point.
If the
oral medication can be given with food, try hiding the pill in some tuna
or cream cheese. This will cover the possible bitter taste of the pill. Make
sure that you keep a close eye on your cat when they are given the food covered
pill since many cats will just lick off the food and leave the pill behind!
If hiding the pill in food does not work or if the pill can not be given with food, you will need to know how to give your cat medicine physically by putting the pill into your cat’s mouth and forcing a swallow. Remember that with any activity that a cat may find negative, talk quietly and gently to reassure them that all is okay. Make sure that your demeanor is relaxed and confident as well.
Before you start giving any type of medication, it will be easier if you wrap
you cat gently in a towel to prevent cat scratching. Snuggle the covered cat
against your body. Firmly grasp your cat’s head in your non-dominant hand and
place your thumb on one side of the face and your fingers on the other. Make
sure that you are not squeezing your cat’s neck and are not pushing on the lower
jaw. Point your cat’s nose upward. This action will force open the cat’s mouth.
Once the mouth is fully open, shove the pill as far back into the mouth as you
possible can without causing the cat to gag. Allow the cat’s head to move back
down to a natural position and hold the mouth closed. Blowing on the nose or
gently stroking your cat’s chin or throat will cause her to swallow the pill.
Check to make sure that the cat does not spit out the pill. If the pill does not
go down, try to give the pill again. If you need to administer a liquid oral
medication, follow the procedure above using an eye dropper to place the liquid
medication at the back of the throat.
You will also need to know how to give you cat medicine for both ear and eye medications. While holding the snuggled cat, apply the correct number of drops into the ear and gently massage the base of the ear while the medication runs down the ear canal. For eye drops, if working alone, hold the cat in front of your body. Hold open the eye with the thumb one side and your index finger on the other side of the eye. Try to place the eye drops without touching the eye into the center so the medication can spread out over the surface of the eye. For ointments, without touching the eyelid, run a thin line of medication along the lower lid. Gently hold the eye shut for a few seconds.
You may find that it is easier to have an assistant when administering medications. That way one person is free to concentrate on holding the most likely struggling cat and one to focus on medicine. If after trying to administer medications on your own and not being successful, talk with your veterinarian. See if there are different forms of the medicine or alternative medications that can be prescribed. Giving lots of praise and treats during, before and after the process will leave a positive association. Knowing how to give your cat medicine is something every cat owner needs to know and possibly practice before having to do it alone.