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How to Give Your Cat Oral Medication
- Relax. If your cat senses that you are upset or
anxious, it will be, too! Make sure you have all the medication
ready to give (tablets and capsules loose, liquids drawn up in oral
syringe or syringe) before you catch the cat. Coating the tablet with
butter or some other tasty substance such as tuna or anchovy paste will
lubricate the medication and give it a desirable taste. This may make
it easier to medicate reluctant cats. It may also be helpful to have
another person standing ready in case you need assistance.
- Place your cat on a slippery, slick surface such as
a table or countertop. This will keep it from getting a grip with its
claws and running away. Sometimes it may be helpful to wrap your cat in
a towel or blanket, so that its feet will be restrained. It is always
useful to trim your cat's claws before attempting medication therapy.
- With one hand, calmly grasp the top of the cat's
head. The tips of your thumb and index finger should be positioned at
opposite corners of the mouth on the cat's upper lip.
- Gently tilt the cat's head back so that its chin is
facing upward.
- Holding the pill between the thumb and index finger
of the other hand, place downward pressure with your middle finger on
the front of the cat's lower jaw. This pressure, together with tilting
the cat's head, will caus the cat to open its mouth. If it does not,
then use your middle finger to gently pry open the lower jaw.
- Quickly drop or slide the pill as far back in the
mouth or throat as possible. Once the pill is positioned in the back of
the mouth, it is unlikely that the cat will spit it out.
- If you are giving liquid, do not tilt your cat's
chin up. Instead, introduce the liquid filled syringe (or eye dropper)
just past the lower back teeth and slowly squirt small amounts into the
mouth. Pause between amounts to allow the cat to swallow all the liquid.
- Studies have shown that tablets and capsules do not
get stuck between the throat and stomach if a small amount of water
(6ml or 1 teaspoonful) is given immediately after giving the
medication. This can be done via a medicine dropper or syringe. If your
cat is calm and willing, offering it a small saucer with a
tablespoonful of milk or tuna juice will make sure that hte medication
gets washed down to the stomach. Check with your veterinarian or
pharmacist to see what foods and liquids are compatible with the
medicaiton you are giving.
- If you think the cat has not swalled the medication,
blowing in its face or gently rubbing its throat may stimulate the cat
to swallow.
- Excessive salivation may be seen in some cats after
receiving medications This is not harmful and will subside once the cat
relaxes.
Reference: Veterinary Drug Handbook -
Client Information Edition, Gigi Davidson and Donald C. Plumb, 2003
See also: How to Give Your Cat a Pill in 10
Easy Steps for a humorous view.
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