by Betty Carew

Created on: September 30, 2009

Trying to give a cat medicine ranks right up there with trying to give your cat a bath. A cat detest both and leaves you trying to outsmart your cat from the get go. But humans rule, right? Therefore there are ways of outsmarting a cat when he needs to take medication. Some of these suggestions will work for you and some won't but you will find one that works for both you and your cat.

Procedure for holding your cat

Some cats are very easy to give medication while others will literally fight tooth and nail to avoid it and leave you with the scars to prove it. Prepare yourself with a towel that will be placed around kitty. This is for your own protection, not kitties. He is well able to handle himself. If this is the first time you have done this you may need a little help.

Sitting behind your cat place both hands on each side of your cat holding front and back paws at the same time covering his body with the towel. Have someone to give your cat the medicine. Have the person that's giving your cat the medicine hold your cats head up and tilted back a little. Open your cat's mouth and drop the medication towards the back of your cat's throat. Do this as gently and talk soothingly at all times. Once the medication is in your cat's mouth keep the head tilted and stroke the cat's throat this will cause a swallowing reaction and the medicine will be gone. Follow up with some tasty treats and lots of praise. There are other ways to accomplish this if your cat cooperates.

Pill form

If your cat's medication is in pill form you do have an option of crushing the pill between two spoons into a fine powder. Choose your cat's favorite food and mix the pill into it. This will certainly decrease the amount of work for you if your cat eats the food. If your cat's medication is in capsule form then all you have to do is break the capsule in half and pour the powder into the food. As I stated above this may work with some cats and not with others. Cats are very smart creatures so don't be surprised if he politely walks away from the food upon smelling the medication in there. This is exactly what our cat did when we tried this method but not all cats are alike. This doesn't mean your cat will do the same so give it a try.

Pet piller

A pet piller is an instrument that can hold a pill on one end of the tube while you use the other end for the dispensing. You can get these at your vets. This will help you give the pill to your cat but unfortunately does nothing to get your cats

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