How to medicate a cat...

[automaton2]

fortunately I dont need to do too much
I put my boy in a towel and have his meds prefilled into syringe I sit in his med chair
I open his cute little mouth and carefully wait till its the right angle and wont spill out and squirt
thats that.

[Dave_ph]

I wish you guys lived close so you could come over and give Fay a pill. My vet scoffed at me for not being able to pill her until she went in for surgery. I think Fay set a record for how many people it took to handle her.

[Xanti]

Monty eats me alive when I try and pill him. The vet doesn't believe me though, because when he does he acts like an angel

[luckyducky09]

Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy

One more tip to throw on the pile.

Always give the cat something to eat and/or drink after you pill her - if the pill gets stuck it can melt against the inside of the throat and cause sores.

Great thread, Heidi!

Rubbing their throat forces them to swallow and helps the pill go down better. Also, the best tip I've learned is DONT BE NICE. Cats pick up on your fear and/or feeling guilty for doing something to them and they become little actors pretending your murdering them. Just do it as quickly as possible. I say aloud to my cats (and mostly for myself) "I know, I'm sorry. I know, it's no fun. But it's gonna make you better."

Just said those words a few seconds ago while holding Ore still for her steriods. We had an eye dropper full with chicken broth to help wash down the taste. There was no blood shed.

[Heidi n Q]

Originally Posted by luckyducky09

I say aloud to my cats (and mostly for myself) "I know, I'm sorry. I know, it's no fun. But it's gonna make you better."

I do the same thing, for the same reasons. I really *do* think they understand...

[luckyducky09]

Originally Posted by Heidi n Q

I do the same thing, for the same reasons. I really *do* think they understand...

They completely understand. As I say, they're my little evil geniuses.

We did it again this morning. In addition to the steriod, we also were able to get a pill down on the second try (my mom missed her mouth the first time )

[Clutch]

I have a 6-year old cat with severe kidney problems so I have to give him a wide array of medications to keep him alive.

I always thought it would be rough if I had to give him medications to keep him alive but it has gone far better than I could have hoped.

When I give him meds I put him on the counter and cradle him with my left arm. I place my left hand under his chin and gently squeeze his jaw open. When I give him the Azodyl pills I drop them in one at a time and if he starts to spit it out I gently tap it back with my finger.

The liquids are more tricky. I use the same method but when I squeeze the liquid in and let him go he immediately runs to a corner and starts trying to throw it up. When he does this I pet him and distract him then start crumbling up little paper balls an tossing them to him. He starts playing and forgets he was trying to throw up.

This takes a while but you do what you have to.

[sephi]

my 4 yeas old orange tabby needs antibiotic now after vet visit yesterday and it only comes in liquid and no way in he@@ she would let me give her by mouth and i try to put it in her favorite food and she won't eat... don't know what to do!

[cartoontan]

Have you check with the vet if there is a pill form? So far most of the antibiotic I had given to my pets are all in pill form.

But recently I have problem keeping the pills down, as my cat has learnt to gag and vomit it out. I wrap it will food to disguise the smell, but sometimes she still gags after a few minutes later and out comes everything including her food.

[Loves-her-girls]

Thanks the "Cat Gods" for those pill pockets! One of my kittens had to take a quarter of a pill for 14days! My Samantha would just let me put it in her mouth and she would swallow anything!