Giving your cat a pill may not be on your top ten list of things you like to do, particularly because our feline friends can be notoriously picky and elusive. But, if your cat has been prescribed medication, it’s important to find a method that works for you and your cat. Learn which approach best suits your cat, and some tips and tricks for making giving your cat a pill a little bit easier.
Sometimes medications prescribed to cats come in liquid form, and we recommend similar tactics to administer liquid medications.
Use the buddy system
They say two hands are better than one, and when trying to give your cat a pill, four hands are often even better than two. If you can, recruit the help of a family member or friend before embarking on your medication mission. Get everything you need set up beforehand, as well, so it’s at the ready and you can make the actual administration as fast of an experience as possible.
Whether you’re getting a hold of your cat by yourself or with a buddy, subtlety is key; you don’t want your cat to see (or hear) you coming for them with a pill bottle. Be stealthy, but don’t scare your cat! Keep the bottle – and the pill itself – out of sight and earshot and come prepared with treats. Having an extra pair of hands here can be invaluable: have one person hold the cat while the other administers the pill. If you’re on your own, try to coax your kitty over with treats and quickly give the pill. Don’t forget to give them a treat to end on a positive note!
No one likes to swallow a dry pill, so keep a small syringe of water at the ready to help the medication go down more easily. After your cat takes their pill, you can also gently massage their throat to ensure they completely swallow it.
For many cats, having an extra pair of hands and a couple of treats may not be enough, so consider a shortcut or two to simplify the pilling process.
Tips, tricks, and tools
- Wrap your cat up in a “cat burrito”: For particularly squirmy cats, our experts recommend wrapping your cat up in a towel, leaving only the head exposed, to restrict movement and prevent scratching. The “cat burrito” technique is often still a two-person job; while one person wraps up and holds the cat, the other can administer the medication.
- Use a pill shooter: A pill shooter (also called a “pill gun” or “pill popper”) allows you to place the pill closer to the back of your cat’s throat without having to stick your hand or fingers in their mouth. Hold your cat’s head with one hand, gently tilt it upwards, place the tip of the pill shooter into the side of the cat’s mouth and use the plunger to release the pill.
- Disguise the pill: Pills don’t taste great by themselves, so coaxing your cat or chasing the pill with a tasty treat can help it go down a bit more smoothly. Pureed or “lickable” wet cat treats like Churu or cat broths pair especially well with pills. Feline pill pockets (treats with built-in pouches where you can hide medication) are also a great option.
Many of these tools are available for purchase from our in-hospital pharmacy, so if your cat is a patient at the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital, ask our pharmacy staff which tools (and treats!) they have on hand.
Advocate, ask questions, and seek alternatives
You may need to employ some trial and error to find the best method for your cat. You know your cat’s temperament – and your own limitations – best, so if your cat is prescribed medication, be open and honest with your veterinarian about what is practical for you and your pet. If you know a multiple-times-a-day dosing schedule will be a challenge, discuss alternatives with your veterinarian. Ask important questions about the medication, like whether it should be taken with food, what to do if a dose is missed, and potential interactions with other medications or vitamins.
Ensuring your cat gets the medication they need starts with being transparent with your veterinarian. If you need help learning how to give your cat a pill, ask your veterinarian or a veterinary technician for a demonstration. Once you know what works for you and your pet, you can advocate for your cat and plan ahead if they need oral medication again in the future.
If your cat just won’t take a pill, ask your veterinarian if there is an alternative formulation for the medication – like a long-lasting injection, liquid, topical, or transdermal – that is equally effective and much easier to administer.