A Spoonful of Sugar…
…helps the medicine go down. Oh if only it were that easy with your feline friend! Giving a cat medicine is an art but more often something of a struggle! Here are some top tips for making the process less painful for both you and your cat:
If the medication is in tablet or pill forms try crushing the tablet between two spoons. Mix the powder in with some of your cat’s favourite food. It’s best to use food that is a real treat such as boiled chicken or tuna. Cats are quick to sense you that something isn’t quite right with their dish so the tastier the treat the better.
If the medication is in capsule form break it open and do sprinkle over food as suggested above.
If your cat is still not duped then talk to the vet as there are some medications available in tasty treat forms that your cat will actually enjoyed eating.
Another technique is to pop the pill down the cat’s throat. You can buy tubes that can be inserted into the mouth to aid the dispensing of the pill. If you do try to administer the pill yourself my advice would be to first wrap the cat tightly in a blanket to stop yourself getting clawed. Pop the tablet as far back in the moth as you can and then hold the cats mouth closed until they swallow.
A final technique that most people shy away from is holding the cat by the scruff of the neck. This naturally paralyses the cat and his mouth will automatically open. Pop in the pill and then let go of the neck. He’ll automatically swallow and Bob’s you uncle – it’s all over! This doesn’t hurt him and is much less traumatic than you trying to prize his mouth open.