Forum Post

giving a cat a pill

Last post 11-14-2008 11:46 PM by Sunshinegirl. 11 replies.
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  • 10-10-2008 8:20 AM

    • loretta
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    giving a cat a pill

    Does anyone have an easy way, for one person, alone, to give a cat a pill?

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  • 10-10-2008 10:23 AM In reply to loretta

    • Liesje
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    Re: giving a cat a pill

    This is how I do it.  I sit down on my knees and put the cat in my crotch, facing forward, so he can't wriggle backwards.  I hold his face w/ my left hand.  With my right hand I pull his jaw open and stick the pill in, push it into the back of his throat.  Then quickly snap his mouth shut and rub his throat with his face pointed up.

    My cats have to be pilled, they are way to smart to eat a pill in a treat! 

    vankelderdogs.dutchbingo.net
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  • 10-10-2008 10:24 AM In reply to loretta

    • sl2crmeg
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    Re: giving a cat a pill

    Yep, I do it just about the way Liesje does it. I've heard of people making a 'kitty burrito' out of a towel, so the cat can't scratch you, and then pilling it.
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  • 10-10-2008 10:51 AM In reply to sl2crmeg

    • Myra
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    Re: giving a cat a pill

    I use the between-the-knees approach (and wrap kitty in a towel if necessary).

    And I think using a pill popper makes the job a lot easier.

    Myra
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  • 10-10-2008 11:57 AM In reply to Myra

    • stardog85
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    Re: giving a cat a pill

    I also highly recommend "pilling" the cat with a treat before and after the real pill so that the act of pilling is made more positive.

    I've been giving my guy liquid meds that he hates, but pilling with salmon treats has greatly improved his attitude - after 3 days (6 doses) he's actually putting up very little fight vs. the squirming maniac he was on day 1.


    Erin, the Amazing Maggie Mae, and Super Puppy Ziva


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  • 10-10-2008 12:11 PM In reply to loretta

    Re: giving a cat a pill

     Couldn't resist sorry.... and sorry I'm not much help...

    Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and apply gentle pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

    Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

    Retrieve cat from bedroom and throw soggy pill away.

    Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of 10.

    Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.

    Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

    Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for glueing later.

    Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

    Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply Band Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

    Retrieve cat from neighbour's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

    Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus jab. Throw away T-shirt and fetch new one from bedroom.

    Ring Fire Brigade to retrieve cat from tree across road. Apologise to neighbour who crashed into fence while swerving to miss cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.

    Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table. Find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.

    Get spouse to drive you to Casualty, sit quietly while doctor stitches finger and forearm and removes remnants of pill from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.

    Call RSPCA to collect cat and ring pet shop to see if they have any hamsters
    ........

    How To Give A Dog A Pill: 

    Wrap in bacon.
     
    Drop on floor.

     

    "Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life." (Pratchett, Jingo)

    "I used to look at [my dog] Smokey and think, 'If you were a little smarter you could tell me what you were thinking,' and he'd look at me like he was saying, 'If you were a little smarter, I wouldn't have to.'" - Fred Jungclaus
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  • 10-10-2008 4:07 PM In reply to Chuffy

    • CoBuHe
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    Re: giving a cat a pill

    That's funny Chuffy!

    Seriously...be quick, be relaxed and non-chalant.  I approach the cat like nothing is happening, pick him/her up turn around so the back is to me.  With the pill in my right hand, I'll gently open the mouth with my left hand, place the pill as far back as comfortable, then rub the throat while the natural reflexes of the cat swollows.  The entire time, I'm talking gently and sweetly.  It really can be an easy task  if you are relaxed and swift

     

    "I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive." Gilda Radner
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  • 10-11-2008 8:44 PM In reply to Myra

    • erica1989
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    • Clearwater, Florida
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    Re: giving a cat a pill

    Myra:
    And I think using a pill popper makes the job a lot easier.

    The pill shooter? I always have a super hard time with those - the pills always seem to get stuck, or the shooter wont release....

    With some cats you can crush the pill up and mix it in some really stinky canned food - doesn't work with all... and they do catch on. You can also try the pill pockets - treats made specifically for hiding pills in. None of this worked with my oldest female though.... she's too smart, and too picky for that, pilling was the only way to go.

    You just have to be quick about it - grab and go. Don't waste time, cats are much smarter than people give them credit for. If you have a really tough cat, its sometimes helpful to have another person hold the feet so they can't kick.... my cat also got out of the 'taco'

    Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t9Lx6iDoss haha

    this one may be more heplful.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhj2O30sJWc&feature=related

     

     

    I'm having way too much fun watching some of these videos...



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  • 10-11-2008 8:48 PM In reply to erica1989

    • erica1989
    • Top 50 Contributor
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    • Clearwater, Florida
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    Re: giving a cat a pill

    and one more, because I really can't resist.....

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NGBpFfgStM&feature=related



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  • 10-12-2008 12:10 AM In reply to loretta

    Re: giving a cat a pill

     I also do it as Liesje suggested....at least with some of our cats. One thing that I would add to that though is after rubbing their throat, I open their mouth wide again and rub the throat once more. I've often seen cats keep the pill way back in the throat and then spit it out as soon as they get away from you. I think opening the mouth again,  just in the chance they didn't swallow very well the first time, they are more apt to swallow this time.

    Pill pockets work with some and as someone else suggested, best to give an empty one first and then again after you've given the pill. I break the pred pill,  that I have to give one of our cats, in half and use two pill pockets. Another cat, who has to have a thyroid pill and will not eat the pill pockets, I break her pill in half also but put each piece in the center of a small mound of real tasty food...different things work for different cats. She happens to really love her canned kidney diet and so just using it often works...sometimes not though. Different varieties of canned fish flavor cat food often work. I've also found her to just love canned dog food (all varieties) and so use that some times as well. Another thing that many cats really like is the ham baby food. When I'm putting the pill in the food, I make a very small mound and then feed her the rest of her food, after I'm sure she's taken the pill. Some of the pills that come in the capsule, you can open the capsule and mix the powder up the same way. Make sure it is okay to open the capsule though, as It might depend on the medicine.

    Good luck and I hope something works easy for you as it can be a very trying experience with some cats.  

    I'm not a puppy here. I've been around i-dog (aka dog.com) since, I believe it was, 2001.
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  • 10-12-2008 5:34 PM In reply to nymaureen

    Re: giving a cat a pill

    LOL Chuffy and Erica!

    For me is very easy to give Luke a pill, he will let me grab his head, open mouth and swallow, I don't even need to hold him. But Zarina... she hasn't ever swallowed a pill. Not even the vet was able to do it, if she needs something, it has to be injected! The only thing she does well is with the vitC capsules she has when UTI, the rest no way.

    Good luck!

    I ♥ SWAPS
    Firma 1
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  • 11-14-2008 11:46 PM In reply to Calinisima

    Re: giving a cat a pill

    Liverwurst..... it's easy to wrap around the pill and cats and dogs love it!!
    Sunshine Girl
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