How to Give A Cat Medications (pills)

Need to give your kitty a pill and having troubles? Don’t fret! Many others have the same problem – valuable tips are below.

A friend of mine recently adopted a young cat that had been left abandoned on the roadside. The lovely ladies who assist with adoptions (over 2,000 homeless cats found new and loving homes last year just by the actions of these two women) also vaccinate and medicate (oral pills) the cats before they are sent to their new homes.

Now here’s the interesting thing…keep in mind that these women have saved over 2,000 cats and kittens and my friend has had a dozen cats or so of her own over the years. Neither one of them seemed to realize that no self-respecting cat would ever take a pill from a stranger – certainly not from one that just stuck a needle in her!

In one sense I found it a little comical – this lack of common sense – but Zoe didn’t. Gosh, do you think we should have done the pill as an appetizer and make the needle the main course or what? Of course the young cat wasn’t being cooperative. Come on folks, you have to learn to be at least as smart as the animals you keep.

Being present for this ordeal made me realize just how few cat owners actually know how to give a cat a pill easily and effectively. This is your job – your cat doesn’t trust anyone more than she trusts you after all.

Giving a cat a pill can be a nightmare for some owners of some cats. Not all cats are a problem though. If your cat puts up a stink when you need to medicate him, he will fight you tooth and claw to prevent it.

Although most cats are small in size, you’d be quite amazed with how much power they actually have. There are ways that you can get your cat to take his pills, which we will cover below.

Giving Your Cat A Pill With No Help

If your cat is docile or trusting you can probably give him his pills by hand. To do this you’ll need to hold your cat still and open his mouth with your hand. Once you have his mouth open, aim for the back of his throat and throw the pill in, instantly closing and holding his mouth shut for a few moments to ensure he swallows the pill and does not spit it back out.

Crushing A Cat’s Pills First

The easiest way to give a cat a pill is to crush the power into a powdery form by putting it between two spoons. Then, once the pill is powder, mix it in with some wet and stinky cat food (check with your vet first, some pills are time-released and should not be crushed).

Cats that are used to eating dry cat food will see the wet food and think of it as a treat. They will normally eat it up, unaware that they just took their medicine.

Capsule medication is even easier! Pry open the capsule and sprinkle the medicine into the wet food.

Cat Pillers or Guns – Heard of These?

Cat or pet pillers and guns are handy little plastic devices that don’t cost much and could save you a big fight getting your cat to take his pill.

You can get these online from the country store or from your veterinarian. They are nothing more than plastic rods that hold the pill in place until you have opened the cat’s mouth and press the plunger. When you purchase one, look for a long one with a soft tip.

When you get your piller or gun, your vet could show you how to use it, but the most difficult part of the process is actually prying your cats mouth open – something that you’ll probably have a better chance of doing than anyone else.

Once inserted the gun shoots the pill into the cat’s mouth and down his throat instantly. You’ll need to hold him tight, to make sure that he doesn’t squirm loose.

Super Finicky Cats and Medications

If none of these medicating techniques work you can go to your local pharmacy and ask them to a make flavored gel or liquid using your cat’s medication. Not all will do it, but some will. Use this as a last resort as it can be an expensive proposition.

Heartworm Treatment For Cats

Heartworms are a very serious condition. The worms feast on the vital areas around your cat’s heart and treatment is equally dangerous and serious especially if something goes wrong.

For this reason, even though you may be able to buy treatment medicine at your local department store, you should always consult with your vet before you give anything to your pet.

As you already know, heartworm treatment for cats differs from that of dogs. Heartworm treatment is no easy feat. Your goal is to get rid of the heartworms, but there are several factors you’ll need to consider during treatment.

Pets that have a serious infestation with heartworms may need to spend some time at the hospital, to ensure that they are properly treated.

If your vet has confirmed that your cat has heartworms (through a series of tests) he will tell you how the heartworms are affecting your cat and if your cat can deal with the side effects of treatment medication.

During treatment the dying worms often cause more than 33% of cats to end up with serious health conditions. Dying worms can become lodged in the arteries of the heart – already inflamed due to the worms being present.

With all diseases, but with heartworm especially, prevention is a lot better than treatment. Be sure to talk to your vet and find out what heartworm prevention medication is the best to use.

Cats, Ring Worm and Pill Medications

Ringworm is a very common form of skin disease found in both dogs and cats. Cats that have ringworm should be considered infectious and kept away from other pets and children in the home. Ringworms are a contagious viral infection so exercise extreme caution.

Ringworm infection isn’t actually caused by a worm. It’s actually caused by fungi that feeds on dead tissues found on the surface of the skin that then spreads around the skin or hide of an animal.

Normally, cats get ringworm disease from contaminated objects like bedding, clippers, or another animal that already has the disease. If there are animals in your home or around your house that have ringworm you need to isolate it from other pets and animals.

Kittens or cats under a year old are more susceptible to ringworm than adult cats. Kittens easily contract the disease, especially if you allow them to go outside. Kittens take a long time to build their immune system and resistance.

If your cat or kitten has rough or broken hairs, hair loss around the head or the paws, scaly skin patches that are itchy or inflamed, she may have ringworm.

Treatment may be an ointment or tablets (see giving pills to cats – tips, above). What your vet prescribes will be based on how serious the ringworm condition is. In either case, healing takes approximately six weeks.