How to open your cat's mouth to give medicine

Here are 4 ways you can give a pill to a cat. It all depends on how cooperative your cat is with you.

Kitty, open your mouth and say "Aaaaah. " or how do you get a cat to swallow a pill?

I've had a lot of trouble with my Bobcat trying to get a pill in her. I should have given her an antihelmintic before she was vaccinated. And the pills are tiny, and smell enticing, and she would not! The first one she chewed up and spat out, and the second, hidden in a wet food carefully ate from all sides and also swallowed it. I had to buy new pills and go on the internet for information. Now I'm sharing with those who are relevant. Who in the know, skip the text and immediately read the new anecdote at the end.

It is good if there is a helper – the cat must be immobilized to begin with. The second person will hold it by the paws. The helper puts the cat on the table, pointing its face toward you.

If there is no helper, you should wrap the cat in a towel, leaving only the muzzle outside.

Then you should place the cat on the floor with your feet (the cat's muzzle should look away from you in the direction of your knees). Both of your hands should be free, this is what the cat is swaddled for when you are acting alone.

The fingers of one hand should encircle the cat's head from both sides so that the thumb and forefinger are on both sides of his mouth along his cheekbones. If you slightly lift the cat's head, it will open its mouth itself. Then you need to put your fingers inside it and the cat will open its mouth even wider.

With two fingers of the other hand, hold the pill (like tweezers). Put your fingers in the cat's mouth and place the pill, trying to get as close as possible to its throat. The deeper the pill is, the less chance the cat will spit it out. If the pill suddenly falls out and hits the tip or the middle of the tongue, push it further with one finger while holding the cat's mouth open.

To make sure the cat swallows the medicine, remove your fingers and as soon as it closes its mouth, hold it closed and blow lightly into the cat's nose.

This technique will induce a swallowing reflex in any cat. Once you are sure that the swallow is made-carefully release her mouth and remove the towel from her body.

Lubricate the pill.

Coat the pill with a little oil or margarine to make it slippery. Although you will have a little more difficulty holding the pill, this will also make it easier to get it down your cat's throat.

Next, it's time to give the pill to the cat. First, squeeze the pill between your thumb and forefinger. The dominant hand is recommended for this. Hold the wrapped cat. With the other hand, hold the cat's head from above. Place your thumb on one side of the cat's jaw and your fingers on the other. Tilt the cat's head back, which should cause its jaw to open slightly. However, don't tilt the head back so much that it hurts the cat. Its nose should be turned toward the ceiling. If necessary, use your dominant hand to open the mouth a little more. To do this, press lightly on the lower lip and front teeth. While the cat is not expecting this, place the pill on the back of her tongue. This should stimulate an automatic swallowing reflex.

Keep the cat's mouth closed

Keep the cat's mouth closed with your dominant hand so she can't spit out the pill. Hopefully, this will not be necessary. She should swallow the pill quickly. If the cat doesn't swallow the pill right away, gently rub her nose and throat. A gentle blow on the nose may cause the cat to choke, which will cause the pill to be swallowed. Usually after swallowing the pill the cat will lick its tongue or lips. However, you should observe the cat for a while to make sure it has swallowed the pill. If your cat has difficulty swallowing the pill, you can try seasoning it with broth or tuna juice. Cats often find it easier to take the pill if it is slightly flavored.

After taking the pill successfully, you should encourage your cat. This reinforcement should make the procedure easier in the future. You should never end a necessary procedure with a negative experience. Otherwise, the cat will try to escape even harder the next time.

Food.

The best way is to give the tablet in wet gravy food. In theory this is the easiest and least stressful way for the cat and for you. In practice, it's very unreliable. It doesn't always work, and there is no certainty that the cat will eat the pill. She may carefully eat the food and leave the medicine in the middle of the bowl. Cats have a very good sense of smell – they can sense a foreign odor and refuse to eat, even if you choose a dish with a particularly strong smell.

You dissolve the tablet in water, fill a syringe with the suspension and inject it into the cat's mouth.

Note: not all medications can be injected this way – better to ask your veterinarian about it. If the pill is very bitter, the result will be vomiting and heavy salivation. The effect will be the same as if the animal had not received the medicine at all.

In a treat.

Cat sausages are excellent. Break them into pieces, put a pill in one of the pieces, and give them to your cat. Ideally, he will eat on his own. As a last resort, you can quickly put a piece on the back of your cat's tongue (a piece of sausage no larger than 1 cm!), close her mouth, and stroke her throat until she swallows. If you do it really fast, success is guaranteed.

To avoid hurting the cat, gently hold its head and gently squeeze the sides of its jaws to open them. With your other hand put the tablet as deep as possible on the tongue. When the cat closes its mouth, stroke it across the throat. This will encourage the animal to swallow the medicine. Once the cat does this, take a moment, soothe it, praise it, and give it a treat.

And it is in this method that we very often make a mistake. Have you ever swallowed a pill without drinking water? You've already guessed what happens. In cats, the pill can also get stuck somewhere in the esophagus instead of going straight to the stomach. Not only will it cause discomfort, but as it slowly dissolves in the esophagus, it may even harm the cat by irritating the delicate mucosa of the esophagus and causing pain. So ALWAYS give your cat water with a syringe after you've given the pill – to keep her drinking. How much? About 4-5 milliliters per pill. As an alternative you can give the cat (right after the pill) some wet food or tuna sauce – they will perform exactly the same role.

Bottom line – method #4 will be the most effective. The least stressful for the cat and for us are #1 and #3.

How do you give the pills to the cat? Or do you trust your veterinarian with this task? Be sure to tell us about it in the comments!

Giving the pill in powder form

If it is possible to crush the drug, the process of taking it will be easier. There are two options, depending on how the medicine is better absorbed – with or without food.

When it can be mixed with food

Cats are sensitive to flavors, so if the medication has a strong odor, choose your pet's favorite food and mix the powder in there. For example, you can make mini meatballs the size of a bean out of fresh ground turkey and roll the powder inside.

Remember that raw pork and chicken should not be given to pets – these meats may contain eggs of intestinal parasites, as well as pathogenic bacteria like salmonella. Read about what to feed the cat in a separate article.

The medicine can be mixed with sour cream and dabbed on the cat's face in large strokes. Given cats' love of cleanliness, the sour cream is likely to be quickly licked off along with the medicine.

When not to mix with food

If the powder cannot be mixed with food, check with your veterinarian to see if the medication can be given with water or milk. Most often this option is acceptable. Just make sure that the animal swallows all the liquid. And do not expect the kitty to do it on its own.

Slowly pour the solution from a syringe with the needle removed, from the side of the mouth, right under the root of the tongue. Fix the cat in the same way as described above in the case of an ordinary tablet.

How to keep yourself safe

Unfortunately, you can't explain to your pet that the medicine is being given for his or her own good. To avoid bitten hands and a scratched face, take care of your safety beforehand.

1. Secure your pet in one position. Some breeds are very aggressive or large in size, e.g. Bengal or Maine Coon. In that case you should do the treatment standing up, with the animal's head pressed against your thigh or a flat surface such as a wall. Such fixation will protect you.
2. Wear thick gloves, for example cloth gloves and rubber gloves on top, so that the animal cannot easily bite them. If you don't have gloves, use a thick piece of cloth.
3. Some people suggest swaddling the animal. This really works, but especially quick cats may escape from the "cocoon" before you finish the procedure. Therefore it is better to do it together.
4. The procedure should be fast and your movements should be firm. Do not give weakness, cats feel everything.

Friends, I will be glad if you tell me how you treat your four-legged pets. The topic is as relevant and necessary as possible, so I am collecting such experiences and am happy to share mine!

How to feed medicine to a kitten

Because of their size, the piller method or feeding a whole pill will not work for small kittens. As a general rule, kitten medications (like those for children) are usually made in liquid form to make them easier to dose. But sometimes it is the solid tablet that the baby needs to be given. What to do in this case?

There is only one option: divide the pill into several parts or crush it. It is better to ask your doctor or pharmacist if you can do this – some medicines need to be given strictly whole. Be sure to find a version of the medication that allows you to break or crush the pill – otherwise, you risk damaging your kitten's delicate mouth and larynx.

Veterinarian Recommendations.

Taking medication is stressful for your pet in most cases. Many owners dread quarterly checkups or past illnesses when they had to treat their pets themselves. However, doctors offer some simple tips to make the procedure as easy as possible for both owner and pet.

For starters, remember: on no account should you take the pills out of the box, jar or blister in the presence of your pet. These fluffy lumps are cunning creatures and quickly understand what's waiting for them now, which means they will rush to hide or immediately begin to show aggression.

It is better to treat them on a flat hard surface, for example, on a table. Lay a thick cloth or towel for the animal to feel comfortable.

It often turns out that the owner is to blame for the pet's anxiety during medication. Don't be nervous or yell at the pet. There is no point in explaining that taking medication is necessary, because the animal will not understand you, and will only become more nervous. Do not hit him under any circumstances. It is better to talk in a calm tone during the procedure. Then over time the animal will get used to it and will be more relaxed about taking the prescribed remedies.

Do not forget that in a fierce desire to get out of your hands the cat can scratch or bite you. Ask someone close to you to help you. Have them hold the fluffy cat wrapped in a towel or something else while you administer the remedy. But just in case, keep a piece of absorbent cotton and hydrogen peroxide handy in case your pet does bite you. Don't forget to praise him when you're done – just don't feed him right away, and wait about an hour.

If nothing works for you, you may have to accept that the cat just can't tolerate this form of treatment. In some cases, it gets to the point where animals hide under beds, in closets, and even jump out of windows. Talk to your doctor; perhaps the medication you need has other forms, such as injections or powders.

How to make a cat swallow a pill

Many readers are concerned about the question of how to properly give cats medicine, such as worming in pill form. It's a little more complicated, but nothing is impossible.

Often owners simply do not know how to open the cat's mouth to give the medicine, and act incorrectly. In fact, this action is much easier for a cat than, for example, for a person whose jaws don't protrude forward.

So, with the hand grip the head of the animal from behind, slide your thumb and forefinger between the lips at the corners of the jaw and gently press on them. The cat's mouth will open, and at this point you should quickly put the pill on the root of the tongue – if you exactly hit the spot, it will instantly trigger the swallowing reflex. Immediately after this raise the cat's head and stroke its neck from top to bottom and not letting it open its mouth.

For those who find it quite difficult or the cat actively resists, you can use an auxiliary tool – an introdyser, or simply "pill dispenser". This device resembles a syringe with a piston and a soft tip with several cuts.

A pill is placed inside the tip and the piston pushes it into the animal's mouth. A little water can also be taken into the tip along with the pill to make it easier to swallow.

Emotional Attitude

Do not forget to reassure the cat throughout the procedure by talking to it affectionately. The best way to do this is to imagine that you are in front of a very small, still speechless child, whom you are trying to persuade to eat another spoonful "for daddy" and "for mommy". In this case, women instinctively raise their voice and appear gentle melodious intonations.

You can say anything you like and even sing nursery rhymes and nursery rhymes, which are just as soothing for cats as they are for babies. Try not to be nervous yourself, be calm and confident, and we hope our advice will help.