Tips for Giving Your Cat Pills & Medications

Being sick is no fun, especially when you have to take medicine in order to feel better. It's no different for your furry friends. Whether for an illness or an allergy, cats sometimes need medicine to improve their health.

Use these helpful tips on how to give your cat a pill to make the process less stressful for both of you, and help get them on their way back to feeling better.

Holding Your Cat

For some cats, simply being held can create stress. Approach your cat carefully, speaking to them in a gentle and soothing voice as you scoop them up. Wrap them in a soft towel or blanket, recommends Cats Protection, restraining the legs and leaving just the head free. Supporting their legs so they don't dangle freely can also make them feel more comfortable and secure.

How to Give Your Cat a Pill

Medicine for cats usually comes in pill form. With medication in hand, keep this in mind: cats are smart creatures that don't take kindly to changes in their routine, and they won't make it easy on you. Unlike your dog, who will happily scoff down a pill hidden in a treat you'll have to approach your cat in a calm but calculating way.

If you have a cooperative cat, try putting the pill directly in their mouth. Don't toss the pill into their mouth as this could create a choking hazard (or they’ll just spit it right back out at you!). Instead, place it on the centre of their tongue near the back of the mouth, then gently rub their throat to encourage the pill to go down, advises International Cat Care. Offer them a fresh bowl of water to wash it down.

The "Meatball"

Another method for giving your cat a pill requires a stealthier move. Start by hiding the pill in your cat’s usual food dish with their usual food. Wet or semi-moist cat food works best, but if your cat only eats dry food, you can give them the moist food when they take the pill, making it an exciting treat.

Another trick is to hide the pill in a small ball of cat food. This game of hide-and-seek can be played by hiding the pill in their wet food, rolled into a ball and presented to your cat as a fun treat or snack. 

If your cat refuses the pill in their food, you may wonder if you can tempt them with “people” food like tuna. However, many foods can cause gastrointestinal distress in cats. Always check with your veterinarian before giving non-pet food to your cat.

Cat Food Gravy

If you're looking for another option for how to give your cat a pill, you may be tempted to try crushing it into a powder form. But, as the PDSA points out, some pills don’t work as well if they’re crushed and must be administered whole. Always check with your vet and get their express confirmation that it’s safe to crush the pill first. 

If your cat’s medication can be crushed, you can do this by crushing it between two spoons or investing in a pill crusher/cutter from your local pharmacy or pet store. This tool makes crushing a little simpler and cleaner, as the medication is contained to the device, and they only cost a few pounds. 

Stir the crushed-up medication in a small portion of cat food gravy, which (hopefully) your cat will lap up. The strong flavour of the gravy will ideally mask the unpleasant taste of the pill. Never give your cat medication in milk, since many cats can't digest dairy. If they refuse a spoonful of gravy, incorporate it into their regular food, either as a special topping for dry food or mixed with wet food.

Liquid Formula

If your cat refuses to take medication or is too sick to eat normally, the vet may prescribe the medicine in a liquid formula to be administered via syringe. Most forms of liquid medicine need to be kept refrigerated. However, cats are more likely to accept medicine that is at room temperature. Never microwave medication. You can warm it up by holding the syringe in your hand for a few minutes or submerging it in a cup of warm (not hot) water.

As noted earlier, hold your cat in a safe, comfortable way with the syringe in your dominant hand. Allow your cat to lick the tip of the syringe so they can sample the medicine, then depress slowly on the plunger. Aim the stream of medicine toward the back of their throat, but be careful not to tilt their head back as this could cause them to inhale some of the liquid or choke.

Once the medicine is in your cat’s mouth, hold their mouth closed for a bit to make sure they swallow the liquid. Don't worry if they spit out some of the medicine — it's common. Even if some ends up on your lap, avoid re-medicating and wait until the next dosage is due.

Eye and Ear Drops

Sometimes, a cat needs to take eye or ear drops, particularly if they have allergies. Just as when you administer a pill or liquid formulas, you'll need to hold your cat securely to administer them.

For eye drops, Blue Cross first recommends letting your cat sniff the bottle and get familiar with the scent. Then, you can reward them with a treat so that they associate the scent with a positive feeling. When you’re ready to administer the eye drops, use the finger and thumb of your non-dominant hand to hold your cat’s eyelid open, and then use your dominant hand to administer the medication. It’s often best to come from above, below or from the side of their head, rather than straight at their face, so they don't see it coming. Never touch the cat's eye with the eye dropper or your fingers.

For ear drops, place the required number of drops into your cat’s ear and then gently massage the base of the ear in a circular motion. Your cat won't like either of these methods, but as with all medication for cats, it's vital to their health.

Injections

Certain illnesses, such as diabetes, require pet parents to inject medication under the skin. You'll benefit from a second set of hands when giving injections, so enlist a helper to keep your cat in place with a towel or a firm but gentle grip.

A cat may require an injection depending on the medication, so ask your vet to show you how and where you should give the injection. Always use a new needle for each dose and record the time and date of every injection. Be sure to speak to your vet if you have any concerns about administering injections, or if you need further advice or guidance. 

After administering medication, give your cat some extra snuggles. They may also want some alone time, so give them the time and space they need if they want to hide for a bit. Never throw a needle in the rubbish bin when you're finished; dispose of it in an approved sharps container or bring it to your local pharmacy or veterinarian's office.

If you suspect your cat is sick, first contact your vet to schedule a checkup and only give your pet the specific medicine prescribed by the vet. You should never give your cat over-the-counter (OTC) medicines formulated for people (including eye drops), because many of these medications may be hazardous to pets. 

These tips are intended to only be helpful thought-starters. You should always have a conversation with your vet on the best course of action for administering medicine to your cat. Additionally, a thorough examination by a vet is the best course of action to correctly diagnose and treat your cat of any illnesses.

Whether it's a short course of antibiotics or a lifelong means of managing a condition, medicine for cats is sometimes necessary. They may not thank you, but your cat will be happy to be healthy!