How To Give Tablets – Cats

Home How To Give Tablets – Cats

How To Give Tablets – Cats

Cat owners will know how challenging it can be to administer medication to their kitten or cat.

There are several ways to give your cat medication: you can hide it in food, give it by hand (straight into the mouth) or administer it through the skin (certain medications only).

Always first check with your vet if the medication can be specially made into a palatable liquid or is available transdermally, as a paste rubbed into the skin and absorbed. These methods could just make medicating your cat a whole lot easier.

Giving medication in food

First check with your vet that it’s okay to give the medication with food. Some medications must be given on an empty stomach.

Make sure your cat is hungry. Withhold food for 8 to 12 hours to ensure your cat will eat readily.
If the tablet is small try hiding it in some favourite food such as cheese, meat or fish or in wet (canned) food.
Try not to handle the tablet too much and make sure it’s completely hidden in the food.
Offer your cat a small amount of food first with the tablet and then check it has all been eaten – cats are very good at eating around tablets or spitting them out later!
Feed your cat the rest of its food, when you’re sure the tablet has been eaten.
If your cat still won’t eat the medication try to crush the tablet and mix it into the food, but make sure your cat eats all the food or it may not get the correct dose of medication.

Giving medication using gentle restraint

If your cat won’t take medication in food then you will need to give it straight into the mouth.

This will involve restraining your cat and may mean you’ll need a second person to help you.

Ensure you have everything you need at hand and remain calm before you get started.

Find your cat! Cats will often disappear when they know we want them for something.
Put your cat on the floor or table, making sure it is non-slip and stable.
Have your cat sit upright and facing away from you. Place a hand on either side of your cat over the front legs, gently holding them just above the elbows – it allows you to control your cat and stops them from running off. This is often where a second person comes in handy – have them hold your cat while you concentrate on giving your cat’s medication.
If your cat is very wriggly you may need to restrain them in a towel. Use a soft, medium-sized towel and place it flat in front of you; place the cat on the towel (still facing away from you) and bring one side of the towel up and around the cat’s neck. Then do the same with the other side ensuring your cat is wrapped well and can’t get its front legs out of the opening.
Next, place your hand on top of your cat’s head with your thumb and finger on either side, ensuring your thumb and forefinger extend down to the cat’s jaw near the corner of the mouth.
Tilt the cat’s head back and at the same time use the middle finger of the hand holding the tablet to push the jaw down and open the mouth.
Drop the tablet as far back on the tongue as you can, and then hold the jaw closed and wait for your cat to swallow.
Rubbing the throat under the chin may help to encourage swallowing, or you could syringe a small amount of water into his mouth to ensure the tablet goes down smoothly.

If your cat continues to spit out the tablet you may need to invest in a pill-popper.

This handy little gadget acts like a syringe. After placing the tablet into the soft end, use the plunger to administer the tablet.

A pill-popper delivers the tablet to the very back of your cat’s mouth – and saves you putting your fingers into it!

If all else fails, remember at Bedford-Dianella Vet Centre we offer free nurse clinics and are happy to demonstrate how to give tablets – or we can just medicate your pet for you!

Videos about giving your pet a tablet can be viewed online at: www.youtube.com/user/iCatCare

Servicing areas including Morley, Inglewood, Mount Lawley, Bayswater, Bassendean, Mirrabooka, Noranda and Yokine.

How To Give Tablets – Cats