Administering Medication in Liquids and Pills

Administering medication
As many owners know, administering medication to a cat is like fighting with a hog in the mud. Hairs fly, teeth and claws flash, the body winds around, and a smart cat will pretend to swallow the pill and spit it out when you’re not looking. Be firm but gentile, and try to remain calm to not provoke unnecessary tension in the cat. Place it on a table and ask for help holding it down while you administer the medication.

Administering Liquids
With a plastic dropper or syringe.

1- Place the dropper on the side of the mouth, between the canine and back teeth.

2- Drop the liquid into the mouth. Give it only a few drops at a time and let the cat swallow after every dose, so that it doesn’t choke.

Administering a Pill
Your cat will swallow a pill faster if you cover it with butter.

1- Take the cat’s head and lean it backwards.

2- Lower the inferior jaw to open the mouth.

3- Drop the pill far back on the tongue.

4- Close the mouth quickly, keeping the head back and tickly the throat. This will make the cat swallow.

Some cats can be tricked into swallowing a pill wrapped in a piece of chicken, tuna or cream cheese. But don’t crush or break the pill to mix it with food; cats can detect the smell and will simply deny to eat. Also, some drugs have a bitter taste, which will make the cat foam at the mouth.

Administering Eye Drops
1- Hold the cat’s head back and softly squeeze the eye drops into the inside angle of the eye. Don’t touch the eye with the dropper.

2- Close the eyelids and keep them closed for a few seconds, for the drop to spread throughout the surface of the eye.

Administering Ear Drops
1- Turn the cat’s head to one side. Fold the ear back with one hand and place the drops with the other.

2- Massage the base of the ear to spread the drops throughout the ear canal. When you let go, the cat will shake it’s head vigorously, so make sure you placed them far enough in.