Mary Allen
Keep Calm & Avoid Stress
Remember that your mood easily rubs off on your cat. If you are nervous about giving your cat a pill, she will sense your anxiety and conclude that the medication is dangerous. It’s best to pretend that giving your cat a pill is the most normal thing in the world. Then stay relaxed and composed so that your kitty realizes that the medication isn’t a bad thing.
Mix the Tablet With the Feed
In principle, you have two options for giving your cat a tablet. The first is the “cheat method,” where you mix the medication with food or hide it in a treat. However, be sure to ask your veterinarian for advice beforehand, because some medications change or lose their effect in combination with fat or other food components.
You can also ask your vet if you can crush the tablet before mixing it with food. In this way, the drug can be hidden even better. Using a mortar or the back of a tablespoon, you can crush the tablet and then mix the powder with your cat’s favorite food. Otherwise, the pill can be concealed in liverwurst or meatball, hidden in unsalted canned tuna without oil, or squeezed into a treat. Make sure your cat eats all of the prepared meals.
Administer the Tablet Directly to the Cat
If the cat has seen through your cheating method or the tablet must not be combined with cat food, you must give the medicine to the cat. Sit quietly next to her and pet her. Then hold your kitty’s head and gently press against the cat’s cheeks.
As soon as she opens her mouth, insert the tablet and gently hold the cat’s mouth closed. Gently run your finger along your cat’s chin and neck, triggering her swallowing reflex and swallowing the pill. If that doesn’t work, you can try a pill dispenser.