Miss Kitty Litter

Anyone who has ever tried to give their pet medication knows that it’s easier said than done. Swallowing food whole is not a natural thing and animals just can’t understand why we are trying to shove something down their throat. If you even get close to the animal, they can contort and avoid your attempts like a magician. Knowing that we are trying to help them makes the whole struggle even worse. You can’t simply give up since the health of your pet depends on the medication. Cats in particular are averse of the medication game. If you have tried unsuccessfully to give your kitty a pill, here are a couple of ways to do it successfully.

The best way is to hide it in the kitty’s food. You will want to find a type of moist food that your cat likes but doesn’t get very often. When an animal sees something they like and rarely get, they tend to eat more quickly than normal. This technique works even better if you have multiple cats competing for the food. Their haste makes them miss the pill hidden inside. This doesn’t mean you can simply drop the pill into the dog bowl. You should find a good piece of meat to hide it in. By the time kitty realizes that something is amiss, he has probably already swallowed the pill.

After the cat finishes the meal, you need to inspect the dish and the surrounding area to confirm that the cat ate the medication. If not, you will have to try again or switch to technique number 2. With this in mind, perhaps it’s best if you don’t give him all the food at one time.

You can of course replace the wet cat food with something even better from your kitchen. Whatever you use, it has to be something the cat likes and doesn’t get very often. Some people have found cream cheese to work well.

If sneaking the food to kitty isn’t working, you might have to go more hands on. Sometimes pills must be taken on an empty stomach so the above method is out. Here’s what you do:

First you have to immobilize the cat. Wrap him in a towel like a burrito. Don’t do this like you’re attacking the cat but rather like you are tucking him in for the night. Most cats are pretty patient with this and won’t fight as long as you are petting them. Now, cradle the cat in your arms like a baby. With your free arm, gently open the cats mouth and as soon as it’s open place the pill as far back in the cat’s mouth as possible. Immediately start to stroke the cat’s neck an chin area. Cats almost always instinctively swallow the pill. After they swallow the pill, give them a treat if you can. If they have to take a lot of medicine this will help them associate the ordeal with something positive.