# How do YOU give a cat pills? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 1, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466 "2005-03-01T18:10:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/21 "2005-03-01T22:04:50Z")
I smashed the pill and mixed it with a small amount of wet cat food. Then I smeared the cat food on the cat. He disgustedly went off to clean his fur. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/22 "2005-03-01T22:08:30Z")
That sounds to me like an extremely poor method of administration. You’ve probably lost all control over dosing, as well as any potential benefits an enteric coating might provide both the cat and, potentially, the life of the drug. Keep the pill whole, and make sure the cat consumes all of its contents. The vet prescribes a dose for a reason. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/23 "2005-03-01T22:41:19Z")
> [@winterhawk11](#): > > We mix it up with a little baby food (chicken or ham) and our kitty laps it right up. This is what I was going to suggest. I crush the pills and add them to jarred baby food meat. It comes in the little 3-ounce jars. My beasts prefer chicken. **ASK YOUR VET FIRST IF IT’S OKAY TO CRUSH THE PILLS** I’ve never been able to force pills down either of my cat’s throats. They’ll swallow and lick their nose and trick me into thinking they’ve swallowed the damn pill, and I’ll let them go and then they’ll spit it out and walk away triumphantly. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/24 "2005-03-01T23:37:20Z")
Thanks guys. You’ve all be very helpful, not to mention funny. I linked my mom to the page and she commented that she actually has one of those pill shooter thingies. She’s going to try it tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Ashes\_Ashes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@Ashes\_Ashes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashes_Ashes)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/25 "2005-03-02T00:46:01Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > _Snippity._ When he had to pill a cat, he’d take a couple clothespins and put them on the scruff of the cat’s neck. He explained that the pressure exerted by the clothespins feels to the cat just like being held by the scruff by its mother. This apparently makes the cat instinctively hold still. He was then able to pill the cat without actually holding it still - he just opened the cat’s mouth and popped the pill in, and then took the clothespins off. By gum, this works! Sorta. It stopped my cat in her tracks when I grabbed the scruff of her neck, but she did NOT appreciate her mouth being opened. For pills, I wrap them like a big burrito and then pry open the mouth and sort of lob the pill toward the back of the mouth with a sideways ‘come hither’ hook. Getting it way back behind the curve of the tongue is key and the only thing I’ve come up with is to practice. Why is it that when you’ve finally got your technique down pat, they’re done with the meds? ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/26 "2005-03-02T01:18:06Z")
I’ve had dangerous cats. Lucia had back claws, and was a deeply angry feline. I wore thick rawhide gloves once to the vet, who laughed at me and asked me to hold her while she got her shots. She spun, kicked her back legs violently, and tore straight through the leather and into the heel of my hand. He stopped laughing. So, be it the long- lost and beloved Lucia or a more friendly animal, I tend to wrap them in a towel quickly. The trick is to pick them up WITH the towel, I think. Get them immobilized, then open the mouth, pop the pill in deeply and hold their mouth GENTLY closed. They will instinctively swallow immediately. Done deal ! I like pills more than liquid, which flies out when they shake their heads. Cartooniverse, proud daddy to Lightning, Thunder, Dobby and Bumper. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/27 "2005-03-02T01:19:53Z")
I’ve had limited success with another technique. Put the pill into the end of a straw. Get cat locked down. Put straw near cat’s mouth. Blow hard. Pill rockets into back of cat’s throat. Close mouth as per last post. Cat swallows, glaring at you and plotting your untimely death in your sleep. Beware… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/28 "2005-03-02T01:21:17Z")
first is the med a one off or something kitty will be taking for a while? if it is a one off, i’d go with the 2 person method. one to hold the cat, one to hold down the cat. or ask the vet if you can enrobe it in a redi treat. some vets have not medicated ones you can push the med into. if kitty will be taking it for a while getting the kind that is redi mixed into a cat treat is well worth it. ask the vet. this does not work with all meds. if you can’t get the redi mix kind, try for the kitty treat training or sneak up on kitty while eating or drinking. it is a lot easier to swallow pills with a wetish (from eating or drinking) mouth than a dry (from racing around the house from you) mouth. sneaking up on a naping cat is good as well, however most cat can sense when you are sneaking up on them for medicinal or vet related reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/29 "2005-03-02T01:31:23Z")
_ **WARNING** _ Just an FYI for those of you that give (or want to give) your cat baby food - make sure there are no onions or onion powder in it (check the ingrediants). Both are not good for the cat. ---
**Author:** ![Canadiangirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Canadiangirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadiangirl)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/30 "2005-03-02T13:28:55Z")
Butter fingers, get pill, kneel on the floor with cat between knees…squeeze back of jaw until mouth opens…squeeze BUTTERED fingers together, shooting the pill down the throat. ---
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/31 "2005-03-02T14:35:08Z")
I just started giving my cat medication yesterday, but after sticking the quarter-pill in the back of his mouth, he started coughing and choking. What am I doing wrong? I didn’t put it \*that far back, but raised his head in the air until he swallowed it. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/32 "2005-03-02T15:31:54Z")
**black** , your cat’s meds must not be of the bitter variety. If you have to give a cat a bitter pill and you are not fast enough and it gets a taste of the pill you will start an avalanche of drool that will prevent you from trying again. Usually, subsequent attempts to pill the cat will cause it to start drooling in anticipation. Any pill with a coating can be considered bitter, if you have to give part of one of these pills there’s a good chance the cat will taste it and start drooling. These cannot be crushed in food because the cat will still taste it. Usually, you need to put something on the pill to prevent the cat from tasting it in the milliseconds it will be in it’s mouth. We usually use KY-jelly (the non-seprmicidal variety), it’s relatively tasteless and harmless if swallowed. The problem is that once wet the pill will start to dissolve faster. There are many good suggestions here, the pet piller is very helpful. I have been a Vet. Tech for 22 years and I usually can pill cats at work quite well, but when it comes to my own … well, I can totally sympathize with the clients. At work I usually use the piller, grab the head like a baseball and make them look up (this causes the mouth to open a little bit), pop the pill in and hold their mouth closed and either stroke their throat or blow in their nose. I think I catch the cats by surprise, often I can pill them without any help. But at home, that’s another story, I usually wrap them in a towel of straddle them on the floor to hold their body and then then if I’m really lucky I can get the pill in. I am only lucky about half the time and then the problem becomes catching the cat for repeat attempts or second dosings. They know and they hide. BTW, it’s usually a good idea to have a 6 or 10 cc syringe of water and give the cat water after pilling because they found that many pills get stuck in the throat or take too long to go down and start dissolving in the throat which can cause irritationof the esophagus and drooling. The compounding for long term medications is also a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/33 "2005-03-02T15:45:14Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > So my vet taught me a trick: Blow in his nose. I tried this, and it worked like a charm. I quick puff of air aimed right up his nostrils seems to make him swallow involuntarily, and down the pill goes. Of course, I’ve spoken with other cat owners who say blowing in _their_ cat’s nose has no effect. Again, the strategies must vary from one little demon to the next. Also, during the holding the cat’s mouth closed phase, sometimes a quick, light tap on their snout will accomplish the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![harmless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/2acd7d/32.png) [@harmless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmless)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2005, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/34 "2005-03-02T19:31:42Z")
Oh lawdy, this thread brings back nightmares! Cat acne, people. :rolleyes: Ok… 1. Catch cat 2. Roll cat up entirely in a quilt. 3. Find the head 4. Grow an extra set of arms, or ask someone to hold the kitty-in-a-blanket for you. 5. Put gentle pressure on the sides of the cat’s mouth until they open up. 6. Say a prayer and throw the pill as far back in the cat’s mouth as possible. 7. Hold cat’s snout shut and rub gently on throat until it swallows (or pretends to, anyways :rolleyes:). 8. Release and run. 9. Notify your next of kin and make out a will. See. Easy! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/35 "2005-03-03T01:29:52Z")
Not only are these posts very funny, they’re also very informative. I’d like to thank all of you for showing my mom what a great place this is - she just signed up for her own membership! 😃 However, I did forget to ask how the pills went down today (assuming they did go down!) ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/36 "2005-03-03T01:46:38Z")
> [@Sgt.Pepper](#): > > I have this little wand that my vet gave me for giving pills to my cat. It’s rubber tipped and the pill goes in there. There’s a plunger on the back that ejects the pill into the cats mouth, preferably at the back of his mouth. Then I just grab his head and keep his mouth shut until he swallows in. Then he runs and hides and plans my death. The pill shooter! This thing is amazing. We are so happy our vet let us in on this little secret. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/37 "2005-03-03T03:12:57Z")
Step one: super-glue pill in hollow-point 9mm bullet Step two: load round Your probably waaaaaay ahead of me already. 😉 I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. I hate cats. ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/38 "2005-03-03T03:50:15Z")
Huh? I always just crunch 'em up in some tuna fish. The good stuff (Star Kist). Sometimes I don’t even crunch 'em. Never had a problem. ---
**Author:** ![inkleberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkleberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkleberry)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/39 "2005-03-03T04:48:04Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > I really don’t have much more than the title. My mother needs to give her cat pills and the cat is a little (well, big actually) monster who refuses to take them. She’s disguising them, crushing them, and forcing them. Now what? Same way I do a dog- peanut butter. Get smal glob of peanut butter, and put pill in it. Now press it to the top of the animal’s mouth. As they lick/suck to get it off, they swallow the pill. My mom swears by rolling them in butter. Says it lubes 'em right down. ---
**Author:** ![Lynne\_kilii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lynne\_kilii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynne_kilii)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466/40 "2005-03-03T04:51:26Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > I’ve never been able to force pills down either of my cat’s throats. They’ll swallow and lick their nose and trick me into thinking they’ve swallowed the damn pill, and I’ll let them go and then they’ll spit it out and walk away triumphantly. I laughed through this whole thread, but this made me laugh the most. > [@gatopescado](#): > > Step one: super-glue pill in hollow-point 9mm bullet > Step two: load round > > Your probably waaaaaay ahead of me already. 😉 > > I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. I hate cats. This came a close second. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-give-a-cat-pills/292466.md?page=3)