Most of the time, medication for cats needs to be given via the mouth, whether it be a liquid, solid, or capsule.Most cats don't want to take medication.It's not unusual for medications to leave a bad taste in the mouth.You will need to learn how to restrain and open your cat's mouth if you want to take medicine.
Step 1: If your cat will simply eat the medication, you should check it out.
Try to give the medication to the cat.Gel medication can appeal to a cat.Cats lick it off quickly.Gel medication can be smeared on a cat's shoulder for it to lick off or quickly be smudged inside the lips with a finger.
Step 2: The medicine should be in your cat's food.
Liquid medication and occasionally pills can be mixed with canned food and eaten by the cat.It's important to mix the medication thoroughly so that the cat can't avoid it.Cats can detect pills in their food and eat around them.If you want to give your cat pills in its food, make sure to check the bowl for leftover pills.If you can crush it up, check the directions.A whole pill mixed into the food is more likely to be eaten by your cat than a crushed up pill.
Step 3: Take the medication and eat it.
If your cat won't eat its normal food, try giving it a special treat.Put the pill in a piece of smelly tuna.A piece of cheese, deli meat, or hotdog can be used.Feed the treat to the cat instead of putting it in a food dish.It is less likely to pick out the pill and not eat it.You can hide a pill in the treats.Your cat will be attracted to these "pill pockets" because they smell strongly and have a hole in them where you can hide the treat.The cat should have swallowed the pill.Immediately after the pill, give the cat another piece of treat.It will be more likely to swallow the pill.
Step 4: Pick a type of restraint.
A scruff hold is one of the types of restraint that can be used on a cat.Do you think your cat will put up a lot of resistance?Is your cat scared of being petted?It will need a lot of restraint.Do you think your cat is passive?If probably won't need much restraint.Applying as little restraint as possible is the key to successfully delivering medication to your cat.Restraining the cat will give you control over it and allow you to make sure it swallows the medication in a safe manner.A restrained cat may spit out the medication or get some of it into its lungs which can lead to death.
Step 5: The cat should be held by the scruff.
The only cat that will benefit from this type of restraint is one that resists taking medicine.Grab the loose neck skin behind the cat's ears.If you don't attempt to lift the cat by the scruff it is a perfectly acceptable means of restraint.The technique should only be used when the cat is resting on a flat surface.You can lay the cat on its side by grabbing the rear legs and holding the scruff.The front feet will grab onto the edge of the table.
Step 6: Use a harness.
A harness can be used to hold the cat.A collar can hurt the neck or strangle a cat.When light restraint is needed, a properly fitted harness can give you a good handle on the cat.
Step 7: The cat should be wrapped in a towel.
This will expose the cat's head.To keep a cat from clawing at you, thick bath-sized towels can be used.It is one of the best ways to keep you and the cat safe.Place the towel on a table or countertop.The cat should be placed in the center of the towel.Pull the towel up over the cat's rear end and then fold it in the sides.The sides should be pulled up snug to prevent the cat from pulling its legs out of the towel.The cat can still use its teeth in this position.If you put a hand behind the cat's head, you should keep your hands away from its mouth.
Step 8: You should be prepared to change your plan.
Keeping in mind that if a cat defecates or urinates while being restrained, it is becoming too agitated for restraint.You should release it if this happens.If this happens, you will need to try another restraint technique or get help.
Step 9: Prepare drugs.
It's important to have everything set up before trying to restrain your cat.Do that before grabbing the cat if you need to count out pills or inject medication.You can easily grab the medication if you have the cat restrained.
Step 10: Something to wash a pill with.
It is possible to get the cat to swallow a capsule if you wash it down.To wash the pill down, it is helpful to have a small syringe filled with 1 to 2 liters of water.
Step 11: The cat is restrained.
There is a cat in your lap.Hold the cat against a hard surface if you are holding it by its scruff or harness.If you have a help, have him or her hold the cat.If you open the cat's mouth you can give it medicine without having to hold it still.Stay out of harms way.Don't get too close to the cat's mouth.
Step 12: The cat has a mouth.
Put your thumb on one side of the cat's mouth and your forefinger on the other side.Press down on the cat's jaw until it opens its mouth.
Step 13: Put the medication in the cat's mouth.
The back of the cat's mouth is where you can place a capsule.At this point, liquid medication can be put into the back of the mouth, but not at the throat.The medicine may need to be given a little at a time so that the cat doesn't run out the front of the mouth.The cat could inhale the medicine if it was squirted at the back of the throat.
Step 14: The cat needs to swallow.
To make the cat's nose point upward, hold its top jaw and let go of its mouth.Rub your cat's throat to make it swallow.To encourage the pill to go down the throat, place a small amount of water between the cats lips.The pill can't be stuck in the throat and hurt the tissues.The cat could inhale the water into it's lungs if it was shot down the back of the throat.
Step 15: Slowly release the cat from the restraint.
The cat needs to be restrained for a minute to make sure it doesn't swallow any medication.As you let the cat go free, make sure to protect yourself from scratching.As a reward for good behavior, give your cat a lot of praise and some tasty treats.