Giving Medication

This can be a tough one! We understand the stress that thinking about having to give your cat daily medication can bring. This stress is exacerbated when our normally placid moggies will turn into mini tigers with no regrets when they need to be medicated.

Here are a few ways to try and make giving your cat a tablet easier:

Hide the pill in a treat

Depending on the size of the medication, this treat can be as simple as creamy tube treats (Dine make a great selection) or “pill pockets” – unfortunately there are not many stockists of these in Australia but can be bought online.

Hide the pill in food

If your cat will eat anything with anything in it – great! Pop their medication in their food; they can be placed in the food whole or crushed up. If your cat is a little fussier or maybe a little bit suspicious, you may need to get creative.

You will know what your cat loves – this may be BBQ chicken, tuna, or cheese.

Try wrapping the pill in your cat’s favourite food. If using cheese, try a lactose free variety and try to stay away from foods that are high in salt. If in doubt about what you can use as a way to give your cats medication please call your vet.

Syringe it in

Most tablets can be crushed and mixed with water or capsules opened and the powder mixed with water or the springwater from a can of tuna. Only a small amount is needed – around 1ml. This can then be syringed into the side of your cat’s mouth between the front and back teeth. Opening their mouth is not necessary just lift their lip up or move it with the syringe.

This method can also be used with the dine creamy treats mentioned above instead of with water; this is particularly helpful if the medications is bitter.

Popping it in their mouth

Some cats can be compliant and will let you put the tablet directly in their mouth. This requires you opening your cat’s jaw and popping the tablet at the far back of their mouth and waiting for them to swallow. This is the method we like to use last, especially if they will eat it in food. If using this method, please follow the tablet with 1ml of water syringed in their mouth using the method mentioned above. Trying to swallow a tablet with a dry mouth/throat would not be comfortable and some medications can cause ulceration if they are not swallowed all the way to the stomach.

Alternatives to tablets

These days a lot of medications we give our cats are available as a liquid or can be compounded in to a liquid that you give by mouth or a cream that can be put on the inside of their ear to soak through the skin. If your cat really does not co-operate with taking tablets, no matter what you try, there may be another solution so always speak to your vet about your options.