Tips and Tricks for Medicating your Cat

Most cats don’t appreciate being given medication and aren’t afraid to make their feelings very clear! Whether it’s preventative flea treatment, a short course of anti-inflammatories or a daily thyroid medication, the majority of cats will need medicating at some point in their lives.

Unfortunately, vets and nurses are not immune to cat scratches or even bites, so we must utilise a range of tricks to look after cats in our care without getting injured. In this article, we share some of our top tips and tricks to help successful medication of your cat at home. Cat bites can be very serious however, especially on the hands, so if your cat reacts aggressively to being medicated, please speak to your vet about other options.

Consider the format

Often, medications come in multiple formats, such as tablets or liquid. Consider which may be easiest to administer and don’t be afraid to ask your vet if other options are available. Liquids may be easier to hide in food, though tablets often require a smaller quantity to be given. Many tablets can be crushed into food, but not all, so always ask if this is safe before doing it. Spot-on treatments are great if your cat won’t take tablets, but not ideal if you have small children that regularly touch the cat.

Due to the challenges of medicating cats, there are even companies that reformulate drugs to try and make them easier to administer. Most often, this is turning tablets into flavoured liquids that are more palatable to cats. These reformulated medications are often made to order, so may be more expensive, but are worth considering if your cat is very resistant to being medicated.

Always speak to your vet if you are struggling to administer medication. They will be happy to explain whether there are alternative options available or consider if a different medication may be more suitable.

Hide and seek

Hiding medication in food is the simplest and least stressful way to sneak it into your cat, but some foods are better than others for this. Ideally, medication should be hidden in food that is moist, strong-smelling, and perceived as high value (i.e. not often available). The more desirable the food type is, the more likely your cat will eat it quickly and not stop to consider what is hidden inside!

Some of our favourite foods to hide medication in are liquid treats (such as Lick-e-lix by Webbox), soft cheese, pate, and tinned fish. All of these are quite high calorie, so shouldn’t be fed in large volumes. Just like us, cats have different preferences, so try some plain (unmedicated) foods first to see which is a hit.

Tackling the problem head-on

Sometimes, cats are too smart to take medication in food, or simple don’t eat reliably. In these cases, it may be easier to administer the medication directly, so you can be sure the cat has had it.

If you are giving a tablet or liquid to your cat, it is important to hold them securely. Most cats have a small window of tolerance, and the longer you take to complete the task the more likely they are to run out of patience. Scratching or biting are normal behaviours for cats when trying to escape a situation, but both can be serious so don’t persist if your cat is likely to injure you. A 'pill popper' device allows you to place a tablet into the cat’s mouth without putting your fingers in it, so is a good option for cats that are likely to try and bite.

To give medication into the mouth, hold the cats head in your non-dominant hand, using a thumb and forefinger. There is a bony prominence below the eye and placing the fingers just under this makes it easier to hold the head securely. You won’t cause harm by applying pressure in this location. Use this hand to tilt the cat’s head back. In your other hand hold the tablet between your thumb and first finger. Using your middle finger, push the front of the cat’s lower jaw down to open the mouth. Place the medication as far back on the tongue as you can, then remove your fingers from the cat’s mouth and let go! If using a syringe of liquid medication, or you have the tablet in a 'pill popper' device, you can use the end of this to push the mouth open.

If medication is placed too far forward on the tongue the cat will be able to push it out the mouth; the trick to getting it down first time is to place the tablet as far back as you can. Always watch your cat closely after medicating them to be sure they don’t spit it out. If your cat is amenable, offer a treat. Some cats will realise they get a reward after medication and become easier to medicate as a result.

Conclusion

Medicating cats can be challenging, even for seasoned professionals. Hopefully these tips make the job easier but always speak to your vet directly if you are struggling. Our priority is keeping your cat healthy, which won’t happen if they don’t receive their medication. We are always happy to discuss other options and find a solution that works for both you and your cat.

Disclaimer

Please note that the content made available on this webpage is for general information purposes only. Whilst we try to ensure that at the time of writing all material is up to date and reflects industry standards, we make no representation, warranties or guarantees that the information made available is up to date, accurate or complete. Any reliance placed by yourselves is done so at your own risk.