Cat help needed: How can I get a cat to take 2 pills?

[Safeway]

I am house sitting for some friends, and there is a sick cat here. I need to give it two pills each morning and night.

How can I get the damned cat to take the pills and not spit them back out?

P.S. The treat+pill combo worked for one of the pills this morning, but it isn't working now.


Cliffs:
1) Sick cat.
2) How to make it take 2 pills?
3) Treat + snack no workie.
4) Help.

 

[JDrake]

With my dog, I put them in her mouth and then hold it closed and blow on her nose

 

[imported_LoKe]

Stuff them in some soft food.

 

[Saint Nick]

I always broke the pills and dribbled them over his food. Of course you can only do that if they are gelcaps. Now, if they are hard, I usually try to sneak them into his bowl and he will usually eat them since they will get the flavor of the food after sitting in there for a while Other than that... forcing the pill, rather, opening the cats mouth and putting it in there doesn't usually work, and will usually end up with yourself having many bites and/or scratches

 

[imported_LoKe]

Originally posted by: joedrake
With my dog, I put them in her mouth and then hold it closed and blow on her nose

That's cruel.

 

[JDrake]

Originally posted by: LoKe

Originally posted by: joedrake
With my dog, I put them in her mouth and then hold it closed and blow on her nose

That's cruel.

How so?

 

[Safeway]

The soft food idea doesn't work. I tried cat snacks and cheese. (can cats eat cheese?)

 

[Safeway]

No really, I need to get this cat to take the pills, and I am on ridiculously slow internet.

 

[JDrake]

Did you try my method? I was being serious, FYI

 

[dsd17]

Originally posted by: joedrake
With my dog, I put them in her mouth and then hold it closed and blow on her nose

we use this same method with our cats. It definitely works. Just make sure you have two people if possible.

1. Open the cat's mouth and throw the pill as far back as possible.
2. Hold until the pill is swallowed.
3. Repeat until all pills are gone.

 

[Wag]

Open its mouth from the top and push in with your finger and close. Hold their jaw shut and stroke its throat until you feel it swallow. Takes a bit of work but eventually you'll get the hang of it. The vet makes it seem easy.

Baring that, you can get a little pill shooter thing at a pet supply store.

 

[dj2004]

Originally posted by: dsd17

Originally posted by: joedrake
With my dog, I put them in her mouth and then hold it closed and blow on her nose

we use this same method with our cats. It definitely works. Just make sure you have two people if possible.

1. Open the cat's mouth and throw the pill as far back as possible.
2. Hold until the pill is swallowed.
3. Repeat until all pills are gone.

 

[skrilla]

Squeeze the sides of its mouth so the mouth opens and try to throw the pill as far back in as possible. Then shut its mouth and hold it shut.

 

[JDrake]

Originally posted by: Wag
Open its mouth from the top and push in with your finger and close. Hold their jaw shut and stroke its throat until you feel it swallow. Takes a bit of work but eventually you'll get the hang of it. The vet makes it seem easy.

Baring that, you can get a little pill shooter thing at a pet supply store.

O ya, rubbing the throat does help, too

 

[skrilla]

More Instructions

 

[kyutip]

This is what I do for a large pill that's hard to swallow. Dissolve them in water, then use a syringe with no needle, pull the mix water and medicine in, and force feed it to the cat

 

[Safeway]

I can't even get the cat to open its mouth, let alone shoot a pill in and hold it there.

 

[Wag]

Originally posted by: skrilla
More Instructions

Cute. It only seems that hard the first time you have a cat. You're not going to hurt the cat by holding it's mouth open and shoving the pill in.

It's funny how easy it is for the vet. It takes them 2 secs and it's done.

Safeway, grasp the top of its jaw with your hand (over the nose, but not covering the nostrils) and pull. If that doesn't get it to open, nothing will.

 

[bonkers325]

are u sure its not a suppository?

 

[sandmanwake]

Grind it up into powder and mix it in with its wet food.

 

[JDrake]

Originally posted by: skrilla
More Instructions

Bwhahaha :thumbsup:

 

[Wag]

Originally posted by: sandmanwake
Grind it up into powder and mix it in with its wet food.

People say that will work, but my cats never fall for it. They absolutely refuse to eat any food with meds mixed in.

 

[Eli]

If you push the pills far enough down the cats throat with a pen or similar utensil they will swallow.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: skrilla
More Instructions

heh....that's about right

 

[Bootprint]

I presume you asked the cat to take the pill ?