Introduction: How to Give a Cat Liquid Medicine
How to Give a Cat Liquid Medicine
Most animals dislike taking medications. With my cat it was even more difficult since the veterinarian supplied liquid antibiotics, although labeled for veterinarian use, were obviously diverted from mainstream human consumption because it was pink in color and smelled of bubble gum. Regular medicine would be one thing, but bubble gum flavored antibiotics are anything but enticing to a cat.
There are two things that a person can do to help make the medicating of a cat much more pleasant for you and the cat:
1. Make the medicine more enticing, make it Taste Better!
2. Use the proper technique to administer the medicine.
Follow these two suggestions and you will dramatically increase your odds of success and you and your cat will remain friends.
I've used the 'other' method of wrapping the terrified cat up in a towel to subdue it and have it gag medicine down. I recommend the method outlined in the next two steps.
Step 1: Make the Medicine Taste Better
1. Make the Medicine Taste Better
The trick to make the medicine taste better is to mix it with the liquid (water) drained from a can of tuna fish. What cat doesn't like tuna?
You will need:
A. The Medicine
B. Can of Tuna packed in water (and can opener)
C. Oral Syringe
D. Two small 'cups'
1. Measure the prescribed amount of medicine into the oral syringe and then dispense it into one of your cups.
2. Drain the liquid off a can of tuna fish into a second empty cup.
3. Use the oral syringe to draw up a generous amount of 'tuna juice', but be aware of the total capacity of your syringe so that the medicine plus the 'tuna juice' does not exceed the capacity of your syringe unless you want to give your cat the medicine in two doses. I try for at least a one-to-one ratio of 'tuna juice' to medicine.
4. Add the 'tuna juice' to the medicine and mix them together and refill the oral syringe with the total mixture.
5. As an added incentive to your cat you can go back to the cup with the 'tuna juice' and 'top off' the syringe with straight 'tuna juice', that way the first thing the cat tastes is straight tuna ..... Yumm!
Step 2: Use the Proper Technique
2. Use Proper Technique for administering the medicine
A quick search on the internet will tell you that the best way to give a cat liquid medicine is to fill an oral syringe with the proper amount and place the syringe gently into the side of the cats mouth and work it back up into the corner of the cat's mouth.
After the syringe is in this corner-of-the-mouth position the medicine can slowly be dispensed as the cat swallows the medicine.
I have had great success with this method of administering medication, with my cat gladly staying put while taking the medicine and even sticking around wanting more after the dose was complete!
In the video my cat was sitting on my lap and I wasn't even holding her, she just willingly took the medicine.
I hope you have similar results using these tips to keep your cat happy and healthy.
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9 Comments
8 years ago on Introduction
How To Give A Cat A Pill
1) Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a
baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth
and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand.
As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and
swallow.
2) Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm
and repeat process.
3) Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
4) Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws
tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth
with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
5) Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse
from garden.
6) Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear
paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly
with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler
and rub cat's throat vigorously.
7) Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note
to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines
and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
8) Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible
from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with
pencil and blow down drinking straw.
9) Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water
to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood
from carpet with cold water and soap.
10) Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard,
close door on neck, leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessertspoon.
Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
11) Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Apply
cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot.
Throw t-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
12) Ring fire brigade to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to
neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last
pill from foil-wrap.
13) Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to
leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill
into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically
and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.
14) Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor
stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye.
Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.
15) Arrange for SPCA to collect cat and ring local pet shop to see if they
have any hamsters.
How To Give a Dog a Pill
1) Wrap it in bacon.
Reply 7 years ago
So true !!!! and my chicks are still hurting from loling!!!!
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Excellent LMAO
Reply 8 years ago
Hahah...Love it
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Excellent post! Thank you. I was laughing ... its so true!
7 years ago on Introduction
LMAO?? ,,larystoy
7 years ago on Introduction
Excellent post! Thank you for the information!
8 years ago
How cool that your cat will allow that! Very useful information, thanks for sharing it :)
8 years ago on Introduction
Your cat surprisingly looks like they enjoyed it! What a feat! Great job! I have not had such luck in the past. If the opportunity ever presents itself to me again, I think I'll try this approach. I may even celebrate with a tuna fish sandwich afterwards! :)