Carson, our large male cat, needs to take a pill every day. We’ve tried putting him in a pillowcase with just his head sticking out (a friend’s idea), but that makes him mad. Really, really mad. When we get the pill into his mouth, he usually spits it out. We’re at our wit’s end. What can we do? Carson needs to take his pill.
Having had many cats throughout the years, I certainly feel your distress. Over the years, however, I came up with strategies that worked for my cats as I know you can with yours. Also, the experts at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University offered some tips in the January issue of Catnip that could be helpful for you and other cat owners facing the pill challenge.
First, put away the pillowcase, breathe deeply and relax.
Give Carson’s veterinarian a call and ask, if you haven’t already, if the medication can be compounded into a flavored liquid or paste. Sometimes, it’s easier to squirt a liquid medication into a cat’s mouth than trying to get him to swallow a pill. If compounding isn’t an option, ask if the pill can be crushed and added to food without losing any of its potency. You can also ask if the pill can be split so that it’s easier to swallow or hide in a treat.
Cats as well as dogs will take a pill much more easily if they don’t know they’re doing so. If Carson has a favorite treat - something soft like cheese or a bit of chicken - try hiding the pill in a small piece. After he eats the treat with the pill, give him one without the pill. In fact, it’s helpful to condition him to associate having his mouth opened with a positive experience, so you might practice by giving him pill-less treats a few times before reaching for the pill.
Since pilling a pet is a common issue, Greenies has created a treat just for this purpose - Pill Pockets, semi-moist tidbits with a built-in pocket where you can tuck the medication. They’re available where pet products are sold.
Not all cats like treats orcan be fooled with the pill in-treat strategy, so you may still be faced with getting that pill into Carson another way. In that case, a pill gun or pill popper may be your best shot (and a cheap one at $2 to $3 in pet supply stores and online). A pill gun is a slender plastic tube with a slit rubber tip on one end and a plunger on the other. Place the pill in the slit rubber tip, then pop the pill into the cat’s mouth.
Well, it’s not quite that easy. You’ll need to hold your cat so that he doesn’t back up and try to escape. Do this by positioning him so that his rear is against a wall or have another person hold his rear firmly but gently while you get in front of the cat to hold his head. I usually worked alone, so I’d position my cat in my lap, facing him forward with his rear against my stomach. Beforehand, I put a thick towel in my lap in case my cat decided to dig in those sharp hind claws.
Once he was in my lap, I’d lean forward and wrap my arms around him (not too tight) to secure him. With arms on both sides, I’d grasp my cat’s head with one hand and place the thumb and middle fingers into the corners of his mouth to pry it open. The pill popper would be in the other hand and I’d quickly insert the tip into my cat’s mouth and press the plunger.
When the pill was in the cat’s mouth, I’d remove the gun and close his mouth with one hand. Holding his head tilted upward, I then massaged his throat gently to get him to swallow. When I felt him swallow, I’d let go.
Tips to make this easier: Coat the tip of the plunger with a little tuna juice or canned cat food to disguise the pill. Also, be sure and get the pill gun past the teeth and over the tip of the tongue, then take aim for the back of the tongue. If the pill hits the tip of the tongue, it’s easy to spit out. Throughout the process, speak softly to your cat in a soothing voice.
There’s no shame in asking your veterinarian or a vet technician to tutor you in pilling your cat. A one on-one demonstration can be very helpful and give you confidence. Good luck.
Do you have a question about pets? We’ll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Rhonda Owen, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or e-mail [email protected]
Family, Pages 34 on 01/15/2014