For those of you who are owned by a cat...

[ailsagirl]

how the heck can I get a tiny little pill into her when she practically impales my thumbnail with her canine?

Any gadgets you know of that work for you?

Thanks!

[kedrys]

1. Pill Pockets

A hollow treat that englobes the pill so kitty doesn’t know it’s a trick. I’ve had good luck with those with multiple cats.

[CurtEastPoint]

3. Agree...pill pockets.

OR... wrap kitty tight in a towel like a burrito.

[dhol82]

6. Did they give downers to that kitty?

Have never seen a cat that docile to be wrapped up like a burrito.
My dog would be more pissed.

[magicarpet]

29. Really it seems the same cat got all those pills....

.... is that cat going to OD and be all loopy ?

[Eko]

2. Jackhammer.

But that's extreme, other than that no.

[raging moderate]

11. I soften, pulverize, roll up in pate cat food.

I put a drop of warm water on the pill, wait for it to soften, roll a teaspoon around on it until it is pulverized, then roll it up about 1/3 teaspoonful of canned pate or pure catfood (tuna works best). Sometimes, I cuddle the cat, say my dinner words (time to eat), run fingers gently down kitty's neck, run fingers along his lips and teeth until his mouth opens, and flip my little medicated bonbon into his mouth.

One of my cats is extremely loving and trusting, and he has to have two pills, pumpkin mash, and a little "soup" twice a day. After a few times, he and I developed a Special Time routine, which he actually loves and awaits eagerly. I sing a made-up Special Time for Calvin song, and I chant certain little phrases for each type of medication. After he takes his pills and pumpkin mash, I let him lick the can, then I swish a little water in it to make a "soup" to wash the pills down properly, and then I present him with a small extra pate treat ball.

Calvin has several teeth missing and a partially paralyzed throat from an illness long ago, so he cannot swallow those pill pockets. I have had success with them with other cats, but sometimes the cat will discover the pill while chewing, become annoyed with the hardness or crunching, and spit it out. Some of them become very cagey at spitting it so you don't notice. This is less likely if you can soften and/or pulverize the pill first.

Oh, yes, I forgot, Calvin is so sweet, but wrapping the cat in a large towel is absolutely a great idea for most. Think of it as swaddling the cat to get the right feeling, and croon gently to reassure the cat. Set the cat on the towel, and quickly wrap from the front of the neck so the front paws are trapped down against the cat. Do it gently (their necks are very fragile and they die horribly if their collarbones break) but firmly enough so he cannot get his front paws out. Wrap the towel around the back paws, too, and fold the end up over the lower body.

[Eko]

12. Nice!

That's awesome that you do that, the love that you feel is very evident. Of course I was joking, well, a jackhammer would help pulverize the pill a little better, so maybe not lol.

[dixiegrrrrl]

16. "Some of them become very cagey at spitting it "

Until Jasper cat came to live with me, I would have laughed at that thought.

He could and would seem to swallow, then walk casually into the kitchen and spit the pill out.
He did NOT get that it made a noise I could hear.

Mash, add some water, suck it up with an eyedropper, and squirt it in has been my go-to method after that.

[Laffy Kat]

4. This sounds harsh but it's the only way I can do it:

I have to sort of squat on top of her, holding her head between my knees, forcing her mouth open by pressing on both sides of her jaw with one hand and quickly shoving the pill right down the ole gullet with the other hand. You know it's been swallowed if they lick their nose. It sounds brutal but I've learned to do it in seconds and it's over before she knows it and I don't get bit. Now if I could only cut her talons.

[uppityperson]

21. My old vet showed me how to do it that way too. Put their butt against my crossed ankles,

hold the head on both sides behind the teeth too open, stuff pill with other hand.

[Laffy Kat]

22. Yes and it's over so fast, I think my kitteh forgets it immediately. nt

[haele]

25. Especially if there's treats or a catnip roll afterwards.

I used to have to pill my old man Moggy daily - he developed a thyroid condition late in life. After I caught him for pilling, he would patiently let me stuff his mouth with the pill for a small chunk of cheese or bit of whipped cream and roll in the catnip poured on the carpet.

It was almost a game every morning.

Haele

[Laffy Kat]

28. You're lucky! If only my Zooey kitteh was so agreeable.

She does get a few "Temptation" treats afterward, which she loves, but hasn't let me cut her claws since she was a kitten. I actually have to take her to the vet once every six weeks or so for nail clipping and capping.

[lunasun]

5. Latex gloves and a 1 cc syringe of water after quickly . Followed by some I'm sorry love

Kitten is up on a table and wrapped in a towel - no clawing me
Calmed down for a minute and then I'm coming from around the back with the pill in one hand and the syringe ready to go then I lean in quickly open and drop followed by 1cc and massage the neck to help swallow
Cats can't handle a lot of water 1cc
squirted in to make sure the pill goes down but be careful no more than that at once, less if you can . Of course you can give more water once the pill is swallowed just not all at once or squirted

Kitten would not do the pill pockets but if you can use pill pockets then you got it easy imo!

[RKP5637]

7. I used to put his pill in the center of a soft kitty treat.

He loved Purina Whisker Cat Treats. They come in several flavors, the soft ones, and he loved the chicken ones. He ate them right up and got the pill.

[ret5hd]

8. All you need to know right here:

[MontanaMama]

14. Where has this been

For the last 15 years of my kitteh Louis’ life? Game changer.

[Control-Z]

15. Omg

I'm sending this to my daughter right now!! I can't believe it. Does it work on all cats? I am floored. All these years...

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. Well, I knew about HOLDING their necks...but.....wow.

Wonder if that works for all cats, or if he just lucked out?

[Fix The Stupid]

24. Doesn't work for all cats - trust me on this ;) N/t

[redstateblues]

9. Pick them up by the scruff and poke the pill in their throat..

Ive had to do that with a syringe with cyclosporine-no fun

[ailsagirl]

10. Thank you, all!! Some very helpful suggestions I will try

(except, maybe, the jackhammer...)

[Eko]

13. lol, no, dont try that.

[mockmonkey]

17. Petro Malt

My cat loved that stuff so I broke the pill up and mixed it with Petro malt and she licked it all up.

[JayhawkSD]

19. My commentary annoys my wife.

I hold the cat while my wife administers pills. Due to Parkinson's my hands are not sufficiently steady to do the pilling myself. Molly has survived a Lymphoma diagnosis for more than four years now, but the downside is giving her three pills twice a day. It would be a lot more pills if it weren't for a compounding pharmacy in Arizona.

Anyway, I give the pilling process a running commentary, awarding Molly style points and technical points when she spits them back out afterward. She also gets points for distance. It takes two insertions, with two pills in the first and one in the second, and Molly gets lots of points when she stores one of the first insertion pills and spits it out after the second insertion one goes down.

She's actually very compliant with the whole process, never bites and I don't really have to hold her. She's just really good at cheeking the pills and making us think she's swallowed them, and then spitting them out and smirking at us.

[More_Cowbell]

20. We used a pill shooter

We had a cat who had to take pills for slowly failing kidneys, for years. It became easier for us when he had to have an upper tooth removed! He would bite down on the pill shooter but the pill would go down. We always held him and told him what a good kitty he was, and since he loved being the center of attention, he was usually okay. He lived to be 23.

[Freddie]

23. Pill shooter (pill popper)

Usually works. I've had luck with Pill Pockets but eventually the cat gets wise and learns to eat the treat and spit the pill out. And a sick cat with no appetite won't look at them.
It's the one time you wish they were stupid like dogs. My friend had to give her Dachshund several pills a day. She would simply insert the pill in a Cheez Doodle and her dog would beg for her "treat" and down the hatch it went.

[3catwoman3]

26. Here you go - 15 simple steps.

How to give a cat a pill... and a dog, too


How to give a cat a pill:

1.Pick up cat 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 1 beer 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. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard, and close door onto neck, to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.


11.Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of Scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw T-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.


12.Call fire department to retrieve the damn 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 the little @!!@#@#$%'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 steak filet. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.


14.Consume remainder of Scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and remove pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.


15.Arrange for SPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.



How to give a dog a pill:

1.Wrap in cheese or bacon. Throw on floor.

[SonofDonald]

30. A classic

I laughed so hard the "Cat" woke up, gave me the stinkeye and now is walking back and forth in front of my chair growling.

No wonder her name is "KittyMonster"

I wonder how long it'll take for somebody to wonder where I am and check on me?.

[ailsagirl]

31. You don't call yourself 3catwoman3 for nothing, I see!

[3catwoman3]

32. I must confess that I did not write...

...this myself. It has been all over the internet for years, and it makes me laugh every time I read it.

One of our cats is on a twice a day liquid med that mixes into canned food. He's been on it for over a year. For the past few weeks, he turns up his nose at the morning dish, but gobbles down the exact same stuff in the evening as if it is the best thing he has ever tasted. No idea why.

[ailsagirl]

33. Mine often puzzle me

Last edited Fri Mar 23, 2018, 10:18 PM - Edit history (1)

One cat won't eat a particular cat food but if I put the same cat food in a different bowl, he wolfs it down.

And both bowls were freshly washed so I really don't get it!

Just one of many vagaries of cats.

To complete the story from the thread I started, the cat who is near-impossible to pill actually inflicted a puncture wound on my forefinger and, you guessed it, it's now infected.

Had to go to the ER, get a tetanus shot (I was due for one anyway), and was prescribed an antibiotic.

"sigh"

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

27. I had a cat who would not take pills.

I got very good at administering injections.