Giving medicine to your cat (How to Pill a Cat)

Giving a tablet to a cat can be a daunting prospect for anyone, but with a calm and confident approach it is often much easier than you first think. The tips and tricks in this ISFM short guide will help you achieve this successfully and as easily as possible. For the full article please refer to the icatcare website.

• First make sure you ask your vet (or check the manufacturer’s instructions) so that you know whether the tablet can be divided or crushed, and whether it can be administered with food
• Second find the simplest and easiest method to give the tablet to your cat.
• Third have a confident approach and keep calm at all times. If you run into difficulties or cannot manage, always contact your vet or vet nurse at your local practice – they are there to help. Make sure that you:
  • Have everything you need prepared and ready in advance
  • Have enough time and a clear plan of what you will do
  • Be gentle with your cat, keep calm, and avoid putting yourself at risk
  • If possible, always have a second person (preferably someone your cat knows) to help if you are going to administer the tablet rather than put it in with food

First ensure that the tablet can be given with food – some tablets should always be given with food, and most can be given with food. However, some tablets must not be given with food – always check first.

If it is safe to give with food:

Make sure your cat is hungry! Take all food away for 12 hours to make sure your cat will want to eat

Some tablets are made specifically to be palatable to cats and you can try just feeding these tablets to your cat. Remember to place the tablet at the tip of your fingers rather than in the palm of your hand. However, often cats will not eat a tablet voluntarily on its own because (even if designed to be palatable) the flavour and/or texture may be unfamiliar

If the tablet is small, your cat may take it hidden in a small amount of a favourite food, such as soft cat food (or jelly from cat food) that your cat really likes, soft cheese, a small piece of soft meat or fish, or butter

Make sure the tablet is completely hidden/buried in just a small amount of food that you offer to your cat

You can offer the food in the cat’s normal bowl or from your hand/ fingers – as you prefer (taking note if there are any precautions for handling the tablet)

If your cat eats the food, check to make sure it has also eaten the tablet and not left it behind or spat it out

You can then give your cat the rest of its normal meal

Some cats are clever at finding the tablet buried in food and spitting it out, or just eating the food around the tablet. If it is safe (check with your vet or the instructions that came with the tablets) you may be able to crush the tablet and mix it thoroughly in a small amount of very tasty food. This works best with palatable tablets, and with a strong- flavoured tasty treat that your cat really loves (such as some tinned fish in oil). A pill-crusher may help to crush the tablet thoroughly.

Here are some helpful videos from iCatCare on how to pill your cat using a variety of different techniques.