Beware - The Dreaded Cat Carrier

Pilling a cat would have to be one of the most dreaded aspects of cat care. Cats are smart & will often be able to sniff out any ideas we may have about tricking them into taking a pill such. Hopefully this article will help cat owners to pill their cat with minimal stress to both themselves and their cat.

Using your left hand, place your thumb & forefinger on either side of the cat's face, on the gum line. Tilt the cat's head up until the jaw opens.

Hold the tablet between your thumb & index finger in your right hand. With the middle finger, place it on the front teeth of the bottom jaw to open the mouth fully & place the pill well onto the back of the tongue. You will see a 'V' shaped area, this is the best place to aim for.

Close the mouth & blow on the cat's nose & massage the throat. This will stimulate your cat to swallow. If your cat licks it's nose, the pill has been swallowed.

Follow up with a syringe full of water to help the pill go down.

Difficult to pill cats:

If your cat is proving difficult to pill there are several methods you could try.

Wrapping in a towel & following the instructions above.

Have somebody help hold the cat while you give him/her the tablet.

Purchase a pill gun or pill dispenser from your veterinarian or pet shop. This is a hollow plastic dispenser making it easier to get the pill into your cat's mouth.

Gelatine capsules can be purchased from some suppliers. These are empty capsules in which you put the tablet in, making them easier to administer.

Compounding pharmacies are able to take a tablet & compound it into liquid form, which carers may find easier to give to their cat.

Please note:

The medical articles on this site have not been written by a veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for informative purposes only.

Always seek immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or behavioral) in your pets.

While great care has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical advice.