cats medication

How to Give Your Cat Medication with Zero Stress!

It is common for a cat to need medication for a variety of reasons from anxiety to arthritis. But it turns out we’re not very good at administering these meds. A survey of 2,507 cat owners found common challenges with medicating cats. 

  • 51% reported that medicating their cat(s) had changed their relationship with them.
  • 77% reported that their cat(s) had tried to bite or scratch them while medicating.
  • 46% were worried that they would hurt their cat while administering meds.

From damaged relationships to scratches and physical injury, it’s clear that we need a better way.

Hiding Medications in Food Can Be Risky

If you Google “how to give my cat a pill,” one of the most common recommendations is to hide the pill in your cat’s food. Sounds easy, right? According to the survey mentioned above, 71% of people reported that their cat refused food containing medications. That means it’s not a very effective solution. Cats are sensitive to taste and texture, so don’t make the mistake of thinking you can fool them. Hiding medications in food can also be risky.  Cats may be fooled a few times, but they can start refusing it when they realize there’s something off with their food. If that’s the only way you can medicate your cat, some medications can have serious side effects if they stop taking it cold turkey. Cats might even begin to avoid their food altogether if they think the pill could be there. If a cat doesn’t trust his food, he may refuse to eat that type of food even when there are no meds present. 

There Is a Better Way!

Would you believe me if I told you there was a super simple, stress-free way to administer pills that works for most cats? Start by buying a bottle of empty gelatin capsules. These tasteless gel caps mask the odor and taste of even the most bitter pills. Put your cat’s pill inside a capsule, lather it with Churu, and let your cat lick it up. Done! (If your cat is more hesitant about what they eat, you might cover a piece of kibble with Churu first so they get used to feeling something solid inside the wet treat. Then try it with a pill.)

You can also train your cat to voluntarily take medications from a pill gun or syringe. To do this, you’ll pair the use of a syringe or pill gun with their favorite treat to make the experience worth it for them.

  1. Show the syringe, then offer a treat. Repeat until they get excited when they see the syringe.
  2. Gently hold the back of the cat’s head and touch the syringe to their mouth. Give a treat. Repeat!
  3. Gently hold their head and use the syringe to open their mouth. (Don’t dispense anything quite yet). Give a treat and repeat.
  4. When they are comfortable with the syringe in their mouth dispense the liquid or pill. You may want to start with plain water or a piece of kibble to get them used to it. Follow with lots of treats!

See demonstrations of both methods in my video: Giving Medications to Cats Without Stress. If you still struggle with medicating your cat, ask your vet about different ways you can order medications. Some drugs can be compounded into tasty treats, flavored liquids, or even gels that get applied inside the cat’s ears. One of these alternatives may be less stressful for your cat.

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Ask a Fear Free Certified veterinarian for advice or contact a qualified consultant. As a certified cat behavior consultant, I can walk you through the process to help your cat take their medications the stress-free way. Contact me to find out more about my cooperative care services.

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