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How Do I Give My Cat a Pill?

December 22, 2017 by Mary Telesz

how to give a cat a pill boredIs there something wrong with your cat that means you have to give them pills? Never give a pet a pill unless a professional veterinarian recommends it, because you could potentially do more damage than good. A cat’s immune system is a lot more sensitive than a human’s, so dosing them with medication without the permission of a professional can be dangerous.

The first thing you do, then, it to make sure that the pill you want to give your cat is the recommended variety. Different veterinarians will sometimes recommend different pills for the same ailments, so it’s a good idea to do some research before choosing which path to take.

Cats and dogs are not going to simply swallow a pill along with a glass of water like a human does. Prepare yourself for the difficult task of giving your cat a pill by following instructions and figuring out the potential complications of doing so.

The difficulties you face when trying to give your pet a pill stem from the fact that most pills simply don’t taste nice, and your cat knows straight away that there is something untoward going on. For this reason, they are not simply shying away from the taste. They are also trying to figure out why this small round object is being tucked into their treat or ground up in their food bowl. In order to get around these facts, here are some pill-giving instructions in order to make things easier:

Pill-Giving Instructions

When attempting to give your cat a pill, one of the first things you need to do is make sure you are in the right mindset. Animals can sense our feelings, so if you’re feeling stressed and anxious about giving them a pill they will tune into this negativity and things will become much more difficult.

Keeping calm is one of the best things you can do when learning how to give a cat a pill. There are a few different methods you can try, and one of them will definitely work. If your first try doesn’t work, be patient and try again. If the method itself is problematic, simply try a different method.

how to give a cat a pill relaxedOne method of giving your cat a pill is to simply let them know what you’re doing. Make sure both you and your cat are relaxed. Confine them to one small room so they can’t run away. However, make sure you don’t frighten them. Act as if you’re simply enjoying time in this particular room, don’t alarm them to the fact that you’re essentially restricting their movement. A carpeted room is perfect because the soft carpet will contribute to the (hopefully) relaxing vibe you’re giving off.

Keep them calm, talk to them in a soft voice, and pay attention to them. Next, wrap them in a towel, making sure that the head is free. Maintain your calm voice and gently pry their mouth open in such a way that their head is slightly tilted. Then you simply drop the pill into the mouth and quickly close it. This method isn’t for the faint hearted because the cat will try to get the pill out of their mouth and you have to remain strong and steady in order to keep it closed. For this method it’s important to have a strong relationship with your cat. This method isn’t recommended if you are a new cat owner as you have yet to fully establish trust.

If you’re not too keen about this method, there are other ways of caring for your pet in this manner. An easier method is to simply mix the pill in with your cat’s food. This can be very effective if you mix it in well and add something tasty in with their normal meal. However, cats can sense the alien object in their food, so the success of this method depends on how hungry your cat is. If your cat is a fussy eater and is very stubborn with regards to their food expectations, you may have trouble with this one. Still, this method will usually work if you leave the food out long enough. A lot of it depends on how strong your will is, because you might have to wait until your cat is really hungry. Use your common sense. Don’t wait a week for them to eat it, but don’t give in in a matter of hours either. Leave it out for the duration of one regular mealtime before trying a different method like hiding it in their treat.

Filed Under: Pet Care

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Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 22151
Clifton – 20124
Fairfax – 22030, 22033
Fairfax Station – 22039
Manassas – 20109, 20110, 20111
Reston – 20191, 20190

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
5.0
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
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