| When it comes to medicating your cat I don’t think there is a pet owner alive who hasn’t experienced the frustration of trying to force a pill down the throat of an unwilling participant. What should you do when you hear those dreaded words, “Give your cat one of these pills twice a day?” First of all, before you don your protective armor to medicate your cat, check out some of the easy tricks below that will help you give medicine to your ailing cat.
Tricks To Remember
If you are giving your cat a pill, there are a few tricks to remember. Following these simple and easy tips will help make medicine time for you and your cat a breeze.
Oral Pills And Drops
The first thing to do is to follow your vet’s instructions. Most oral medications should be given with food or water. Make sure that your kitty has access to both of these immediately following. The next thing to remember is that a cat that is not stressed will be easier to medicate. Try to give your cat his or her medicine when he or she is relaxed. Do not make medicine time a chasing game. If your cat knows what is coming, he or she is likely to run or hide. Comfort your kitty by giving loving pats and by sitting in a quiet room. If you have to do it alone, cradle your cat under one arm and take the other hand and gently press the sides of your cat’s mouth with your thumb and forefinger. Make sure your cat’s head is tilted up slightly. Drop the pill into the back of the mouth and promptly shut your cat’s mouth. You must remember to hold your cat’s mouth closed until the pill is swallowed. Be very careful not to block your cat’s nose when doing this. Sometimes a cat will throw pills up after being medicated. If you find a soggy pill on the floor, it will be necessary to give your cat another pill.
When it comes to medicating your cat, it’s usually easier to give them oral drops rather than pills. Cats really like the flavor of drops so in some cases, such as antibiotics and vitamins, you can request that your cat is prescribed drops rather than pills. Using the dropper given with the prescription ensures that you’ve given your cat the proper dosage. How do you administer oral drops to a cat? In much the same way as you administer pills, by holding your cat under one arm open their mouth with one finger on each side of the mouth. Close the mouth as soon as you put the drops in, holding it shut until the cat swallows.
Some pills can be given inside of food such as canned food or hidden inside a piece of meat. It is not recommended to give cats their medication in their water because if they do not drink all of the water, then they are not getting the proper dosage. Also, pills can make the water taste strange to the cat and could lead to dehydration. Another tip is to crush a pill into smaller pieces and mix with meat flavored baby food or tuna. Most cats will eat this and not even notice they are getting medicine.
Injections
If medicating your cat requires daily injections of medication at home -- such as insulin -- be sure you follow a schedule. Usually diabetic cats need 2 injections 12 hours apart. It is important to remember, when giving your cat insulin, not to shake the vial. First of all, gently mix the insulin by rolling the vial in your hands, and then lay your cat down on a comfortable surface. Pull the skin up at the back of the neck in a gentle manner, as this is the perfect place for injections and the shot won’t bother them. You don’t need to push the syringe in very far as insulin needles are very thin. It may seem a little tricky at first, but once you’ve given your cat injections a few times, it will not only become easier for you, it will become easier for your cat. |