Small Animal Referral Hospital Medicating your Cat

We appreciate that medicating cats can be very challenging. This web page includes our top tips and links to International Cat Care videos that may help you. We find that sometimes we have to be ingenious and very patient to persuade a cat to take their medicine.

Building a positive association with receiving oral medication is important so your cat does not think of it as a negative experience. Follow administration of medication with whatever your cat enjoys such as treats, fuss, a favourite toy or grooming. Please let your vet know if administration of medication is problematic.

1. Place your thumb and forefinger behind your cat’s upper canine teeth
2. Tilt the head backwards gently so the lower jaw will drop and mouth will begin to open
3. Hold the tablet between your other thumb and forefinger
4. Help lower the bottom jaw with your middle finger
5. Place the tablet at the back of the mouth, towards the base of the tongue
6. Gently close the mouth and return your cat’s head to a normal position, allowing them to swallow
7. Follow with 2ml of water dribbled into the side of the mouth via a 2.5ml syringe, or a couple of their favourite treats to ensure the tablet has been properly swallowed

1. Place the tablet into the end of the pill popper with the plunger drawn back
2. Place your thumb and forefinger behind your cat’s ‘fangs’
3. Tilt the head backwards gently so the lower jaw will drop and mouth will open
4. Gently and carefully insert the pill popper into the open mouth, aiming for the back of the mouth
5. Push plunger to release tablet into the back of the mouth, at the base of the tongue
6. Gently close the mouth and return your cat’s head to a normal position, allowing them to swallow
7. Follow with 2mls of water dribbled into the mouth via a 2.5ml syringe, or with several of their favourite treats to ensure the tablet has been properly swallowed

1. Ideal treats for this method are soft and can mould around the tablet so it cannot be seen
2. Some treat ideas are pill pockets (e.g. Greenies), tasty sticks (e.g. Webbox), putty (e.g. EasyPill), meat or fish pâté, soft cheese, tinned fish, Yum-e-Yums etc. Lick-e-lix works well for tablets that can be crushed or liquid medication
3. Bury the tablet in the treat, ideally so that the tablet cannot be seen
4. Give the treat to your cat to eat. Some take it best from your fingers, some from your palm or their dish/bowl
5. Follow with another treat or food to ensure it has been properly swallowed

1. Place the tablet in a tablet grinder or between two spoons to crush until the tablet becomes a powder
2. Draw up 3ml warm water into a 5ml syringe
3. Thoroughly mix the powdered tablet with the water
4. Suck the solution up into the syringe
5. Place the syringe gently in the side of the mouth, aiming inside the cheek
6. Slowly dribble the solution into the mouth, allowing your cat time to swallow

1. This method should be used at a time when your cat is hungry, ideally just before they normally have a meal. If your cat has food ad lib, remove it an hour or so prior to giving the medication
2. Place the pill in a pill grinder or between two spoons to crush until the tablet becomes powder
3. Put the powdered tablet onto a dish (try to prepare this out of sight of your cat)
4. Cover with 1 teaspoon of tasty wet food and mix thoroughly. Suggestions of food include wet food from pouches (which your cat may already have), pâté, cat soups or strong smelling tinned fish such as tuna or sardines (check thoroughly for small bones)
5. Give this to your cat to eat then follow with their normal meal

• Giving oral medication should be done as slowly and calmly as possible. Try not to rush and if your cat shows signs of stress, give them a break for a few minutes and allow them time to relax.
• If you’re using a method where your cat requires restraint (i.e., placing the tablet in the mouth, using a pill popper etc.), we recommend having your cat on a table surface, sat down and ideally held gently from behind by someone helping you, or alternatively sit your cat between your knees on the ground or on your lap, facing away from you if you are unassisted.
• Good restraint can be achieved by wrapping your cat in a towel or thick blanket. You could spray this with a pheromone spray such as FeliwayTM for an additional calming effect (15 minutes in advance to allow the smell of the spray to diffuse away).
• Always check with a vet that it is safe for you to crush the tablet before you choose this method of administration.
• Please seek veterinary advice if you are unable to deliver the prescribed medication to your cat; there may be alternative formulas that would work better or they may be able to troubleshoot issues.