
Giving Your Cat Medication
There
are times in every cat’s life when he will need to take medication of
some sort. Cat owners who have been through this know how hard it
can be getting the cat to cooperate. Below are a few suggestions
that may help in your endeavor.
The
first choice is to hide medication in some of your cat’s favorite
food. This may not always be easy, as in the case of capsules or
pills. The cat’s keen sense of smell will also be a problem, so
it is advisable to pick some of the smelliest food you can if you use
this method.
Liquid
medication works well mixed into food, especially salmon. The
liquid mixes well with the oils and is almost undetectable by your
cat. If at all possible, ask your vet for medication in liquid
form.
Crushing
a pill or emptying a capsule into food is risky. The taste and
smell is often bitter and easily detectable by the cat. If you
must use this method, make sure whatever you use is sufficiently strong
in both smell and taste. It will also be necessary to make sure
your cat eats the entire portion in order to get all the medicine into
his system.
If you
must give medication to your cat without the benefit of food, pick him
up by the back of his neck like a mother cat. This will render
him momentarily unmovable. Gently pry open his mouth and place
the medication as far back as possible. Holding his mouth gently
closed, stroke his throat. This will cause a reflexive swallowing
reaction. Once the medication is down, give him cuddles.
If all else fails, you can talk with your vet and have him show you how he suggests administering medication to cats.

|