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<\/a><\/p>\nFinding a way to\u00a0give your cat medication\u00a0in a low-stress manner is crucial to her health.Cat parents know that getting a feline to\u00a0swallow a pill\u00a0can be a huge challenge. In fact, it might be one of the biggest challenges when it comes to\u00a0cat care.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, there are\u00a0some simple strategies\u00a0for camouflaging medication in food and treats.<\/p>\n
It is important to note that certain medications may be compromised if they are cut, crushed or mixed with food. Before incorporating any of these tips, talk to your veterinarian.<\/p>\n
Pilling Advance Prep\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n(Note: the following method works only for medications or supplements that can be given with food.)<\/em><\/p>\nThe first steps in giving your kitty a pill or supplement should be taken long before she actually needs that pill or supplement. The goal is to help your cat learn to tolerate the handling that will be necessary to pill her, and also to take liquids and solids from a syringe or pill gun.<\/p>\n
First get your cat used to being gently handled around her face and mouth, using treats to reward her for allowing the handling and to associate the activity with something pleasant. Make the initial face-and-mouth handling sessions short, and follow up with a meal, petting, or playtime.<\/p>\n
As your kitty gets more comfortable with having her face touched, you can begin using your thumb and middle finger to gently lift up slightly on her mouth, forming a C shape with your fingers. Place a special treat like a small morsel of meat that doesn\u2019t need to be chewed into her mouth or immediately upon letting go.<\/p>\n
The objective is to get her accustomed to the pilling motion and associate it with something positive.<\/p>\n
Cat Pilling Tips<\/strong><\/h4>\nFirst, coat pill with butter<\/strong>.\u00a0Check with your vet, but most pills can safely be coated with butter or hidden in a tiny butter ball, which will help them slide all the way down.
\nSecond, offer pill like a treat, out of your hand.<\/strong> Every once in a while cats will take the pill and eat it with no fuss.\u00a0 If your cat does this, follow with a\u00a0chaser, and you\u2019re done.
\nThird, make a Kitty Burrito<\/strong>: Use a towel to gently but securely wrap your cat up like a burrito in a towel, with just her head showing. It really helps to have an assistant to hold the kitty burrito on a table or floor, so you have both hands free to open cat\u2019s mouth, insert pill, and hold your cat\u2019s mouth closed until they swallow.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t forget to give the\u00a0chaser\u00a0after!<\/p>\nPilling in 5 Steps<\/strong><\/h4>\nNow that you\u2019ve been fake-pilling your kitty for awhile, here’s what to do when she needs the pill:<\/p>\n
1. Pick your cat\u2019s favorite treat (you may need to try out a few different kinds to learn which one works best).<\/p>\n
2. Treat portion sizes must be small enough and soft enough so that your cat doesn\u2019t chew, only licks and swallows. Chewing the pill can release a nasty taste into the treat, and, in addition, many medications must be swallowed whole to be metabolized properly.<\/p>\n
3. Have several treats ready before you begin, so that you can offer them in rapid succession once the fun begins.<\/p>\n
4. Hide the pill in one treat, and use your other hand to seal the pill in (so kitty won\u2019t smell medication on the outside of the treat).<\/p>\n
5. Give a pill-free treat, followed by the treat with the pill, followed by another pill-free treat.<\/p>\n
Since cats are extremely clever, it\u2019s a good idea to vary the number of treats you give at each pilling session, as well as the order in which you give the treat holding the pill, so kitty doesn\u2019t learn to predict which treat holds the pill.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t Overlook the Benefits of Syringe- and Pill Gun-Training<\/strong><\/h5>\n
The first steps in giving your kitty a pill or supplement should be taken long before she actually needs that pill or supplement. The goal is to help your cat learn to tolerate the handling that will be necessary to pill her, and also to take liquids and solids from a syringe or pill gun.<\/p>\n
First get your cat used to being gently handled around her face and mouth, using treats to reward her for allowing the handling and to associate the activity with something pleasant. Make the initial face-and-mouth handling sessions short, and follow up with a meal, petting, or playtime.<\/p>\n
As your kitty gets more comfortable with having her face touched, you can begin using your thumb and middle finger to gently lift up slightly on her mouth, forming a C shape with your fingers. Place a special treat like a small morsel of meat that doesn\u2019t need to be chewed into her mouth or immediately upon letting go.<\/p>\n
The objective is to get her accustomed to the pilling motion and associate it with something positive.<\/p>\n
Cat Pilling Tips<\/strong><\/h4>\nFirst, coat pill with butter<\/strong>.\u00a0Check with your vet, but most pills can safely be coated with butter or hidden in a tiny butter ball, which will help them slide all the way down.
\nSecond, offer pill like a treat, out of your hand.<\/strong> Every once in a while cats will take the pill and eat it with no fuss.\u00a0 If your cat does this, follow with a\u00a0chaser, and you\u2019re done.
\nThird, make a Kitty Burrito<\/strong>: Use a towel to gently but securely wrap your cat up like a burrito in a towel, with just her head showing. It really helps to have an assistant to hold the kitty burrito on a table or floor, so you have both hands free to open cat\u2019s mouth, insert pill, and hold your cat\u2019s mouth closed until they swallow.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t forget to give the\u00a0chaser\u00a0after!<\/p>\nPilling in 5 Steps<\/strong><\/h4>\nNow that you\u2019ve been fake-pilling your kitty for awhile, here’s what to do when she needs the pill:<\/p>\n
1. Pick your cat\u2019s favorite treat (you may need to try out a few different kinds to learn which one works best).<\/p>\n
2. Treat portion sizes must be small enough and soft enough so that your cat doesn\u2019t chew, only licks and swallows. Chewing the pill can release a nasty taste into the treat, and, in addition, many medications must be swallowed whole to be metabolized properly.<\/p>\n
3. Have several treats ready before you begin, so that you can offer them in rapid succession once the fun begins.<\/p>\n
4. Hide the pill in one treat, and use your other hand to seal the pill in (so kitty won\u2019t smell medication on the outside of the treat).<\/p>\n
5. Give a pill-free treat, followed by the treat with the pill, followed by another pill-free treat.<\/p>\n
Since cats are extremely clever, it\u2019s a good idea to vary the number of treats you give at each pilling session, as well as the order in which you give the treat holding the pill, so kitty doesn\u2019t learn to predict which treat holds the pill.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t Overlook the Benefits of Syringe- and Pill Gun-Training<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\nSecond, offer pill like a treat, out of your hand.<\/strong> Every once in a while cats will take the pill and eat it with no fuss.\u00a0 If your cat does this, follow with a\u00a0chaser, and you\u2019re done.
\nThird, make a Kitty Burrito<\/strong>: Use a towel to gently but securely wrap your cat up like a burrito in a towel, with just her head showing. It really helps to have an assistant to hold the kitty burrito on a table or floor, so you have both hands free to open cat\u2019s mouth, insert pill, and hold your cat\u2019s mouth closed until they swallow.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t forget to give the\u00a0chaser\u00a0after!<\/p>\n