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How do I make my cat swallow a worming tablet?

66 replies

crumble82 · 01/11/2022 10:09

I've tried hiding them in bits of meat, crushing them up and putting them in his food, everything! Everytime he manages to eat around them. Does anyone have any tips for getting a cat to swallow a tablet?

OP posts:
Pashazade · 01/11/2022 11:54

Another to say, crush and mix with a tube of lick E lix, this is how I've dealt with daily medication and it appears to cover the taste of everything!

frazzledbutcalm · 01/11/2022 11:55

hesbeingabitofadick · 01/11/2022 11:07

You don't have a cat, do you?

That’s how I do it with my cats - present and previous …

Not all drops cover all worms so be wary of that.

I buy my worming tablet from the vet - covers all worms and is much smaller than tablets from pet stores/online, being much smaller makes it much easier to administer.

NotMeNoNo · 01/11/2022 12:11

You can get a pill shooter from the vet/per shop.
We use this in conjunction with towel, headlock, assistant, etc all as described above.

I once asked a friend who was a vet (actually worked in a zoo) to help me give a pill to the cat and even she struggled!

How do I make my cat swallow a worming tablet?

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Anothernamechange3 · 01/11/2022 12:14

I do the ‘pop the pill in the mouth’ thing, but before she can spit it out I also then pop in a small treat (like a dreamie). She usually just swallows the tablet then so that she doesn’t lose the treat

Cookerhood · 01/11/2022 12:18

Our cat is very obliging about taking tablets (we usually use a tablet giver), however she now has to have quite a few & some can't be crushed so we use Easypill. God knows what's in it, the cat loves it!

blippi123 · 01/11/2022 12:20

We resorted to a worming paste instead and mix it with tuna

blippi123 · 01/11/2022 12:22

People getting cats in a head lock and forcing them to swallow a tablet, talk about making hard work for yourself

Use a worming paste mixed with something

Bookworm20 · 01/11/2022 12:23

I have one which always ate around it, even hidden in ham or cheese or anything. Then one day I had a couple of left over sausages, cut them up and gave her a few bits first which she seemed to like, so pushed the pill into the middle of the next bit and she ate it no problem. I think because it was totally hidden and she'd already enjoyed a couple of bits first.
So I just make sure we have sausages the day before worming tablet is due.

Unseelie · 01/11/2022 12:23

I’ve two cats. One will happily swallow a pill in his food without noticing. The other will eat all of the food, hiding the pill in her cheek, then spit out the pill at the end with a contemptuous glare. Second cat can only be dewormed by vet. Have tried pinning her in blanket while someone else pushes pill in but success rate too low. We only deworm her once-twice a year when at vet.

fantasmasgoria1 · 01/11/2022 12:24

Definitely think about spot on flea and worm treatment. It's much easier. I wait until they are asleep and begin fussing them. I then quickly part the fur between the shoulder blades and apply. They barely even wake up!

blobby10 · 01/11/2022 12:27

Warning: I've used the spot on worming stuff twice now on my 15 year old cat and both times she's been excessively unsettled and agitated for about half an hour afterwards. Zooming round in circles, crouching under tables, going outside then inside then into places she never normally goes then back then sitting on my lap then the floor then behind the sofa. I'm not going to use it on her again as she's clearly intolerant to some ingredient.

viques · 01/11/2022 12:28

My old cat would hold a pill in her mouth for ages, or until I was convinced it had been swallowed which was the same thing, then when released she would spit out the slimy mess of pill and saliva and saunter off, flicking her tail like a rude teen giving the finger. She did the same to a vet who was giving her a liquid medication, but added in a head shake which covered his face in the gunk. He was only a trainee, I hope his ego recovered.

Notanotherwindow · 01/11/2022 12:31

My friends cat is a bit dim. You rustle a pack of treats then take the tablet out of the dreamies bag and give it to her. She just eats it.

Badger1970 · 01/11/2022 12:33

I perfected this technique in our elderly cat's last few weeks of life after 16 plus years of being bitten/scratched/clawed Hmm

Open throat wide, throw tablet right to the back, close mouth and stroke chin until they swallow.

bagheera92 · 01/11/2022 12:33

You can get worming drops from pets at home

PeloFondo · 01/11/2022 12:41

Mine has drops. Even the vet won't attempt to give him tablets, and the cat only has one tooth

crumble82 · 01/11/2022 14:28

I got the drops and put them on my cat this afternoon. He tried to run away as soon as he felt the liquid hitting the skin but I think he’s forgiven me now. I can’t believe I’ve been trying to get him to take a tablet for so long!

OP posts:
Maytodecember · 01/11/2022 14:31

Use this. www.animeddirect.co.uk/buster-pill-giver.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsu_D_JiN-wIV5OjtCh391QXHEAQYAiABEgKKA_D_BwE

Have some treats. As soon as tablet is down, give a treat.

thereisonlyoneofme · 01/11/2022 14:39

I just did a search for the How to give a cat a pill
instructions before I read the full thread ! Its so true

Igglepiggleslittletoe · 01/11/2022 14:56

Spot on for the cats cos genuinely if I didnt they would cause pain.

For the dogs I use a pestle and mortar and grind the pills up, then chop up bits of roast beef, throw in some of their own food and cover it in gravy. Its a pain in the arse but its effective.

Burmesecatlover · 01/11/2022 15:54

I watched the vet do it and have used the technique since on three cats with success. Wait until they are standing, from behind get back of neck and tilt head slight back so jaw naturally opens then place pill in mouth and shut/gently hold mouth. They are surprised and have feet on floor so don't use claws defensively etc. When the head is back you can pop the pill quite far down the throat. Over in seconds with minimal distress. Cat shakes head and wanders off. I can do this with a cat that we used to have to wrap in blankets/towels and literally hold down (two person job)

bravelittletiger · 01/11/2022 15:58

I have an extremely docile one who lets me open her mouth and put it in. For the others I have to hold them very firmly so that all their limbs are restricted and prize open their mouth and put the tablet at the back of their throat then hold their mouth shut until they swallow. Only takes a few seconds and does work. Much easier if there is two of you.

Clarich007 · 13/02/2023 20:01

Agree about the pill pockets/pill putty. It works brilliantly for me and my furry weirdo 😻

WetBandits · 13/02/2023 20:08

One of mine is a good pill taker and will take tablets like a good girl. Another of mine will take a tablet hidden in cheese. The third has to be restrained and have pills poked down his throat 🙈

mimbleandlittlemy · 13/02/2023 20:48

Wrap cat in towel, get someone to hold them well wrapped, open jaws, throw pill back as far as possible, close, stroke throat. Covering in Marmite is good as makes it so sticky it’s harder to spit out. Offer Dreamiest as recompense and wash the blood off your fingers where you got bitten.