giving a cat tablets

[hollinhurst84]

Ollie is showing his teenage side
He has cat flu, and will need antibiotics possibly every few months
Previously he was eating them
Now he's refusing all food because I "might" have put meds in it. Paste/ pate doesn't work, he sucks off the paste and spits the tablet out
I can't throw them down his throat as I don't have enough hands and he legs it when I try to get hold of him (stress not good for me, or cat flu!)
I got it down him eventually today by splitting a 5mg tablet into quarters and mashing it into a liver treat but it's not guaranteed
Any stress free tips?!

I don't know if your cat would like it but I use a big glob of Dairylea cream cheese on my finger for my dog and stick the tablet in that. Push my finger into her mouth and she just swallows - maybe something you could try?

I good tip I got from the cattery was to wrap them in a towel with head sticking out, make do straitjacket.

I wrap Jeffcat up in a ball with a towel and force a tablet down her stubborn neck. Make sure you hold their head up and rub the throat to force the swallow reflex then get the fuck out the way release quickly!

This is American (and not mine, obviously), but I remembered it when I saw your thread title...

How to give a pill to your cat or dog.

1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crock of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of the cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

3. Retrieve cat from bedroom and throw soggy pill away.

4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm while holding rear paws tightly with left hand Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Retrieve spouse from outside.

6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees. Hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold hear firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

8. Wrap cat i large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible form below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

9. Check label to make sure pill is not harmful to humans. Drink one beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard and close door on neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot of scotch and drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check record for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw shirt away and fetch new on from bedroom.

12. Call fire department to retrieve cat from across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.

13. Tie the little &#^@'s front legs to rear legs with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table. Find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of steak. Be rough about it. Hold cat's head vertically and pour two pints of water down throat to wash pill down.

14. consume remainder of scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the ER. Sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.

15. Arrange for SPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.

How To Give Your Dog A Pill

1. Wrap pill in bacon.

2. Toss it in the air.

I have no helpful advice, incidentally, other than wrap the cat in a towel first and have first aid supplies close to hand.

Usually it's less painful to hold the pill in one hand, spend 20 minutes rolling around naked in blackthorn and find the pill stuck to the side of your face.

I haven't tried cream cheese but I feel it may go the same way as the pate
Have only had him two weeks
I could try bundling in a towel but he wriggles away and won't let me open his mouth plus I can't get hold of the bugger to start with
He's sat sneezing and glaring at me with me going "just eat the bastard antibiotics and you will stop sneezing"

Haha Crabby I like that!
I find with ours getting her while she's sleepy helps a lot-bit mean I know. Compared to most cats ours is reasonably easy to table however.
It is a case of stopping the paws and claws getting you so a towel or extra person to assist is what you need.

Alternative How To Give Your Dog A Pill

1. Wrap pill in bacon.

2. Make him beg

I need an extra person and I don't have one
They're even flavoured tablets so I don't know why he's being such a brat. When I say I can't get hold of him, any movement means he throws himself under the super king size bed where I can't reach

This old chestnut. First of all wrapping puss in a towel is as good as sending a telegram that something unpleasant is coming kitty's way. The defences will be on red alert.

The secret is be swift and decisive. You won't break your cat but you will save yourself a lot of nips and scratches.

Just search this forum for the how-to-do-it.

what i do is sit the cat on my lap facing away from me have the tablet ready, lift the cats head push the side of the cats mouth till it opens, drop tablet down and hold their head upright and the swallow reflex kicks in if the cat licks its lips its swallowed works every time, just wear thick jeans in case the cat digs its claws into your knees , or ask the vets about a pill popper they are supposed to be good

I conceded defeat to Seniorboy on this one on the first attempt - you pick your battles - so his vet gives him an injectable one. (She also conceded defeat - to the great satisfaction of She Who Must Be Obeyed the Chief Veterinary Nurse, for whom Seniorboy is an especial favourite.)

He probably hasn't got the best one for his condition but at least I know it's in him. (And it works.) With pills, there is a strong argument that he wouldn't ever get enough down to do any good.

On my last 2 vet visits the vet (2 different ones) used a popper

I'm sure on previous visits I saw one of those magic vets who could do it effortlessly. I was very disappointed

(and I had to hold the cat for them! It doesn't give me any faith that I can ever do it myself)

Injection is my next option. But they want to give him daily ones and the carrier and travelling is going to stress him :/

See sit sat on lap would work but I can't even get him on my lap
Poor lad has only been with me two weeks and spent 4 years as a stray so people grabbing him = legging it instantly

Oh and he hasn't eaten since yesterday afternoon

If it's any consolation, Seniorboy was a Vetophobe when he came to me but he now takes it pretty well in his stride given that he gets to come home after it. (He sees his vet quite a lot though.) It might stress the heck out of you, though? (That's just as important.)

I'm stressed! I'm worried because he isn't eating and I'm worrying about the fact this is going to be probably every two months if not less
At least today's tablet is done, have left him with applaws pate, and some raw turkey mince in a separate bowl

You've had some excellent advice on here but I still think that this is one I'd be discussing with the vet. (I'm conscious of his history and also the fact that he will likely have to have more than one course of these. (Unless his immune system takes a tumble to itself with the better living.) Cats learn.)

I have a appointment with the nurse tomorrow to show me how to give him a tablet
Vet appointment Monday with nice vet (that said not to jab him and raw is v good)

Good luck then. Let us know how it goes.

Could you do the injections at home? Not fun, I know, but having jabbed more than one cat (and indeed the guinea pigs) I'm starting to think it's easier than the constant pill battle.

Otherwise, Extra Mature Cheddar is currently our friend. Last month it was pate, the previous month chorizo bloody cat eats better than we do

I'll ask! Currently doing injections for myself so...
Tried and failed - sardines, chicken breast, mackerel, pate, cheese, Lidl chicken roll (usually like crack for him)