How to give medicine to a cat?

Sooner or later, many cat owners ponder how to give medicine to a cat. Cats may not have the same willingness as dogs when it comes to eating a tablet or a pill. However, knowing how to give medicine to a cat is crucial, especially in cases such as an antibiotic course where a tablet might be the only form of the medication available.

In this article we share tips on how to give medicine to a cat.

Different forms of medication

The way of how to give medicine to a cat partly depends on the type of medicine. A variety of medications are available in both tablet and paste forms. Giving medicine to a cat might be easiest with a tasty chewable tablet, as cats might agree to eat them more smoothly than the so-called regular tablets.

Remember to keep chewable tablets in a lidded box or otherwise out of the cat’s reach to prevent the cat from stealing them. Especially, overdosing on pain medications, and many other drugs can be dangerous for cats.

Tips on how to give medicine to a cat

Giving medicine to a cat may become easier if you can crush the medicine into the food or water. It is most convenient to insert medicine pastes between the cat’s cheek and gums in small amounts at a time to prevent the cat from spitting out the dose across the floor.

How to give medicine to a cat with the help of food?

• Mix the medicine into the cat's favourite wet food.
• Give the cat only a small amount of food to ensure that it eats the entire dose.
• Strong-smelling wet foods or, for example, tuna can help mask the smell of the medicine, thus making it more likely for the cat to eat it along with the food.
• Some cats may eat a tablet hidden inside a piece of meat, cheese, ham, or other food the cat does not usually get. Pharmacies also sell flavoured pastes that you can use to hide a tablet.

If the medicine can be dissolved in water, it can also be given directly into the cat’s mouth with a syringe.

If you mix the medicine into the cat's food, you can make the dose more appealing by sprinkling cat treats into the food. Giving a small dose of medicine might also be successful by chopping it among treats. Find your cat's favourite treats in the PrimaCat delicious selection!

How to give medicine to a cat when it must swallow a tablet? 

Ask for another pair of hands if the medicine must be given whole and the cat refuses to take it without a struggle.

1. You can wrap the cat in a towel so that its forelegs are aligned with its body, preventing them from slipping over the edge of the towel.
2. The assistant holds the cat in their lap like a swaddled baby.
3. Gently open the cat’s mouth and slide the tablet with your finger right to the back of the tongue along the side of the cat's mouth.
4. Hold the cat’s mouth closed and stroke its neck to encourage the swallowing reflex.

To make things easier, you might want to get your cat used to receiving medicine for example by feeding it with a syringe at a young age. Learn what other everyday skills are good for a cat to know.

What if giving medicine to a cat is not possible?

There are various ways to answer the question of how to give medicine to a cat. However, sometimes it turns out to be completely impossible to medicate the cat at home. The cat might also be so suspicious that you cannot catch it, or it defends itself with fierce scratching.

If giving medicine to a cat becomes impossible, ask your vet about the possibility of medicating the cat with an injection. Many antibiotics can be given as long acting injectables, as can various antiparasitic and deworming medications.