How to Give a Cat a Pill : 3 Vet-Approved Methods

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0:00 How to Get a Cat to Take a Pill
0:30 Preparing to Pill
1:10 Method 1: Hiding in Food
4:34 Method 2: Giving the Pill By Hand
7:39 Method 3: Using a Pill Popper
8:35 What to Do After Pilling Your Cat
9:59 Additional Tips
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[@cataliciouz]

PLEASE BE CAREFUL with the pill poppers/shooters. Some have silicone tips that pop off with the medication and your pet can swallow it. I just had it happen to my cat recently and luckily er was able to induce vomiting. Otherwise it can cause a blockage which will be $$$$ for surgery etc. Make sure the tip is attached if u get one!!! 😻💜

[@lauranolan1969]

Ah good to know!!

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Thank you for sharing this! Pinned to make sure others will see this warning.

[@drunkensquirrel7545]

I'm so sorry you & your cat had that experience, and I'm glad it turned out all right. Thank you for the warning! I'd been thinking of getting a pill popper, but I held off on it. I'm glad that I heeded the Intuition now. Definitely something to ask our vets about. 🙏🏽🫂❤️

[@cataliciouz]

@Cats Thank you for pinning! The more awareness we can bring the better. It's mind boggling they can be sold, so dangerous.

[@cataliciouz]

@DrunkenSquirrel awe thank you, I got lucky seeing an er vet so quick at 10pm at night. Most places was a 3-4 hour wait which would make her chances of vomiting it up super slim. It was a 50/50 within 30 min window. I just hope this helps anyone who wants to use a pill shooter. I wish I had known. Hope you were able to figure out a way to give you furbaby their pill, I know its hard. 💜😻

[@lfate8017]

For once a pilling video that shows a realist portrayal of giving a cat a pill. All I ever manage to do is stress the cat and the pill ends up on the floor anyway.

[@therealshard]

YES came here to say that!! Love how Forest is so cute and an absolute darling but turns into a feisty little furball when it's pill time hahaha

[@maryannecarlson5665]

I love the vet giving the instructions and then seeing how well (!) it worked in the demonstration. That cat spit that pill out fast and far.

[@susanlofurno8322]

So glad that you showed pilling an “actual” typical cat. All the other videos have shown these calm, cooperative cats…and your kitty responds like all the cats I have ever tried to pill. I have been brought to tears of stress from trying to pill my elderly kitty when she clenches her teeth.

[@TinaMarieItalianIce]

Yes, I've cried for 5 days straight now, trying to give my cat his pills 😢

[@lauraharris7224]

Inuba Churu lickable treats work well. I get the 40 pack from Chewy. Give a little to the cat. Then put a small bit on your finger , stick the pill to it , and then cover the pill with a little more. Open the cats mouth and quickly stiick the pill on the back of cat's tongue. Then the cat a little more. That isn't that much that should interfere with any no food requirement.

[@allthumbs3792]

Oh boy did this look familiar!!!! 😂 I have NOT ONE reliable tip to contribute! I'd rather do my own taxes 😖 than pill my cat.

[@Klen1984]

It all takes practice. for us and the cats. over time they get more tolerant of the procedure especially if it has to happen regularly.

[@saraferebee2522]

Thank you for actually showing a challenging cat in a real life situation. So many videos try to show how easy it is and it simply isn’t easy for most people, and is very stressful and upsetting to loving cat parents. Thank you for showing the reality of this stressful task!

[@TheInnerParty]

I volunteer with the local Humane Society, and I'm glad this video also showed the failures, because with some cats it's a lot harder than it seems. For some cats the pill popper is essential 🙀

[@avsrule247]

One of the best peices of advice for cat owners from personal experience is get your cat used to having it's face touched (and also paws for nail tripping!) so when inevitably the day comes that you need to pill your cat it's not stressful for either yourself or your cat. One of the reasons it's so hard is because people neglect to do things like check their cats teeth/gums regularly, or likewise brush their whiskers or cheeks. When the cat is used to you opening it's mouth, or pulling it's lips back slightly to have a check at the teeth/gums (also important!) it won't even see the pill coming, and there will be no need to wrap it in a towel. It's so simple to take a peak inside their mouth once or twice a week during a grooming session. Hard at first, but gets really easy quick. And do the same with the paws. Touch their paws, rub the little beans, and when it comes time to trim the nails it's super easy!

[@lauranolan1969]

True. Very true and excellent advice. Riding in a car as well. I had a problem with that because my vet did house calls until C19....then I had to start transporting a cat that never went in the car. That was ugh!!❤

[@thedonofdank2538]

My friend actually brushes her cats teeth and the cat just sits there waiting for it to be over. Sometimes i think the cat is just looking at me saying help! lol

[@drunkensquirrel7545]

Good advice. I wish that I had done that with our cats early on. Maybe, hopefully, it's not too late now. 🌟

[@avsrule247]

@@drunkensquirrel7545 I find it easier when they are a little older - more calm and relaxed. Kittens and cats

[@whodundis]

I died laughing watching the second method with the cat in the towel because 5 minutes ago I was in the same exact situation.

[@kjorsss429]

I feel much better watching the real-life example. Your cat reacted exactly like one of my cats does. So many times, the pill went in the mouth then pops right back out. I now dissolve the pill (or split the capsule and dissolve the powder inside) in 5 ml of water then use a small syringe to squirt it into her mouth. For my cat who doesn't like pills, that method works best.

[@PrincessePeiPei]

Oh, it was the same for me pilling the cat the first time - so frustrating, but also very proud when you finally get the cat to eat it!! 😄 6 foster cats later, I have a million ways to give a pill to a car. My fav trick, give the pill in baby food. Thanks, great video!!

[@theresa94010]

Great tip about using baby food. What flavor of baby food your cats will take/accept? Also, do you break the capsule and mix the medicine in the baby food? TIA.

[@helenatkinson4730]

I can't say how much I appreciate this video I had a cat who died last year and I struggle with the fact that I might have made his last days easier or even helped make him better if I could have gotten pills into him but I was not able to. I also really appreciate seeing a real person struggling with giving a pill. I appreciate seeing the burrito method and the pill Pusher method and the different food suggestions. I have another cat I have been putting off giving pills for his pancreatitis just out of fear of not being able to successfully give them to him. I have had to put ointment in his ear and that has been a fight so I haven't been able to imagine how giving a pill would be. I just automatically assumed that the food possibility would be a failure so haven't even tried it. This is giving me the courage to try something else before I totally give up.

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

So happy to be able to give you hope, Helen. I'd worried that my strugglefest might deter or discourage people, so it's really wonderful to hear that it had the opposite effect. Wishing you all the best with your kitty. :)

[@patriciacronauer3906]

My exact experience now. I will do my best. He is 14. Painful. He doesn't "get" it🐈‍⬛🧹🧙‍♂️

[@drunkensquirrel7545]

Thank you SO MUCH for the info! We've had cats for many years & have given many pills. Now we usually use pill pockets. We've also had luck with cheese & butter. A couple of our cats need compounded transdermal ointments, and it's been a blessing for us because they're high-strung... if I show them a pill, there'll be blood. My blood! ❤🙀❤

[@whiteknightcat]

I SO felt your frustration, Mallory. I was laughing WITH you, not at you, as Forest kept defeating your efforts. We used to have a large red tabby, friendly as heck, soft and plush, but there was no way he was going to be restrained. Leo was powerful and would wrestle. I'd have to let him go because I would have hurt him had I used the necessary force to restrain him. I eventually used different food techniques or the pill popper the vet sold us. It's long and narrow with a split rubber tip to hold the pill. And then there was my sweet little princess who just sat quietly as I tipped her head back and popped the pill in her mouth with barely any restraint at all.

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Thanks, @whiteknightcat! Wessie and Forest are similar to your two cats-Forest is a fighter like Leo, while Wessie will just sit peacefully in his bed, basically open his own mouth, and take the pill. Both are perfect, but there's something about that feistiness, independence, and determination that's really admirable and endearing to me. Inwardly, I'm rooting for her, thinking "You've got this! Nobody's going to force you to take a pill against your will!"

[@WolfieRAWKs]

Hands down the most accurate portrayal of trying to give a cat pills. The moment you squished a temptations treat on top of the fortiflora-dusted cheese ball really resonated with my soul. As a petsitter and multicat parent, I've had to try a variety of different methods. If I can crush it, I will. Mixing it with a churu treat/squeeze tube treat has worked exceptionally well for me. I also like the "handful of assorted treats" method, which involves using at least two pill pockets (one containing meds, the other rolled as though it does) and a few of whatever other treat I have on hand. Give the assorted treats to your cat in a little pile with the hope that they get really into eating the treats and don't notice you slipped in something different.

[@saphounetheteajunkie8626]

Finally new advice, giving me new hope… my cat is an expert at dissection when I try to hide pills in food.

[@rachs57]

I know this video was not meant to be funny, but after Mia spit her allergy med across the table after I tucked it into her mouth multiple times, I was laughing at the demos...spot on! I tried both the gl and hard pills & both are so bitter, she just drooled at the taste. I will try butter and the spray cheese, as she loves cheese. I also ordered Pill Pockets, but she's so smart she may intercept the package & toss that out as well.🤣

[@kaleiam6246]

You might try wrapping up a piece of kibble in the pill pockets and get your cat accustomed to pill pockets with food inside first. If needed you can also try rolling the pill pockets in catnip or crushed freeze dried salmon.

[@kn8373]

I know this struggle. Purrito will not hold my Taglio. I had to buy a kitty straight jacket (grooming bag). I am surprised I still live to speak of it.

[@lauranolan1969]

😂😂❤

[@Shyndree]

I was dreading having to give pills to my cat when she got anti-biotics prescribed. When the vet tried to pill her, she failed initially, and even struggled with the pill popper! Watching this video gave me the idea that maybe I can try to hide it in food instead, although cheese didn't seem like a great choice based on your experience. My cat absolutely adores salmon, and I had some in the freezer, so I cut some thing slices off it, and wrapped the pill up like sashimi. My kitty eats it like no tomorrow, and actually comes running as soon as I get the anti-biotics out! So it may just be worth trying with different food items. Salmon is also great because it's soft and a bit "slimey" so that makes it pretty easy to swallow without too much chewing. It may help you in the future to try with salmon, that's why I thought I would comment! Thank you for making this video btw!

[@jamesbruce8053]

Thanks for the help and this Video. Today I tried crushing the tablet and mixing the powder in a liquid cat snack, she knew something was different, but ate it all just the same. A lot less stress for her and me.

[@Bananchy]

Thank you for showing the struggle of the process! There are a lot of videos where cats just swallow the pill right away and don't fight it one bit which just looks really unrealistic considering that cats don't like it.

[@dennett73mk]

Nice to see an instructional video that depicts what really happens when trying to give a cat medication. Most of these videos make it look so easy. This one is the real, and ever so frustrating, deal!

[@qataripekarsky]

Thank you for posting both the advice and very realistic demonstrations illustrating more than just the "happy path".

[@drunkensquirrel7545]

I wish vets or the vet technicians could offer occasional in person seminars on basic things like this. Our cats behave at the clinic, but a few extra practice sessions with them would help me learn those tips & tricks to keep things calm & smooth at home! 🐾🐾😻🐾🐾

[@benjaminrobinson3842]

I'm especially happy they showed Mallory working alone to give Forest her pill, after Dr. Wooten suggested getting a helper. I mean, what are people living by themselves supposed to do?

[@Joshher117]

You guys are hilarious. I love the imagery in the thumbnail. Both humorous yet quite like actually trying to “pill a cat” 😂

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Glad you noticed xD

[@user-ew5li8bc9j]

Pro tip: Do not touch the treat, butter, cheese or pill pocket with the same fingers that touched the pill. Cats have an extremely strong sense of smell. Use your non-dominant hand to hold the pill, and your dominant hand to squish the treat/ pill pocket around it. If using Churu treats or wet food, make a small puddle first, drop the pill, and then cover the pill with another small dollop of the food or treat. Never let your “stinky” fingers that have touched the pill come in contact with the treat you are using to disguise the pill. Unless your kitty is a complete glutton, she will suss you out!

[@lynnturman8157]

Great tip!

[@ghlmk5931]

My cat Mackenzie (RIP) was able to eat an entire pill pocket…without the pill. He was an expert at just eating around the pocket and spitting out the pill. His sister was a bit better, I managed to do it, but when I followed it with a syringe full of water, it would end up in her eyes or face. Kind of hilarious.

[@sqprr]

The fact that even Mallory has trouble getting pills in her cats makes me feel less bad about my struggles. I'm very excited about the butter trick, but I'd like to find a can cheese that doesn't have so much vegetable oils in them.

[@kristieparker6307]

We have lots of cats from 5 to 16 years old, twelve that are ours. Giving cats any meds is so hard. From pills, eye and ear drops. I will try some of these methods. However, we have a piller that is pencil size, it works well for most of the kids. I like the idea of the butter as the flea meds need them to have eaten. Also, the water rinse, I will do this. THANKS for this channel. We love your advice!!

[@texasskygirl7890]

Poor Mallory, I feel your pain. My cat gets so stressed and then I'm stressed because she's stressed.

[@oldmaninthemirror]

I have found that pill popper combined with nape of the neck works the best

[@ontheotherhand7627]

Thank you for the real-world version of pilling a cat. I watch some vids about giving meds and it looks like the cat is almost sedated. Love the little kiss, and "Let's try again. Okay." 🥰

[@LindzMarsh]

Our cat is allergic to chicken which most pill pockets contain. So we’ve bought&trialed various pliable treats and the tuna flavour Buddy Biscuits works like a charm to hide her pills in. We also use Capsuline gel capsules (made of bovine hide) to hide 3 pills at once and wrap it with a bit of Tomlyn Pill Masker. It’s been working like a charm for months!

[@jheckmann]

First two ingredients in the Tomlyn are wheat flour and corn syrup. Wouldn't give that to my cat.

[@amyreich4417]

My cat Milo needs heart meds. 2 in the morning and 3 at night. It is still a struggle. He knows what is coming. But he does like the treat after. We have to actually hold and pill him. I always tell him we love him. That's why we're doing this. Poor buddy the struggle is real.

[@wudgee]

Thanks for showing what it’s realistically like giving pills, a nightmare. The trouble is, giving a pill in food means if they turn their noses up at it you’ve got to refind the pill. Others show really complacent cats, mine wriggles and fights and hates me afterwards. Last time I crushed the pill and mixed it with the liquid of catfood soup by Sheba, that worked, via a syringe. I suspect my cat would eat a food pocket and spit out the pill.

[@lynncrf]

Finally a realistic cat video.

[@kaleiam6246]

I highly recommend pill pockets. My cat with renal disease has to take medication several times daily, and some of them are rather large. He comes running to me when I call him for his meds. I just take a pinch of the pill pocket and halfway cover his capsules. He almost bites me he eats them so fast. My other cat eats pill pockets, but she needs the medication completely covered - and the pill pocket needs to be rolled in crushed freeze dried salmon.

[@lavinanolan6851]

So helpful thank you very much.

[@anaguerrero7280]

My cats heat Forti Flora! Really the smell is strong yeast odor.. I will try the pocket pill Thank you so much💖🙏

[@sharonh988]

Thank you very much.

[@carolynpinkerton7380]

I use pill pockets. A Vet Tech told me about them and they work great!

[@OrganizeCreateDecorate]

Wow, the butter trick worked great! Thank you so much.

[@corruptduboiscountyindiana5058]

i have been giving pills every 12 hours to a couple cats for many years. Thankfully the one couldnt be easier and puts up no fight at all,. The other one aint so bad. But i find that if i give the pill when the cat is in the middle of napping, it can go a bit easier

[@kavunmini]

hahahaha this is exactly my cat I need a 4th methode 😭

[@Nomnom178]

This thumbnail killed me 🤣

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Glad you appreciated it!!

[@TheGriffin199]

Ever since her first worming my cat has had her pills in a small bit of cheddar cheese. Not once has she hesitated and I’m so glad. She only gets cheese when she has a pill to take. I spend a few minutes plying the cheese in my hand so it’s really malleable and I can wrap it round the pill without being too big. I give a small bit of cheese with no pill, then the pill cheese, then a tiny bit more plain cheese and it’s done. She appears none the wiser and it works for us 😊

[@Cattitude48]

Our 15 and 18 year old cats are taking Cerenia for stomach issues. We've started using liquid compounded Maropitant (the active ingredient in Cerenia) with a light marshmallow flavor. We get a 90 day supply and it's a lot less expensive than the name brand pills. The compounding pharmacy says they dispense quite a lot of the medicine. We ended up using double strength so we could give less medication in the syringe. Our cats prefer it mixed with a bit of water in the syringe. One of the cats is highly allergic to everything, even various meat flavorings. Not sure why. The pharmacy recommended the marshmallow flavor but it was a bit strong so we switched to half strength on flavor. In the past we've used other compounded meds such as Budesonide, etc. The pharmacy has been great to work with. Normally mail the same day ordered if you order earlier in the day and we get it the next day.

[@wickedcabinboy]

@7:00 Me trying to pill my cat. Not happening. Thanks for the tips though. I ended up using a liquid and mixing it in a small amount of wet food. That worked very well.

[@sirdarklust]

My cat must have both really trusted me and understood when he needed medication, as I would show him the pill or liquid and gently say, "This is for the boo-boo. It will make it better." And he'd let me give him the pill or liquid without any hesitancy. I'd then tell him how good a boy he was, and to go drink some water, which he'd do. Take care.

[@lauranolan1969]

I have apparently been very blessed with our animals as well. They are all rescue and we are super calm and quiet people....they allow me to handle them thank goodness. That struggle looked real in the demo and I was ready to start laying money and calling bets in!!😂

[@sirdarklust]

@@lauranolan1969 HAHAHA!

[@nemdenemam9753]

I both love and hate the proud face they do after they spit the pill out. Thatnks for this videos its nice to know Im not alone in this struggle. Great thumbnail btw.

[@Professor0sox]

My cat is a chinchilla persian with a very delicate jaw and a chill temperament.When i pill him I also pop a dreamies cat treat in his mouth first, let him crunch it whilst holding his mouth gently, and then pop the pill in the side of his mouth, so he thinks its another treat x

[@brandilynnw5410]

What a great video. I can't wait to try the pill popper. My cat is the absolute worst at taking a pill

[@annulla3812]

After a lot of research about giving pills to cats, I was prepared to try all these methods and tricks. But my boyfriend soon found out that it was enough to put the pill on our fingertip and the cat would happily take it, because she's used to getting treats this way. So people, before trying anything wild, I would really first put the pill on your hands and over it to your cat to and see what happens

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

That's a really good point! Glad it worked out so well for you!

[@julial.r.5383]

What works for me is breaking the pill in tiny pieces, break a soft chewy meaty stick (cat snack from Lidl works best) in 3-5cm pieces, and stick the pill pieces in the cat snack (from the extremes, not lengthwise or the stick will break apart). If my cat can smell the medicine it in any way, she won’t eat - so it needs to be really in the snack. It also sometimes works if I put those pill pieces in a jelly canned food that has a really strong smell, like fish. It doesn’t work if I put it in her favorite food (she notices the difference in smell), and doesn’t work either if the pill is smashed and mixed into a pate (because she can taste it).

[@Debra-ye5sd]

Its getting to the point that I'd rather get a root canal than pill my cat. She needs her meds every 12 hours. .Ive tried the pill pocket, she ate the pocket and spit the pill out. I hid it in a piece of cheese, she licked all the cheese off around the pill. I put it in wet food with gravy that she normally likes, she turned her nose to it. I got it into her mouth at one point and she acted like she swallowed it because her mouth was still like she had but proceeded to go into the hallway and spit it out. The only thing that has worked somewhat is using canned salmon, I hold my breath hoping she eats it all so she gets all her medication. This is medication she'll need the rest of her life so lots of fun times ahead!

[@wudgee]

Yep, sounds exactly like my cat. It’s so difficult.

[@Brokedown72]

LOL my cat is exactly like Forrest. Suspicious and uncoperative to the max. It's really hard to give her an oral med. Not chill at all and I don't have a 2nd person to help.

[@katieeasley3945]

My kitty has been through a LOT including International travel, quarantine, domestic flights and van transport - all unmedicated as it is actually the safest way. Now however, he is a nervous wreck and is on Gabapentin .... it comes in a capsule, and I just open it and mix it into about a teaspoon worth of tasty liquid cat treat mix. It seemed dumb (since I live alone) - to wrestle, fight and make us both more uptight, to get a big ol' capsule down every day! I feel bad for what he went thru but the backstory & alternatives were far worse.

[@nukelaloosh4795]

yes...transdermals ftw!

[@ruralwannabe]

Useful to see what happens when you don't get it right. Exactly. And unintentionally so hilarious, because thats ehat happened to me until i figured it out.

[@roxannesmaldone3465]

MY CAT TAKES RENAL FELINE, ITS A CAPSULE. I OPEN THE PILL AND PUT IN TUNA CAT FOOD OR REGULAR TUNA ,IN WATER.. STILL TRYING TO

[@user-vu9ry2fm2q]

A small medicine dropper such as one uses to administer cough medicine to a child holds about 5 ml (roughly one teaspoon) and can be picked up at any pharmacy or grocery where cough medicine is sold. It doesn't need to be full. An half-tsp is plenty but the kitten or cat will gladly drink all 5 ml if you want. Fill the medicine dropper with cool water and I put mine bulb up in an empty soda or water bottle just so it is handy when I need it. You want to immobilize the paws (especially the front paws) and I have best luck with a towel wrapped around the animal so he/she is like the stuffing in a burrito. You'll hear this referred to as a purr-ito, though purring is not likely to be heard during this process. Now, remember that the cat has very little biting power with his head tipped back, so I like to have the cat facing me with his beady little angry eyes glaring at me. I use my thumb on one side, palm of the hand over the top of the head and my fingers on the opposite side so I'm almost gripping the upper jaw between my thumb and fingers and then I tip the head back. The mouth will not open by itself, but it will be very easy for you to open it with a little squeezing of the holding hand and perhaps a finger prod just to the side of center. Have the pill in the prodding (free) hand and when the cat opens its mouth to bite you (instinct), pop the pill as far back into the throat as you can -- go ahead and stick your finger in there and get the pill way back there. You are NOT going to choke the cat -- it won't let that happen -- especially since you are going to extract your finger in about a half a heartbeat and hold the mouth closed continuing the upward pointing of the head. Quickly retrieve the medicine dropper and start dribbling water onto the cat's lips right at the front of its mouth. The cat will instinctively and eagerly make swallowing motions with its tongue and your job is almost done! Continue with the water (dribbling, not squirting) and the cat will like the water and even end up liking you for giving it a nice drink! I sometimes give my kitten a whole 5+ ml syringe of water, sometimes less. When you release the cat/kitten, it will jump away and probably take its aggression out on a cloth mouse or fish or ball or piece of paper towel. It may hit up the water bowl for a drink and take a few bites of food. In a few minutes, the cat will jump back in your lap and want to play or be petted depending on the age and temperament. I've been treating my kitten for ringworm for about ten days, twice a day, and he doesn't like it worth a damn! But, he still wants to play and always jumps in my lap even if the burrito towel is spread across my legs. I've tried butter, but for me it just makes a mess, makes the pill slip out of my fingers and I think if you get the pill far enough back, it's going to go down (but get that mouth closed just as your finger comes out and be quick with the water! The water will make the cat forget about spitting the pill out because the water will feel good in its throat and the tongue will instinctively process the water back to swallow it.

[@crystalheart9]

My kitty use to take her pills in a soft treat every day for years but now since she is elderly and won't eat the treats anymore I have to manually give her the pill and no matter how hard I try to keep it pleasant and get the pill in her she spits it out. As soon as I open her mouth she starts fighting me and it is impossible to get it over her tongue so she will swallow it. I feel so bad for her because she is 20 and now I am having a terrible struggle getting her meds into her. It stresses her out and me too. I just dread it every day.

[@celticqaidbear]

Wish there easy way to give my cats liquid worming medicine

[@pollyfoofoo8703]

Thank u for a realistic situation! Most videos use chilled out cats, and its so not real!

[@MehmetOzturk-sq2qo]

Hi, thanks again for your usefull video. We appreciate it so much. Unfortunately our little cat has been diagnosed HCM. The vet prescribed 3 different pills for morning + 1 for night :( I want to ask you a method to give these pills. If we crash those pills and make them a powder mix first and then mix them with a paste (like Gim Cat Multi Vitamin paste) would that be ok ? We assume that the taste of the paste will dominate flavour of those pills. Obviously we will ask the Vet whether the ingredients inside paste would react inversely with the drugs. Plus we will give 4-5 hours of fasting time beforehand so that she becomes hungry. Regards, Mehmet

[@AndrewTalbert]

Can you do a video on cat allergy? I have a 7 year old exotic longhair I rescued that has a very small nose - it is almost convex. I have had her tested over and over but yet she has continued sinus congestion and runny eyes. She even "honks" at times. She whistles when she sleeps and has trouble getting air through her nose at times. I have been giving her prednisolone 3 ml about every three days for almost a year which helps. She is very difficult to give pills. I use a liquid syringe with tuna flavored med which works. I am concerned about side effects of lone term use. I would love to know more about cat allergy. She has been tested for all viruses and you name it by three vets. I really love this cat and want to get her off this med if I can. I feel this is an allergy! She only eats fish. She likely has a inhibited sense of smell due to her nose and loves tuna and other fish. I wish we could get patches for our cats.

[@PurpleRhymesWithOrange]

Most of the cats I've lived with giving them an injection was easier than getting them to swallow a pill.

[@friendlyfire7861]

Definitely.

[@missy3609]

My old cat is too smart. I've tried Pill Pockets, food, and cheese. She'll eat it once then turns up her nose at it. She fights like crazy if I try to give a pill directly. She watches my hands to see what I'm bringing and takes off and hides in places I can reach her. I'm going to try the butter and peanut butter now because I've never heard of that before :)

[@gayleplante9421]

I am a proud roommate of my Feral lack cat who is aggressive with me at times for no apparent reason. I rescued her about 7 months ago and it is getting a little better. My question is will she ever stop this biting. Sure would appreciate some tips Thanks

[@planningkitten]

My cat used to take pills very easily with soft treats but now he has to take medication because of allergies and isn’t allowed any treats 🙈 giving pills is still easier for me than the liquid cyclosporine I have to give right now.. he hates it and really fights which he never does with pills.. he just tries to spit them back out 🙈

[@jeanmorell1947]

Put your cat on a table with a rubber mat, I know Mallory young but a vet does not give a cat pills on the floor. I for one with my foot problems can’t kneel on the floor, the table cat in the bag or bag similar. I can pill 5 cats in 30 minutes. Plus I use the Che zone. I’m in complete control of them.

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Good tip. :)

[@shawnamcdonald2463]

We use a pill poper and then give cat treats every time it helps get the pill down and mio no,s he will always get treats after so lets us do it with out much fight

[@phimbalance]

I would be interested in a review of the best cat vitamin supplements and whether or not they are effective for various conditions.

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Coming soon-ish!

[@SonNguyen-pj8zd]

i'm totally agree . They make it so easy on video but reality it's NOT. I 've tried so many different ways but nothing work both of us are traumatized I NEED SOME BODY "HELP" !!!!! do they have such thing like Pill technician out there so i can hire him/her ?

[@lysungmd]

I have been dealing with allergies to my cat. I don’t want to rehome him so I have been looking into all the other options. While I have decided on immunotherapy, are there any other things that may help. Allergen spray? Allergen reducing cat food?

[@mickiegama6278]

I mix it into their wet food. Throw in some kibble aswell so she gets lost in the sauce. If there’s no kibble she’ll avoid the pill and just eat the wet food 🤣

[@rubyjanefumar6220]

Thankfully, I don’t have problem with giving my cats pill by hand. What I do struggle with is giving them vitamin syrup through 1ml syringe. One even would run when he sees the syringe. Is there a better technique? 😺

[@lauranolan1969]

I also have never had any issue pilling our cats or dogs straight to the side of the mouth gently. Phew. Syringe problem I HAVE also had. They hide as soon as they SENSE that. With the DOGS, I put peanut butter on a spoon and held it low. Once licking the pb, as they lick, I was able to time it small pushes at a time in the side of the mouth no problem at all. The cats, it MAY work....but my cats don't seem to lick at things like pb .... I've just held as I do with a pill, and small squirts in the side of the tongue. I have had to wrap them in a bath towel to do that.

[@lauranolan1969]

I haven't done the pill drop the way shown here though either. I do it more on the right side, back corner of the mouth. Damn I never had to fight like that in the demo. Thank goodness, that looks hard.

[@lauranolan1969]

This channel is very helpful and informative and I've gotten a lot of good answers on here.

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Hmm, if you can pill the cats by hand but the syringe is a problem, it sounds like the plastic instrument is the problem. I wonder if you need to sneak the syringe out to keep your cat from running away when he sees it. Are you sticking the syringe in the front your cats' mouths? Entering from the side allows you to get a little further back in the mouth without being too invasive.

[@redwillow79schippers94]

I've had some luck with cream cheese. My one cat hates pills and isn't a food cat. I hide the pill in the cream cheese and hide that in her food. It worked about 70% of the time

[@bonsaibaby8257]

The easiest way I do it is: 1. Have someone hold and pet them and hold their paws so they can’t scratch you. 2. Hold the pill between you infect finger and thumb. 3. With your other hand hold the cats head in whatever way is comfortable to you and the cat. 3. Push the pill into the mouth from the side and push the pill as far back into the cats mouth with your thumb.(the cat will naturally open their mouth when you push the pill against the side of its mouth) Sometimes the cat will bite down but not hard. Because you are pushing your thumb with the pill to the back of their mouth they kind of gag and then when you quickly remove your thumb they will swallow it. Works every time for me and my 3 cats with all different personalities. One of them my husband has to hold on to firmly because he’s the feisty attitude one of the bunch!😂

[@debbiec6979]

One of my girls has Cryptococcus and requires a pill twice a day; we are on month 2 right now of her regiment. I give her a couple of licks of an Inaba Churu, then I can quickly open her mouth, pop the pill in and put the Churu in front of her again so she licks it. This method is the bomb with my Ellie. She refused the Pill Pockets and I'm too scared of the pill poppers.

[@kevinburton5323]

ugh. at the moment I have a little portion of tuna laced with a crushed pill (cat wormer) . I hid all the other food so it's either gonna eat the laced tuna or starve to death because I'm not giving in

[@jed7644]

Just a note - most cats, when you ‘shhhh’ them, what they hear is a hiss.

[@yarahassan4084]

My cats can smell any kind of medicine inside their food, even the slightest sprinkle.

[@pfflyer3381]

3:40 what's this, try to fool me Mrs Robinson?

[@jennie9]

My one cat will swallow a pill whole if I wrap it in something, like wet food or a pill pocket. My other, though, will lick off the food or pill pocket and leave the pill behind. So far, I've been lucky in that I can crush her pills. I mix the powder into a teaspoon of food and she eats that before I give her the rest of her food.

[@btoth31]

I have to give my cat doxycycline. I am so scared to give this medication. Why don’t they make it easier to give, without worrying that you can harm the esophagus? My vet said she doesn’t want me to crush it up and put it in his food. Doesn’t want to prescribe the oral suspension. Why is this medication not made easier to give a cat?

[@friendlyfire7861]

Thanks for showing a case where it is DIFFICULT. Those videos where it all goes perfectly...🙄

[@litost]

i give them some food so the pill can go all the way down. i have see an idea but im not quit sure, they pulverized the pill and mix it with some food and put it on their paws so they can lick it.. any thoughts on that?

[@SU-II]

If u listen to the first part of thus video she mentioned already

[@litost]

@@SU-II yeah i saw that but it was a slightly different procedure, i mean i got the part that not all medicines can be crushed down, but one thing is hide the pill on food and the other is to crush it with something and put it on their paws for them to lick.. i understand some pills are not able to take that approach, but is it a good practice for the ones you can? so far i say no, but it would be better if it is :P so thats why i ask

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

@@litost Hey, good question. Anything that helps the cat get the pill down and is appropriate for the medication type is a good idea in my books, but any time that you put something on the cat's paw to get them to lick it, you're at risk of the cat potentially flicking it off their paw or not getting everything down. So it's not perfect, but it could be helpful.

[@brooksrownd2275]

One does not simply..."pill" a cat. ;D (alas, youtube comments don't allow Sean Bean meme GIFs)

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

🧔‍♂️👌Something like this! Thank you!

[@dalelangsford4951]

This was the most stressful video I've ever watched!

[@szelop]

I agree! My stomach was in knots watching Forest!

[@wudgee]

That’s how my cat is. It’s not easy.

[@spacecatboy2962]

it can help to rub their ears after putting in the pill.

[@CS-mv3nw]

We wrapped the pills with braunschweiger.

[@janellabaxter8372]

I strongly recommend using a pill popper. I wouldn't be able to give my cat her heart meds otherwise.

[@Rawbherb]

Poor Forrest. I would try holding his head back a littttle farther and maybe grip his jaw a little tighter so he can’t move as easily

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Thank you for the advice. :)

[@arashy]

I definitely can’t pill my cats. I’ve had to use a different form of the medication or take them to the vet. “Don’t get frustrated”!?! Good luck with that. Sigh. P.S. The first time you pill your cat is the easiest, because they don’t know what’s coming.

[@roxannesmaldone3465]

I OPEN MY PEANUTS SUPPLEMENT , BUT HE SMELLS IT AND WALKS AWAY. I live by myself.

[@AllAboutCatsYT]

Hmm, tricky! Can you mix it into food or maybe mix it with water in a syringe?

[@roxannesmaldone3465]

I OPEN the pill then and mix it with his food. I live by myself.

[@szelop]

My cat is not tempted by any type of tasty treat. I cannot find a way to give her a pill!

[@Crazy4mypets]

My cat doesn't let me pill her, put anything topical, or anything. I have tried with food to give her medication or liquid medication is the same struggle. Put her topical flea medication is a struggle. I have to jump her like I am a robber that wants to steal her money. 🤦‍♀️ Some cats are hard to medicate, period.

[@bettyboop1524]

My way to give a cat a pill, have it made into a gel that you wipe on kitties ears TaDa

[@BeaMonz]

Ahhh.... I know the pain of pilling a cat.... I pulled my hair out every time I have to do it....

[@joolstacho8114]

This is hilarious eh! Bloody little moggie! -Doncha love 'em!

[@Osama_Abbas]

What a funny video, 3 Vet-Approved Methods, none of them worked.