How to Give a Cat Medication

[@LynxMajic]

How to give a pill to a cat. Demonstration cat: an angel. My cat: THE DEVIL

[@eddiew2325]

no offense but at least a devil wears prada

[@andyharpist2938]

How to give pill to cat. Ask cat to open mouth; give pill; stroke cat. In your dreams! My cat has the strength of a small pony and simply ran through the kitchen door- panel.

[@bjcoughlin6752]

sounds like my cat has a twin with "CLAWS" sharp enough to cut through steel.

[@dmg-6449]

So funny, your comment, Andy! I've tried every trick on the videos for the past week and no luck!!

[@LynxMajic]

LOL small pony! 😂

[@susanbeiner4447]

me too its impossible:)

[@KafkasCat]

Try using a clip in their scruff. I have a couple cat clients that respond very well to this technique…they go from heavyweight wrestlers to docile lumps.

[@lisahardeman-dunn9211]

Yeah, the difference is this cat really mellow. Giving liquid lactulose and a syringe which is sticky with a very strong cat whipping his head side to side even with two people is what a lot of us are dealing with. We don’t even know if they’re getting the medication, the frustration, sadness and anxiety for all of us is overwhelming.

[@Betonit100]

I don't even need to give my cat a pill, yet I watched the whole video. She is a really good speaker/ good with communication and explaining.

[@davidcaram7675]

Absolutely

[@annrafkin7938]

My cat.after a few pills given in pill pocket, now eats pill pocket, and spits the pill out!

[@stonercentral7989]

that sucks.

[@vitaminb4869]

Haha!

[@lj0339]

Get new cat. That one’s too smart and on to you 👀

[@freewaybaby]

Mine won't even take a pill pocket withOUT a pill in it anymore! Ruined for life!

[@dmg-6449]

Same here! I think I've got one of those with a high IQ. Cannot be outsmarted!

[@smitty195]

This is a great video!! Thank you so much, Doctor. My vet never told me any of these things. Now I know how to give my cat a pill. Finally!

[@wetwarex]

Very well done and thank you, Doc! I have only one small suggestion--for use with Pill Pockets. Consider using tweezers to place the pill into the pocket, so that none of your fingers ever comes into contact with the med.

[@ethicscannie5716]

Great tweezer suggestion, wetwarex!

[@jillgiovan]

I am so grateful I found this video. My cat has to take two pills a day to manage a heart condition (alas, he is not long for this world, but the medication should lengthen his life.) I was freaking out because I was trying lots of different things but nothing was working. Mixing it into food? Forget it, that doesn't work. Pill pockets? That only worked with my cat for a couple of days. Last night I used this technique and it worked like a charm, and was less stressful for the cat. You're a lifesaver, Dr. Wallach! Thank you.

[@423HC]

This is the first week after my cat has been diagnosed with heart disease. She takes two of her pills fairly easily, but there is one pill that she absolutely hates. I hope this technique works on her today. No matter what, I just want to make her comfortable in the final parts of her life

[@IuliaBlaga]

Finally! Someone gives clear instructions. Thank you so much for this!

[@isaaclove4716]

Thanks for the helpful video! I tried crushing a worm pill into shredded chicken and our cat is offended and will not touch it even though chicken is his favorite! I think I’ll be brave enough to try the pill…

[@deborah0536]

This was very helpful. Thank you.

[@stefprezinta6806]

I know this video is old but i want to say thank you. It was a lifesaver. First time i tried to give my cats a dewormer it was an absolute fiasco. Doing it the way you showed was so easy. I gave them lots of treats and love after. Again thank you very much.

[@mariavann7513]

Lucky you!

[@ambermaccraig7316]

I have a wonderful vet here in Archdale, NC but unfortunately my mother picked my kitty up for me today and I wasn't able to watch the vet "pilling" my kitty so I was completely clueless on how to do so. "Oh my god, she is gonna bite me," "How in the hell am I gonna get her to swallow this?," "Is there a way to pill her so that she doesn't spit the pill back out?," "Am I gonna hurt her by scruffing her bc it looks painful?," these are just a few, of many, questions that were running through my mind. THANK GOD FOR KZbin! This vet seems very friendly and genuine, you can tell she really loves her resident kitties by the way she touches them as not to hurt them and by the things she says like "pet them all throughout the day" and so on. This video really helped me and thankfully my vet sent home a pill plunger w my Bella so I'm all set. Thank you so much Dr. Stacey Wallach.. ( lol, and Bella says thank you for suggesting treats after she is a good girl and takes her pill.)

[@marciaschuffman8809]

We used the syringe using your tips and it really helped. This morning I bought the Pill Pockets and again, used the Doctor's advice about not pinching the pocket with the hand used to place the pill in it. YES! No hassle for us and less stress for him. ThankyouThankyou!

[@pjlewisful]

watched a few of these in preparation of giving a pill to my cat and this is the best one!

[@madrigalmejia]

I watched several videos and only this one helped me do it... Thank you so much Doc! Greetings from my cat too!

[@AmericanBusinessGrp]

Thank you! We just took in the neighborhood's 15 year old mascot and street kitty who got very very sick. The vet has prescribed two liquid meds and one pill to treat a nasty infection and this video make the whole process go much much smoother. Thank you!

[@marksinger685]

THANK YOU! This technique worked well giving liquid Clindamycin to our 9 year old male cat. Previous to this, I was wearing the med!

[@DavidWestonDesign]

Best demo ever….thank you

[@johnmiller3449]

Thank you for this educational video! I was struggling until I saw it, and then did exactly as you said. Worked perfectly and there was no fuss from my cat.

[@christinakeenan9044]

Most detailed tutorial I have ever seen -- simply the best! Many thanks.

[@rynndodds6374]

I know its been a while since you posted this but my husband, myself and my cat Kira owe you a big thank you. I have used advice of others, but it wasn’t until nuggets like your cat will back up get behind her and holding just in front of the ears that we mastered our technique. I hope these years have been good to you. I know your tutorial will live on as the best. Thank you!❤❤

[@larissacomeau92]

Thank you so so much, i can actually do it now!! My vet gave me metal tweezers and that was very scary, i didnt want to hurt their throat! That hand postion is what saved me, now its so easy!

[@darvish89]

Great helpful tips.

[@kathleendivney57]

Super helpful. My cat seems so much less stressed - no more wrestling and more success getting the more of the bitter liquid to actually go down. Less trauma all around.

[@karendelgizzo6002]

This is the best video out of all the ones I've watched. Love this Vet! Ty I got so much out of this. ❤

[@IliyaMoroumetz]

I did not know that the pill popper syringe was a thing! I'm gonna check to see where I can get one!

[@davidcaram7675]

Love your presentation.extremely helpful!

[@rebeccabates18]

Thank you. This has really helped me. GIving my cats their tablets was always a nightmare but doing this method has saved so much stress and time for us. Last night I even managed to give Oscar his pill in one go!

[@patrickkelly7530]

You are awesome, thank you so much. Your method made it very easy. I wish you were located in Buffalo N.Y.

[@flightattendantsteven]

My cat is a stray...just getting used to being indoors most of the time. And he's so used to fighting for his life that he's a real demon when it comes to taking a pill. I just couldn't get him to take it (and I live alone so there's nobody to help me). After watching him clean himself I wondered why I couldn't just work with his natural nature to lick things off. So, I mashed his pill (metronidazole) into a little dab of yogurt and tapped that onto his paws. It took three little taps of this mixture on his paws, but he licked it all clean. He didn't like it one bit, but it was WAAAAY easier than prying his mouth open and popping a pill into his throat.

[@jennyrose9454]

I am going to try this on my tabby

[@Cp6uH_]

Thank you! Last time it was a struggle. With your guidance it went smooth.

[@mariakuntz9239]

This video did it for us! Watched several other videos before coming across this one and no luck, but the tip to keep the head up and mouth closed a couple of seconds of dropping the pill into the back of the mouth, did it. Thank you so much🎉

[@leeannrenshaw8585]

Thank you so much! Awesome video and ideas for a difficult job. And it worked with my "difficult" cat!

[@evasorney1715]

Thank you. This was a great demonstration. I have been giving my cat pills for about two weeks now two times a day. I started with the pill Doser pen using your instructions and it worked great. Now I don’t even need the doser. I’m just dropping it down the hatch. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you. My cat is very jumpy and this is caused her very little stress. Thank you again.❤

[@lechat8736]

I wish my vet were as skilled as you are Dr. Wallach :)) Thank you very much!

[@6maxwell99]

Thank you for the awesome video. I normally give my cat her medicine crushed up mixed in a little Nom Noms but today she decided she wasn't going to take it. After trying everything possible to get her to take her pill I came across your video and followed your directions and it worked like a charm.

[@sugaintheraw1]

Thank you SO much for this very good instructional video. ( yours is the best out of ALL that I watched) I just gave me kitty a pill following your direction. I was dreading doing it alone. I must say she didn't open her mouth though...I had to pry it open but I didn't put my fingers in her mouth with the pill...I dropped the pill straight in and kept holding her head high to the ceiling and she finally swallowed after a long time. This I squirted a small amount of water in her mouth with a syringe...I has some Hill's A.D. food waiting in a bowl right in front of her. So...now I just have to do this five more days..once a day, and pray this antibiotic works. The last antibiotic caused havoc on her stomach and system. Having a sick kitty really sucks! For them...and for you. Best of luck to all the kitty parents..😢

[@skittles2055]

💕

[@DungLe-by8vv]

Thank so much. I'm trying with my cat.

[@youngpurplebunny]

Thank You Dr.Wallach! I tried and success after watch your tutorial!!!

[@EvanGeed]

My cat doesn't like being picked up, but will lay with you and such it just has to be on his terms. Even still, I tried the backed against a wall method and it surprisingly worked. Thanks so much.

[@FriePresse]

thanks you from the bottom of my heart

[@KafkasCat]

Excellent video! I have a cat care business that specializes in in-home medical care. I send this link to clients that are struggling with their cats meds.

[@PegsterSmall]

You don’t happen to be in California do you?

[@corybyrne6948]

It worked great. I squated in a corner with him, tilted his head back and when he opened his mouth I dropped the pill in. Had to pet his neck for a while to see the swallow. For us, in the corner on the floor was the right way to handle him. Thank you!

[@netterz3411]

Me and my husband just gave our cat a pill and it surprisingly went pretty well. I wrapped myself around him so he couldn’t run and held his head in the air and my husband dropped the pill in his mouth and then I held his head up and rubbed his neck until he licked his lips and swallowed and it actually worked! I’m shocked 😱

[@butyarblanche6775]

This is the best video on giving cats medications. I wish she was my vet!

[@ThatClassic70sGirl]

Our semi-feral female Tortie Manx was so sweet about taking her pills, believe it or not. After she'd been hospitalized for several days with severe liver problems, and requiring tube-feeding for weeks afterwards at home, we would just put the pill dispenser-thingy in her mouth, push the plunger gently and she'd swallow it right down! No struggling, no restraints, no "pill pocket" gimmicks or multiple human assistance needed. She was just that good-natured about it, that she put all our other cats to shame! And I'm not sure why, because she is to this day the second most shy cat in our household. She's easily startled, and very nervous about being picked up and held; although she absolutely loves to be brushed-and that will pretty much put her in a relaxed, good mood for almost anything.

[@DawnRK3204]

This is so perfect. Thank you.

[@debbiemolnar5250]

Good explanation of the all the different methods of giving medication to a cat.

[@yottoo.5037]

Excellent video! Thanks so much for your advice. These are great tips I plan to use for my cat's medication.

[@dianamincher6479]

Many, many thanks!

[@lindaincolorado2646]

I saw several videos and articles where they said do not tip the head back if giving liquid, it will go into the lungs. Put the liquid into the pouch on either side of the mouth.

[@ughUSERNAME]

Thank you! I used the method at 3:15 with much better results today than yesterday. :)

[@cosmicphoto05]

The nearest vet to me is about three hours away, so this is very helpful.

[@GameOver-nj6qe]

Thank you so much for this video! Your little "chin up" trick worked like a charm, even with liquid medication!

[@Inisfad]

I have to give my cat 2ml liquid. I am alone, do the towel thing, but found videos saying to do the liquid slowly as the cat might aspirate. Of course, like this video says, once the cat tastes the meds, they won’t let you finish giving it. I hope that doing it quickly is ok, as that’s the only way I can get the meds into him.

[@eccentricoldcow]

Didn't know that pill pockets existed. And it is about time someone made pill popping for pets easier, especially cats. Great stuff as long as they like the pill pockets

[@Stan1689]

Very useful information. I ever gave my cat a pill that wasn't successful. She is not a calm cat like your demonstrating cats. She shook her head and kept trying to close her mouth while I put the pill into her mouth. She ended up chewing the pill and threw up and got lots of bubble coming out of her mouth due to the bitterness.

[@lindahandley5267]

I like the one, holding his head to force the mouth open and the syringe one also.

[@ontheotherhand7627]

Thank you. Very helpful information. I would speculate that if you occasionally use the piller or the pill pocket to administer Churu-type treats, they might be a little more open to the process.

[@Mina-op5rc]

Great video. Thank you!

[@lorettamcintyre3159]

Thank you so very much for the tips and advice! I have a cat that requires 2 pills a day for the rest of her life. Hyperthyroidism. I intend to put your advice on giving her love the whole day into practice.

[@mariavann7513]

My cat has hyperthyroidism too and requires 4 pills a day... she is too smart... we have tried everything and today will try the pill plunger again.

[@catherineblair550]

Best video on this topic I've seen so far. Thanks

[@caroljanssen5348]

Thank you Dr. Wallach! We have a very sick kitty, unfortunately, but this has helped us with giving him his Prednisone pills. (P.S. MIZ-ZOU! Our daughter graduated from Mizzou this past May in with a degree in Agricultural Journalism and is working in Jefferson City for the Department of Agriculture in Marketing. She loved Mizzou, loves Missouri and so do we! (She grew up in Houston, TX, where we are living as empty nesters now).

[@scarefaceleslie8033]

The towel trick works well for me. I have been using a towel for years but I cannot find a decent pill popper like she uses in the video.

[@loriharding9248]

Aww. Aaron is such a cutie😍

[@mattosullivan5502]

My cat starts fazes through walls when it sees a towel

[@luckylane354]

Poor Aaron but I am grateful for both of these kitties for helping me understand how to administer the phenobarbital to my cat Lou Lou. 11 seizures in 3 hours... metastatic CA discovered on X-ray. My baby is my life.

[@nicoleslaughter7983]

Omfg years later and still relevant. Thank you.

[@Ava_Orchid]

if you get a liquid medication that doesn't have a flavor already or even if it does if you go to Publix certain stores will have bacon or sausage or chicken flavored additive that they can give to make it a little bit more palatable if it's a bitter medication and it causes that hypersalivation. it's still best to do it as quickly as possible I mean the flavor it does not fool the cat it just makes it a little bit more easy.

[@kono84]

I find this video very informative. Let's see if it helps us tomorrow morning. I surely hope so. Thank you so much for making and posting this video.

[@m.e.dysinger-berry6075]

I read that the cat can choke if head is tilted back too far as demonstrated with the liquid.

[@dingdongrocket]

thanks doc

[@powrxplor69]

Thank you for the video. It really helped! I was expecting my cat to really fight me but it was fairly easy.

[@kathyleslie1903]

Wonderful video--we really appreciate your matter-of-fact, understanding tone. Thank you!

[@ThePaigeadamson]

so very helpful!! Thank you! I can put away the hazmat suit, goggles and hard hat now :)

[@boogerish]

i tried and failed miserably :(

[@queasyRider3]

ah!! so THAT'S how it's done. Thanks for posting. And thanks to Erin for being such a good sport, taking all those placebos (I hope)

[@ThatClassic70sGirl]

+queasyRider3 - Yeah, that's what I was thinking! (placebos). Didn't know they made them for cats, though. Oh, and was that "Erin" or "Aaron"? I thought they'd referred to the cat in the masculine ("He swallowed, he's done ... good boy!")

[@2bdefacto]

I have a 16 lb Tabby Cat, he gets a lot of excersize, he's not fat but powerful. He is mellow until I try to give him pill, won't take it in food or treat or pill pockets. Show me how "one" person can give a cat like that a pill without getting maimed?

[@jeanalbanese6872]

I have been giving my cat a pill for months now. I have always crushed it up and put in his food. Sometimes he'd eat a little at a time and eventually some of the food got thrown out and never knew how much of the pill he was actually getting. Then had to worry about other cat getting at the food with the medicine in it. Right after I watched this video, I decided to try to give him pill uncrushed. Even though I didn't follow it exactly, I got the entire pill down him.

[@keerthana7353]

I'm always afraid that i would squirt the liquid meds into their wind pipe or something.

[@iq-ride9329]

Why doesn't the medicine companies come out with a solution to this problem?

[@cynthiakessens3367]

The very best question ever. Why don’t Vets push this?

[@jadeedmundson5715]

Thank you!!!

[@fiddlingglassblower]

I have that same pill-popper. It's too long to use very easily. I chopped about 2-2 1/2" out of the middle (both parts), then taped them back together using packing tape. Works great now, except it doesn't hold the larger pills, such as Baytril.

[@jenatsky]

Thank you for turning me onto other available formulations of feline meds that me vet failed to do. Utilizing a gel or chewable formulation takes the strain off me.

[@cindyleoppky7229]

Thank you! Now I actually know what to do, and I am sure my cat will be happy to have a less-stress pill time. 🙂

[@kgd6147]

Thanks so much, I finally grabbed her head like you said, while she was in a body bag as I call it...whewwww, never thought the antibiotic would go down. Thanks.

[@gcozmc]

Kitty burrito sounds a tiny bit nicer! But it made me laugh still.

[@bethjeans3780]

My cats detest Greenie Pill Pockets, but like the Royal Canin ones, called Pill Assists. None of my neighbors’ cats like them either.

[@lauramajestic3624]

thank you so much. I have a cat that loves treats, and one that does not. this is very help ful. I always struggled with getting the pill to the back. thank you

[@paulinaj8218]

Thank u so much this helped

[@AmeliaThatsMe1]

My cat is half feral and has shredded my hands even when wrapped in a towel. She won't take a pill in a treat and she eats around any pill in her food. These pill poppers are a lifesaver. She 9 pounds and I think a reincarnated Tasmanian devil! But I love her.

[@PegsterSmall]

This was extremely helpful. Now maybe you can help us with what you can possibly say to a vet to get them to not charge you an arm and a leg. We ALL want to take good care of our pets but the prices charged by vets caused me to lose my cat Katy cause I live on a tiny disability check and I couldn’t afford it. And care card still has to be paid back within 6 months or the interest rate goes way up. Pet insurance is too expensive too.

[@Wonderful75]

My wild Bengal cat is hyperactive and picky ! So nothing works for her and you can't cheat on her and give any medication...

[@pamnguyen8766]

Same here. Haven't been able to give her any liquid meds

[@WiwatRianarong]

Thank you Doc...I'll try to do this

[@jrbutterfly31]

I am going to get one of those pill poppers... I managed to get through 5 days of post-surgery antibiotics with my cat, and I have the technique down, she doesn't claw me and she doesn't whip her head around, but she learned to just lash her tongue like crazy as soon as I got her mouth open. Like trying to get a ball past a blindly-flailing goalie. Most days it took me 3 tries. Now she has to have a chemo pill 3 days a week, they're bigger, and I have to wear gloves when handling the medication, so I think it will be better if I just use the pill pusher to get past the lashing tongue.

[@user-iq2iy7dk6g]

Thanks for the video!! I am just now having to treat one of my cats for hyperthyroidism, which means a lifetime dose of pills!!! The food thing no longer works, the pill popper only worked for about a week.....I am now going to try pill pockets. Thanks for all the tricks and suggestions from others!!! If this finally fails, luckily there's an ear gel I can use. Good video though!! Thx.

[@patriciamay2690]

This video was very helpful and informative. Thank you doctor

[@benhousten1211]

I have to give pills to my cat; I'd never done so before. I've watched four videos on how to do this. This is the last one I'd watched before trying to do it myself. I like this video, especially because the vet explains what she's doing very well. After watching the videos, I tried to do it myself, and was successful. I suppose every situation is different. In my case, it worked after two tries, without a towel or harness, even without water after. I watched him, and it stayed down.

[@trader891]

Great video! I have to give a feral cat oral liquid by syringe. First dose was mixed in with food and he ate it, but considering shooting second and final dose into his mouth.

[@lindacowles756]

Thank you, Dr. Wallach, for a very educational, informative, and articulate video on medicating cats. I had to give my cat meds through a syringe tonight and was not shown how to draw the meds or how to administer them to the cat. Because of the current restrictions, I had to wait in my car, so it's probably not practical to demonstrate this technique. I will definitely try your method of positioning and grasping the cat so that its mouth will open and I can squirt the meds in with the syringe. Is it ever okay to mix liquid meds in with canned food or don't you recommend that? My cat has to have aluminum hydroxy as a phosphate binder with food. Thanks again for a great tutorial.