Giving Medicine to a Cat

Giving medicine to a cat can be tricky. It's often not as simple as hiding it in a treat, and mixing medication into food could have the accidental effect of causing cats to avoid their food.

Here's how to give a pill to a cat:

1. Hold your cat’s head with one hand so that its nose is pointed upward and it's looking up at the ceiling.

2. Hold the pill in the other hand. Use the fingertips on that hand to open your cat’s mouth by gently pulling down on its lower jaw.

3. While continuing to gently hold the cat's mouth open, use your fingertips on that same hand to place the pill far back on your cat’s tongue. Alternatively, a pet piller (a handheld device with a rubber tip) can help place the pill on the back of the tongue.

Cat taking pill

For liquid medicine, follow these steps:

1. Hold your cat’s head so it is tilted slightly upward.

2. Insert the tip of the syringe into the mouth near the back teeth on either side.

3. Gently squeeze the syringe to release the liquid into the back of the cat’s mouth.

Spot-on products or other medications are administered directly on the coat or skin.

If you need to give your cat eye drops or ear medicine, ask your vet for a demonstration. If you're having difficulty, your vet can also demonstrate other techniques and offer specific guidance.