A vet explains: How to give your cat medicine and what to do if they resist

If you own a cat, there will likely be times when they need medication. Giving medicine to a reluctant cat can be quite challenging. This article will explain in detail how to administer medication to your cat.

The Necessity of Giving Cats Medicine and Basic Knowledge

Why do cats dislike medicine?

When a cat gets sick, it's sometimes necessary to administer medication for treatment. Just like humans, who might be prescribed several types of medicine for an illness, the same applies to cats.

There are several types of medicine, but those prescribed by veterinarians typically come as tablets, powders, or liquids. Cats will never take medicine on their own. In most cases, you'll need to place it directly into their mouth, but they strongly dislike having their mouths forced open. Furthermore, cats prefer to eat what they ate during weaning, and tend to dislike anything else. In addition, some medicines are bitter, leading cats to perceive all medicine as unpleasant and consequently dislike it.

Types of medicine and administration methods (tablets, powders, liquids)

Medicines prescribed at veterinary clinics include tablets, powders, and liquids. Tablets are commonly prescribed. For tablets, you place them deep in the cat's mouth and stroke their throat to encourage swallowing.

Some medicines are originally powders, but for cats who absolutely cannot take tablets, they may be prescribed as powder. This can be dissolved in water and given with a dropper, or dissolved in a liquid treat and let the cat lick it.

Liquid medicines are often originally in liquid form, but if the dose is extremely small or for kittens, they may be dissolved in syrup and prescribed as a liquid. Since they are liquid, they can be given directly into the mouth or mixed with food.

The importance of accurate medication for health management

Medicines prescribed by veterinarians come with instructions, such as how many times a day to administer them. This dosage frequency is determined based on how long the medicine is effective in the body. Therefore, if you arbitrarily reduce the dosage frequency or stop administering the medicine, it may not be effective or could put a strain on their body. Regarding antibiotics, it is known that administering them inconsistently can lead to the proliferation of drug-resistant pathogens in the body (drug-resistant bacteria), making the medicine completely ineffective.

To ensure the medicine works effectively, it is essential to follow the prescribed dosage.

Specific methods for giving cats medicine

Tips for giving tablets: Direct oral administration and wrapping methods

Tablets can be given directly into the cat's mouth or wrapped in a treat designed for medication support.

Giving tablets directly has the advantage of ensuring the medication is taken, but it also carries the risk of being bitten. Gently tilt the cat's head upwards, open its mouth with your hand, and place the tablet deep into its throat. Be careful not to place it too far back, as this could trigger a gag reflex or cause it to enter the windpipe. Conversely, if placed too far forward, the cat might spit it out, so the key is to place it at the base of the tongue. Using a pill popper can help administer the medicine without directly putting your hand in the cat's mouth, preventing injury. After inserting the pill, immediately close the cat's mouth and stroke its throat to encourage swallowing. Cats are known to have underdeveloped esophageal movements, making it easy for things to remain in the esophagus. Therefore, giving a small amount of water with a dropper or a reward treat immediately after medication can help the pill move down to the stomach more easily.

Wrapping tablets in a medication support treat has the advantage of administering the medicine without causing mutual discomfort, but sometimes the cat might spit out just the medicine. The key is to completely wrap the tablet in the treat. To prevent the cat from noticing the medicine, give plain treats before and after the medicated one.

How to administer powdered or liquid medicine: Precautions when mixing with food

Powdered medicine is very difficult to administer directly, so it's usually dissolved in water or a liquid treat. If the medicine is very bitter, mixing it with treats might make the cat refuse to eat anything, so dissolving it in water is often safer. Dissolving it in too much water might make it difficult for the cat to finish, so dissolve it in a small amount of water.

Liquid medicine can be given directly into the mouth or mixed with food. If your cat eats well and the medicine is tasteless, mixing it with food might be easier. When mixing with food, put it in a small portion of food, and once that is eaten, add the rest of the meal.

When administering powdered or liquid medicine with a dropper, it's best to trickle it in from the side of the mouth. Be careful not to use too much water or administer it too quickly, as this could cause the cat to choke. Adjust the amount and speed as needed.

Strategies for cats who dislike medicine

Administer medicine calmly

When giving medicine to your cat, do so calmly. First, prepare the medicine, and then have water or treats ready. If the cat tries to escape, wrapping it in a towel can help it calm down.

Attempting to give medicine suddenly will likely not go well, so if you own a cat, practice administering medicine regularly. This way, you won't panic when the real situation arises. For practice, feed your cat treats as if they were medicine. This teaches them that what's put into their mouth isn't unpleasant.

Restraint methods for gentle and reliable administration

If you forcefully restrain a reluctant cat to administer medicine, it will associate medicine with unpleasantness and become even more resistant. Therefore, try to administer the medicine as quickly as possible to minimize stress. To do this quickly, you need to restrain the cat to prevent movement and administer it in an instant. Wrapping the cat's front and hind legs in a towel not only restricts movement but also provides comfort for cats who prefer confined spaces. Use a large towel and wrap it in a way that limits movement. Practicing this regularly will make the cat less averse to being towel-wrapped.

Rewards after medication and building positive experiences

Taking medicine is not a fun experience for cats. Therefore, by hiding medicine in something tasty or giving a reward after they've taken it, you can turn it into a positive experience, which might make the next administration easier. Training your cat to eat treats as if they were medicine regularly teaches them that "things put in their mouth aren't bad," making them less averse to having their mouth opened or having things placed deep in their throat.

While some conditions may heal naturally without medication, certain diseases can only be treated with oral drugs. It's not uncommon for owners to say, "My cat doesn't like it, so I haven't given it to them," but this carries the risk of the disease worsening. Therefore, always administer the medicine prescribed by your veterinarian.

Considerations based on your cat's condition and reactions

What to do if your cat spits out medication during administration

If your cat vomits immediately after taking medicine, the medicine will likely be expelled as well. If you can retrieve the medicine, administer it again.

If your cat vomits some time after swallowing, check if the medicine is present in the vomit. If it is, it's advisable to re-administer it. If not, consult your veterinarian about whether an additional dose is needed. If your cat repeatedly vomits every time medicine is administered, it might be a side effect of the medicine. In that case, also consult your veterinarian.

Dealing with side effects and when to consult a veterinarian

While the intended effect of a drug is called the primary effect, harmful effects are called side effects. Prescribed medications are given in amounts that are not burdensome to the body, but unexpected side effects can occur. Side effect symptoms vary, from mild to severe, life-threatening ones. In particular, a severe side effect called anaphylactic shock can occur with antibiotics, and if not addressed immediately, it can be fatal. Diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, staggering, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness are possible symptoms. If anything seems unusual, stop the medication and contact your veterinarian immediately.

Considerations for multi-cat households

In a multi-cat household, simply putting medicine in a food bowl might lead to other cats eating it. Therefore, either ensure the medicine is given directly into the cat's mouth or isolate the cat when administering medication. Also, when using anticancer drugs, components of the drug are excreted in urine and feces, which could potentially affect other cats. Depending on the type of medication being taken, it may be necessary to keep the cat isolated.

Options when medicine cannot be administered

Consulting your veterinarian to change the form of the medicine

Many medicines are prescribed in tablet form, but if it's difficult to administer, you might be able to request a change to powder or liquid medicine. Before giving up on medication, consult your veterinarian to see if the medicine can be changed.

Alternative methods such as injections or topical medications

If short-term, reliable administration is needed, and an injectable form is available, injections may be used. Some medications can act for a long time with a single injection. Conversely, if multiple administrations are required per day, it may necessitate daily visits for injections or even hospitalization.

For skin inflammations requiring anti-itch medication, in addition to oral medication, topical treatments like ointments may be used, typically for relatively mild symptoms. When using topical medications, an Elizabethan collar might be used to prevent the cat from licking it off.

Utilizing veterinary medication services

Veterinary hospitals sometimes administer medication to cats in-clinic if owners are unable to do so at home. This offers the advantage of ensuring the cat receives the medicine. However, it also has disadvantages: it requires visiting the clinic for each dose, which can cause significant stress for the cat and make them averse to future visits.

Summary

Administering medication to cats can be quite a struggle. There are various methods, so find one that minimizes stress for both of you. It's extremely dangerous to reduce or stop medication on your own initiative. Always follow your veterinarian's instructions. If you're having significant difficulty, be sure to consult your veterinarian.