TabbyThe short version:
- Try hiding the pill in a small, tasty treat first.
- If that fails, tilt your cat's head up, open the jaw, and drop the pill at the back of the tongue.
- Always follow with a little water or food, so the pill doesn't get stuck.
- Stay calm, keep it quick, and give a reward after.
Before you start
- Check with your vet whether the pill can be given with food, and whether it can be split or crushed. Don't do either without asking.
- Get everything ready before you pick up your cat: the pill, a treat, and a syringe with a little water.
- Pick a calm moment, not right after a fright or a fight with the other cat.
- Make it routine. Same time, same place, same reward. Cats relax when they know what's coming.
Method 1: Hide it in a treat
This is the easiest way, and it works for many cats.
- Give one treat without a pill, so your cat isn't suspicious.
- Give the treat with the pill inside. Pill pockets, a little wet food, a soft cat treat or a lick of tuna all work.
- Give one more plain treat right after.
Use a small amount, so your cat eats it in one bite. If the pill is bitter, hide it inside an empty gelatin capsule first. Your vet or pharmacy can give you some.
Method 2: Pill your cat by hand
When treats don't work, this is the most reliable way. It gets faster with practice.
- Hold your cat securely. Kneel behind them on the floor, or put them on a table with their back against you.
- Hold the head from above with one hand, thumb and finger at the corners of the mouth.
- Tilt the nose up towards the ceiling. The jaw usually drops open a little.
- Open the mouth by gently pressing the lower front teeth down with a finger of your other hand.
- Drop the pill as far back on the tongue as you can, in the middle.
- Close the mouth and keep the head tilted. Gently stroke the throat or blow lightly on the nose. Licking the lips means they swallowed.
- Follow with water. Squirt a few millilitres from a syringe into the side of the mouth, or give a treat.
Never give a pill "dry". A pill that sits in a cat's throat can damage it. Some antibiotics are known for this. Always follow with water or food.
Method 3: Use a pill popper
A pill popper (also called a pill gun) is a plastic syringe that holds the pill at its tip. You put it at the back of the mouth and push the plunger. It's good if you have short fingers or a cat who bites. Wet the tip first, and follow with water just like Method 2.
Method 4: The towel wrap
For a cat who scratches and squirms, wrap them firmly in a towel with only the head out, like a burrito. Then use Method 2 or 3. A second person holding the cat makes this much easier.
When your cat won't take pills at all
Some cats never get used to it, and that's okay. Ask your vet about other forms:
- a liquid version you give with a syringe,
- a flavoured chew or a compounded version made at a pharmacy,
- a gel rubbed on the ear, which works for some medicines like methimazole,
- a long-acting injection at the clinic, for some medicines.
Did someone already give it?
When a pill gets spat out, dropped or forgotten, the next question is always the same. Tabby shows today's doses for your whole household. Tap Given, and everyone sees it, so your cat never gets a dose twice or misses one.
When to call your vet
- Your cat vomits after the medicine more than once.
- Your cat keeps gagging, drooling or swallowing hard after a pill. It may be stuck.
- You can't give the medicine for a day or more.
- You aren't sure whether your cat got the dose. Don't guess and give another.
Questions people ask
Can I crush my cat's pill and mix it into food?
Only if your vet says so. Some pills are coated or slow-release, and many taste so bitter when crushed that your cat refuses the whole meal. Ask your vet first.
My cat spat the pill out. Should I give another one?
If you find the whole pill, you can usually try again. If you aren't sure how much your cat swallowed, don't give a second one. Call your vet and ask what to do.
Why is my cat foaming at the mouth after a pill?
Usually because the pill tasted bitter. Cats drool or foam to get rid of the taste. Offer water or a treat. If your cat seems unwell or keeps drooling, call your vet.
Are there alternatives to pills for cats?
Often, yes. Ask your vet whether the medicine comes as a liquid, a flavoured chew, or a compounded version. Some medicines, such as methimazole, can be a gel rubbed on the ear.
This guide is general information from a cat owner, not veterinary advice. Always follow your vet's instructions for your cat's medicine.