How to Give a Cat a Tablet

No matter how well you care for your cat, there will inevitably come a time in their life when you’ll need to give them a tablet. This could be to treat an existing condition or even just to give them a routine deworming tablet for cats. 

Cats, however, aren’t typically fans of taking tablets, so we’re here to talk you through the best way to give cats pills without too much stress or fuss. 

How to Give Your Cat a Tablet

If you’re not looking to trick your cat into taking their medicine, then there’s a simple way to give them a tablet. 

First, check the medicine’s datasheet thoroughly for instructions on how the tablet should be given. Sometimes, the tablet can be crushed or mixed with food, but this varies depending on the medicine. Also, make sure to check the dosage information, as some tablets need to be given whole and others in halves or quarters. 

To administer your cat’s tablet orally:

• Get the pills ready and within arms reach
• Hold your cat steady with them facing away from you. If you can get someone else to hold them, even better, as this will allow you to focus on administering the tablet. 
• Hold the pill between your thumb and index finger with one hand.
• With your free hand, hold the back and top of your cat’s head and extend your fingers to gently grasp your cat’s cheekbones with your thumb and index finger. 
• Tilt your cat’s head back so they’re looking upwards. This typically makes their jaws open. If it doesn’t, apply a small amount o pressure on the lower jaw with your middle finger. 
• Try and put the pill as far back into your cat’s mouth as possible and hold their mouth closed for at least 30 seconds. 
• Gently stroke down your cat’s throat, or blow softly on their nose to encourage swallowing. 
• Once you’re sure they’ve had their full dose, make sure to reward them with lots of love or a couple of treats. 

If you’re struggling to hold the pill steady or put it into your cat’s mouth, there are a range of pill assist tools like this Catac Pill Giver that can make it far easier. 

How to Disguise Tablets for Cats 

Even if following the above method, there are some cats that are just sneaky enough to spit up the tablet when you’re not looking. Or, perhaps they’re just wriggly enough that trying to give them the tablet by hand is impossible. 

In these cases (and depending on the medicine you’re administering), you may be able to hide the tablet in some food or a treat to make sure they take it. 

The best food to hide cat pills in will depend on your cat’s preferences. By offering them a treat or piece of cat-safe food with a pill sneakily hidden inside, you can make the morsel too irresistible for them to question. This could be a piece of meat, fish, yoghurt, or even a pill-giving treat like this EasyPill Giver for cats which disguises your cat’s tablets in a tasty putty. 

Always make sure that your cat takes the entire required dosage, and make sure your cat’s medicine can be given with food beforehand.

Can You Crush Cat Pills?

Whether or not you can crush your cat’s pills depends entirely on the medicine in question. Some cat tablets are fine to be crushed up into a powder and hidden in food or treats. Other tablets, however, lose their efficacy if they’re crushed or split, and so must be given whole. 

It’s also important to note that not all tablets can be given with food and need to be administered on an empty stomach. In this case, hiding the tablet in food is out of the question, so we recommend using the method mentioned above to ensure your cat takes their full dosage. 

Administering your at’s medicine might seem like a chore, but ensuring it’s done properly is essential for your cat’s health. We hope this quick guide helps to relieve the stress of giving your cat their medication. 

Did you know you can make getting your cat’s medication a stress-free experience as well? By buying your cat’s prescription medication online or just their routine health treatments, you can save yourself time and money, making it easier for you to love your cat well. Learn more about buying your pet’s prescription from Pet Drugs Online below. 

This post is an opinion and should only be used as a guide. You should discuss any change to your pet’s care or lifestyle thoroughly with your vet before starting any program or treatment.