I'm desperate to find a way to pill Harry successfully without terrifying him

Please help me.

The pills are bitter (I've tasted one) and I've muffed it so many times that he won't let me near him now. I've tried having them compounded into flavored liquids. I've tried the flavored play-dough for hiding the pill and making it a "treat." I've coated pills in butter and frozen them - tried that today for the first time. Same result: terrified cat does not receive medication.

I am desperate.

wrap the pill in p-butter, open the dog's mouth and place it at the rear of the mouth. She swallows immediately. I then let her link the p-butter off my fingers.

Or even try coating it with the malt flavored hairball stuff?

I make sure not to let him snack between meals anymore and he is pretty hungry by the time the meds come around.

Still, sometimes he is a bonehead and just sniffs at it, scritches the floor, and runs away. :P

Absolutely foolproof pill concealment/treat. Available at most pet supply/food stores.

On edit: nevermind, I assume the "flavored playdough" is what I'm talking about.

I had the same problem. You slip the pill into the pocket and seal it and put it on the floor They will eat the whole thing and apparently the flavor covers the taste of the pill when they chew it up. It works amazingly. They are sold in little foil bags in pet stores. I've tried dropper, syringes, mashing and mixing up pills and the only way to pill my cats are with the Pill Pockets.

thanks, though.

Stewart nearly died last week from loss of blood from hemorrhagic cystitis. He had to have a blood transfusion (thank you, donor kitty!) and is on 3 meds to clear the clot from his bladder. He can't e stressed - stress brought on his cystitis - and he can't be pilled, as Loved One found out after nearly losing his hand. So I empty the capsule and grind the other two into powder in a mortar and pestle and add the powders to either Trader Joe's tuna for cats or By Nature's chicken and mackeral. He only gets fed when it's time for meds. First just a tablespoon with drugs, and then a normal portion ut no free-feeding between doses.

If these two foods aren't available, try Friskies Mixed Grill. I've never met a cat who didn't go mental for it.

This is the first I've heard of it. Is that regular tuna canned for cats and not humans, or is it specially formulated for cats with cat-type nutrients? I have an old cat(21) and she just goes bonkers for pink tuna. I give her a good portion every day but I'm afraid to let her have more because I know the regular wet cat food has all the minerals, etc. that she needs.

I've never seen it for sale around here but I'm sure I could get it over the internet. If it's made for cats I'd really like to give it a try. The old girl is doing pretty well but she's very thin and I'd like to find a food that she finds as tasty as tuna. I'd like to see her gain a pound or two.

It's red meat tuna with cat nutrients. My cats like human-intended tuna okay, but will do anything for the Tuna for Cats I get at Trader Joe's.

:hug:

Mine detest Friskies Mixed Grill. :shrug:

The By Nature chicken and mackeral might work, or maybe babyfood (without onions, natch) ... or KMR, if he's a dairy cat.

I feel for ya - I've got one I can use the food trick and one I can pill with no problem (knock wood). I've had cats I'd have to wrap in a towel and hold between my legs ... getting the medicine in and not needing stitches was a victory, but it did piss off and scare the cat, so I don't recommend it.

Stewie's doing a lot better, thanks! Very lucky there's a specialty clinic that does transfusions so close to where we live.

But I did find this article, which covers some of what you've tried but I have never seen the "scruff/chair" method mentioned before.

http://www.wikihow.com/Give-a-Cat-a-Pill

Good luck!

thank you for the link!

http://www.petrx.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=719

When our cat was so sick last year, and needed lots of meds several times a day, I found that this little device really helped. For us, it was still a two-person operation, though. One person would open his mouth and hold it open, and the other would push the pill in via the piller device. I always had a treat or some special food right there to give him *immediately* afterwards, and I think the anticipation of this made him struggle a bit less. The food also helped the awful bitter taste to go away. Some of the pills, such as prednisone, really have an incredibly bitter taste, and there's no way in the world to cover up that bitterness. (earlier, with some of the not-so-bad-tasting pill, I had some success with grinding them up and mixing with fruit-flavored yogurt or chicken babyfood. BUt with the bitter ones, no dice.


For some comic relief, read this:

http://my.telegraph.co.uk/mister_potter/august_2007/how_to_give_a_cat_a_pill.htm

(various other versions of this exist on the internets - I googled "how to give a cat a pill" stitches

never had any trouble pilling my cats with it. wrap kitteh in heavy towel, hold between legs (or have friend hold toweled cat) pop the piller in side of kitteh's mouf and shoot

give nice treat and lots of loves, release from towel

Make sure his body is firmly, but not too firmly, between your legs or knees, open mouth by pressing snout on both sides, shove the pill in (far down) and keep kitty's mouth closed until he swallows. I know it sounds harsh, but we had a cat who needed a pill every day and that was the one and only way she'd take it.

They work. Scruff, wrap if you have to, and pop it in there. When I was working with the shelter, that was about the only way to get it done with the semiFerals.

The cats not going to love you for it, but with some love you can get past it.

I laughed so hard my stomach hurts.

15. Arrange for SPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.

How To Give A Dog A Pill

1. Wrap it in bacon.

2. Toss it in the air.

:rofl:

One person said he tried to follow the "How to Give a Dog a Pill" advice, but he didn't have enough bacon to wrap the dog in.

we bought one that is for small dogs and cats at the local pet store - for about $3.50. I have to give Tommy meds twice a day, and this the the only thing I'd consider even trying now.

I get a small towel, wrap it around his neck like I was putting on a bib, (already have the piller loaded and ready to go), gently pull Tom's head back a bit, insert the piller (I use it to open his mouth, not my fingers) and depress the plunger (that is 3/4 depressed anyway - I try to get in and out very fast).

Then, I give him a treat. A tiny bit of tuna or a piece of shrimp. I know they're not great for him, but it's about his quality of life, too, and now he does not even try to fight me as he knows he's got a tasty treat coming his way...

Good luck, bertha! :hug:

I get frustrated trying to pill him with Mrs. V., so I try to do it myself. Maybe I should just suck it up and learn to use this thing alone.

replied to the wrong post

I've had good luck with liquid meds. The syringe squirts the stuff in so fast, she has to swallow. Of course, she is in a bag with only her head showing. My husband holds the bag. There was an instance when she absolutely had to have a pill or an injection every day. The vet and I opted for the injection. She's a bit of a terror when it comes to grooming and medication. Wish I had her when she was a kitten.

hold the cat, then get down on your knees so you're sitting on your heels, which should be close together so there is a "V" shaped space between your knees and your heels. Then place the cat in that space so he won't be able to back out.

Then close your knees so he doesn't have wiggle room and gently hold his head with one hand on top of his head and the other under his chin. With the hand under his chin place your thumb and middle finger on either side of his jaw and gently, but firmly, press in just as if you were trying to force those fingers into his mouth. In fact, that is just what you're doing here. His mouth will open, then drop or pop the pill into his mouth. Immediately hold his mouth shut and then gently stroke him under his chin and throat area, this is very important because this will cause him to swallow. If you don't do this he will just keep the pill in his mouth till you release him and the pill goes to the floor.

It's important that when you place him between your legs you close up your legs so he has as little room to squirm as possible. This will make the whole thing less of an ordeal for you and for him. If he has room to squirm and you're not firm (but gentle) with your hands he'll be impossible to control. If you do this right the whole thing will be over with in seconds. He'll still love you and he'll have the medication he needs. He will fuss and you might fear that he thinks you're trying to kill him, but it's not like that. He just doesn't want to do it. When it's over, it really is over. He'll love you just as much as always. You'll see.

:hi:

The vet always wanted to sedate him if he cleaned his ears and I didnt' like that idea. The way you describe it is exactly what I did and it worked everytime for both pilling and ear cleaning.

My flesh remained intact and Sir Thomas wasn't upset by the entire ordeal.

I swear by this. Used one to give thyroid meds to my first cat, Moses, daily for 9 months. Then his brother, Ari, got his daily potassium and occasional antibiotics for 2 1/2 years when he had crf. Then Sophie's pancreatitis meds.

Wouldn't know any other way to give a cat pills. Your vet probably sells these, or can order one for you.

and would be easier for one person...

My precious Louise, a calico, fought like the dickens. Tried every ploy with the hiding in food, kitty stopped eating altogether for fear of what I was putting in her food. Are you poisening Me looks!! Talked to a friend who has to take meds after kidney transplant "Did you say Prednisone?! Have to break in half (meaning breaking the seal and releasing the FULL flavors)?!" Oh my. Friend said THAT was the nastiest flavored pill of all those she has to take daily.

So, I got the piller from the vet, wrapped Louise in swaddling clothes (errr, towel). Nice, that it has foam covered prongs so you don't scratch the gums inadvertently.

BUT one thing I also did was to have a saucer with probably 1-TBSP Tuna w/Oil nearby. After popping the pill, I SMUDGED a dab of oily tuna on her chin. Caused her to lick and swallow for sure. Then I put her down with the rest of the saucer to get any flavors out of her mouth - and made myself a sandwich from the rest of the can. It ain't fun, no matter how you do it. Good Luck!

I get their favorite treats out and say they can only have a treat after taking the pill. They cooperate. :P

Here are some instructions I found while looking for some help for your predicament:

How To Give A Cat A Pill

1. Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Talk to it softly. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.

4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call your spouse in from the garden.

6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Have spouse to hold cat’s head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into its mouth. Drop pill down, remove ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7. Retrieve cat from curtain rod, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

8. Wrap cat in large towel and get your spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force cat's mouth open with pencil and blow pill down drinking straw.

9. Check label to make sure pill is not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply band-aid to your spouse’s forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Throw Tee-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12. Call fire department to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take another pill from foil wrap.

13. Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed, hold cat's mouth open with small wrench. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of steak. Hold cat’s head vertically and pour pint of water down throat to wash pill down.

14. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.

15. Arrange for the local animal shelter to get cat and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.


And for the dog people out there:

How To Give A Dog A Pill

Wrap it in bacon.



:evilgrin:


:P

run him by the vet - that's what I had to do for a particularly combative kitty I had long ago - yes :o

they can be handfuls, can't they?

you should see the scar on my arm from Skittles - awarded to me for finally grabbing her to get her to the vet for spaying.

when the pill is wrapped in rare (kinda bloody) deli roast beef. Just an idea. Good luck, sweetie! :hug:

thank you m'dear :hug:

put the pill as far back in his mouth as you can and hold his mouth shut until you feel him swallow. He has no choice...

Otherwise, take him to the vet - I'm sure they have dealt with this many a time.

Good luck and I hope Harry feels better soon. :hi:

What about some sort of pate'. I hate the idea of duck pate' but I wonder if a cat would like it since it is a bird. And it is soft for hiding pills.

I always give him a a real small amount of the liverwurst, just enough for him to not smell the pill. Sometimes I hold my hand under his mouth to make sure he eats it. But the important thing is I follow it up with several little balls of no pill liverwurst.

If you have a friend you could always try very gently, (the way they do it) to just open his mouth and throw the pill in. Follow with a treat.

Hope your kitty is better real soon. He looks just like my Skutch.