Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Medicating a cat is easier if
you put the animal up on a
table or a countertop. By doing
so, you are taking the cat off his
turf and giving yourself an
advantage. The harder you try
to hold a cat down to medicate
him, the more he will resist, so
minimal restraint is best.
Wrapping a cat in a towel like a
baby is necessary in some cases.
Liquid Medication
Liquid medications can be
dosed with either an eyedrop-
per or a syringe without a nee-
dle. How quickly you will be
able to squirt the medicine into
the cat's mouth depends on the volume that is administered. Small vol-
umes, up to 0.5 ml, can usually be given in one squirt. Larger volumes
may need to be split into three or more squirts, to give your cat a chance
to swallow.You do not need to pry a cat's mouth open to give liquids.
Simply insert the tip of the dropper into the corner of the mouth, lift
the cat's chin and squirt slowly.
Owners frequently ask if they can mix the liquid medication into the
cat's food. I generally do not recommend this, because cats have a great
sense of smell. When they detect a foreign substance in their food, they
will not eat. Many of the liquid antibiotic drops are fruity and have sweet
tastes and smells.They are not the perfect complement to a tuna dinner.
To administer liquids, insert the dropper into
the corner of the cat's mouth and squirt slowly.
Tablets and Capsules
Tablets or capsules can sometimes be crushed and successfully mixed
into food, but learning how to directly pill a cat is better.When I teach
owners to give pills, I ask whether they are right- or left-handed and
then demonstrate with the same hand they will use. For example, I tell
right-handed people to put the cat on a table parallel to their body with
the cat's head pointing toward their right side. The cat's head needs to
be grasped with the left hand around the cheekbones, and then tilted
