Unfortunately, I have no quick fixes for medicating a cat, but I can pass on some of the tips we use in the hospital, but always remember that stressing out the cat will make it worse, so it isn’t worth it to fight the cat.  Try some of the tips below, but if you are failing miserably, talk to your veterinarian right away.

A stressed cat will likely get sicker or start urinating on your bed, so don’t push it!

Whenever you intend to medicate or treat a cat, do so in a quiet neutral area away from the cat’s food bowls, bed and litter. I like to lift the cat on to a counter where it will often be a little off guard and you have the advantage of being in a more comfortable position.  

Be sure to praise your cat’s good behavior, and remember that, the more upset you get, the more upset your cat will get.  So, at least pretend to be calm, speak nicely and be firm but gentle when you handle your cat.

A large thick bath towel becomes our best friend when it comes to medicating cats.  Cats feel more comfortable being manipulated when they are bundled in a thick towel.  The nervous and upset cats often calm down after a towel comes down over their head and they feel that they are safely in the dark.  Here is how it works:  Throw a thick towel over the cat when it has escaped into a corner. Often, you will then be able to pick your cat up, wrap the towel around all four legs and gently expose the head.  Then you can apply eye medicine, ear medicine and often even a pill.

The easiest way to medicate a cat is to hide a pill in a small tasty treat, bit of cheese or butter. However, many cats quickly become aware of the presence of the pill and this method may never work or may only work for a while until the cat gets the wiser.  

Here is the basic method to pill a cat: Wash your hands, lubricate the capsule or tablet with a minute amount of butter, hold the capsule or tablet between the thumb and index finger of one hand, place the fingers of your other hand over the top of the cat’s snout, rolling the upper lip inward over the teeth (if the cat bites down he or she will bite its upper lip), raise the cat’s head upward with the hand holding his upper jaw, press down on the cat’s lower jaw with one or more of the remaining fingers of the hand holding the medication, place the capsule or tablet on the base of the cat’s tongue as far back as possible, withdraw your hand quickly, shut the cat’s mouth, and stroke the neck area or briefly blow on the cat’s nose until he swallows. Those that feel trusting or brave might push the pill down with the index finger while that vulnerable finger is in the cat’s mouth. Some people have better luck with the pill or capsule unlubricated, as too much butter can cause the pill to stick to one’s finger. Always follow a pill with something to eat or with some water.  If a pill gets stuck in the cat’s esophagus, a dangerous stricture can form and make it difficult for your cat to swallow.

For cats who resist oral medication, I find that a pet piller (a long plastic tube with a rubber tip for holding medicine and a plunger to push out the pill) helps.  We use these regularly in the hospital and your veterinarian is likely to have them in stock, so ask to buy one whenever you are being prescribed pills for cats.  One company even makes one of these with a syringe for the follow-up water build right into it.

Some cats who fight pills will take a liquid well, but most liquid medications end up on fur, furniture and humans as cats drool and fling out the nasty tasting medicine. To give a liquid, the cat’s jaws can remain closed. Make a pouch in the corner of the cat’s mouth by placing a finger or thumb inside the cat’s cheek and pulling out on his lip.  The cat’s head should be parallel to the ground or slightly raised. Place the liquid medication into the cheek pouch, small amounts at a time. Proceed slowly, waiting until the cat swallows before adding more medication.

Pastes, like hairball medication, can be administered by using a syringe to measure the appropriate amount and squirt it into the cat’s mouth. If your cat likes the flavor of the paste, this works great. If not it becomes much more difficult. Often cats will lick these gels off of their fur if you put it on their paws, however, I see that most people significantly under dose the medication when using this method, so be sure to measure the amount appropriately.

There are several local pharmacies and many mail order pharmacies that will make any medication in flavored liquids or topical gels.  The flavored liquids are wonderful, and believe it or not, peanut butter is the best flavor for a cat. They like it and it seems to cover the taste of the medications better than other flavors.  Topical gels are a Godsend for many cats because all you have to do is, with a gloved hand, rub a measured amount of gel on the inside of the cat’s ear.  

Unfortunately, the absorption of these gels into the bloodstream is ambiguous and may require more frequent monitoring to make sure the pet is actually getting enough medication.  My feeling is that it is better for a pet to get the medicine by topical gel than not at all, so I recommend it for all cats that are difficult to medicate and must be on long term medication. I have seen some cats get some skin irritation in the ear from these topical gels, but that is usually alleviated by switching ears at each dose.  Your veterinarian can easily arrange for you to get compounded medications.

Fortunately, we now have an injectable antibiotic for cats that lasts for two weeks, so this is sometimes a one-injection alternative to giving your cat an antibiotic pill everyday. If this antibiotic is not appropriate for your cat, you can learn to give injections at home.  They often don’t hurt too much and it can be a lot easier to give a cat an injection rather than give a pill or liquid.

Remember that knowing when to give up is an important part of nursing a sick pet.  If you have tried several times and the cat is beginning to breathe hard, attack when you try to pick him up or is hiding from you all day long, you have probably gone too far. It is important to stop at this point, feed or pet your cat, try to make friends again or let your cat simply rest and catch its breath. Try again later, pursue a compounded medication and talk to your veterinarian about other alternatives.

(Dr. Katherine A. Saenger, DVM, owns Bees Ferry Veterinary Hospital and Boarding Kennel (www.beesferry.com) and is a former board member of the Charleston Animal Society (formerly John Ancrum SPCA.) E-mail her at vetsaenger@bellsouth.net for answers to your questions.)