As a long time veterinary nurse, I have medicated a lot of cats. A seasoned nurse makes administering medications look like a breeze. The truth is, knowing the right technique is huge!

In this blog, I want to dish out all my juicy secrets on how to medicate your kitty in ninja-like fashion.

First, let’s cover the basics.

Reasons why you may need to medicate your kitty:

• Pain control
• Antibiotics
• Supportive care after hospitalization
• Chronic conditions such as kidney disease, IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), thyroid disease, or diabetes

Most common ways medications are given:

• Tablet or capsule form
• Liquid suspension
• Injection

Tablets and capsules

Some tablets and capsules can be hidden directly in your cat’s food. To be honest, this is an exceedingly rare situation because many medications are bitter, and most cats won’t tolerate such an insult! However, if you are among the lucky, you can open the capsule and sprinkle the contents in their food or use a pill crusher for tablets. Try mixing it into something super yummy, like a novel wet food they don’t often receive or another irresistible snack.

If administration in food can’t be done, you will want to manually pill your cat.

Position yourself with your cat, finding the position that works best for you. My preference is to have my kitty in my lap, facing the same direction as me (so I’m looking at the back of my cat’s head). Another option is to come from the side of your cat.

If your cat enjoys physical contact, start by giving 1–2 pets from their head to their tail, so they are reminded of your presence and your love. Gently place your other arm in front of your cat’s body, so they are less inclined to jump off of your lap.

Using your nondominant hand, hold your cat’s jaw joint with your thumb and fingers. Gently lift their head upward. Your hand will be positioned behind their head.

With the medication in your dominant hand, move your arm from around their body and up towards their mouth. Holding the pill between your thumb and forefinger, use your other fingers to gently pry your kitty’s mouth open.

Quickly insert the pill into your kitty’s mouth and gently hold their mouth shut for a few moments. If you can, try to insert the pill as far back into your cat’s throat as possible. This helps prevent them from tasting the bitterness. Massaging their throat can also help them swallow.

Liquid suspensions

Many medications come in liquid form. If you can’t mix it into food, you’ll need to administer it directly into your cat’s mouth.

Set yourself up in the same position you would for a tablet or capsule. With the syringe or dropper filled, insert the tip into your cat’s mouth and aim for the cheek pouch.

Subcutaneous injection

In some cases, your veterinarian may have you give injectable medications at home. Most will be given subcutaneously (under the skin). Examples include Adequan, Vitamin B12, insulin, or subcutaneous fluids. We discuss subcutaneous fluids in detail here.

In a comfortable seated position, place your kitty in your lap. Use one hand to “tent” your cat’s scruff (the loose skin between their shoulder blades). With your dominant hand, insert the needle bevel-up, parallel to their body, angled toward the tail. Gently inject the medication, then remove the needle and massage the site.

After medicating your cat

I always like to offer what I call a “chaser” after any type of administration! If the medication can be given with food, follow up immediately with your kitty’s favorite treat or meal.

Some kitties really are more challenging to medicate than others. If that’s the case for your cat, or you’re worried the process will put a strain on your relationship, it’s completely fine to ask for help! A veterinary nurse can coach you through it or even administer the meds for you.

I hope this helps! If you have questions about how to medicate your cat at home, drop them in the comments below.

Big hugs,
Claire