How Not To Give Your Cat Medication

by Marjorie Dorfman | More from this Blogger

If you don't want to end up taking some medication yourself, the best way to approach this problem is to try to think like your cat. This isn't easy, you may say, and perhaps you are right, but we must forge onward and face the problem head on.

First of all, whatever you do, do not let the cat know that it's time for medication. If the animal figures this out, all is lost and you are better off finding some hobby to occupy yourself until it's time for the next dose. (Try reading War and Peace in one sitting. That's always a challenge and just as reachable a goal as getting that d... pill down the cat's throat!)

According to the vet, it's easy to push the animal's head back, open the mouth, insert the pill or liquid and get really cocky about the whole situation. But you know what? THE VET IS WRONG AND HAS BEEN WRONG FOR A VERY LONG TIME!

The second thing to remember when trying to administer medication to your cat is not to celebrate your victory too soon. Cats are known to spit out pills and once I put a pill in some food and the cat ate everything in the bowl except the two pieces of pill I thought I had so cleverly managed to conceal in the food. Chopping up the pill and putting it on top of the food may work, but if the cat doesn't lick it up in the right spot, all is lost once again. Also, some medications have to be ingested and not dissolved.

I had one cat I could give medication to but I had to catch him first. Then the chase was over and he didn't mind playing the medicine game.

Keep trying and don't give up. If worse comes to worst, take the medication yourself and hope for the best.

Learn more about Marjorie Dorfman

Marjorie Dorfman is a freelance writer and former teacher originally from Brooklyn, New York.

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