The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #108894   Message #2270773
Posted By: freightdawg
24-Feb-08 - 12:37 AM
Thread Name: BS: Getting a cat to take pills!
Subject: RE: BS: Getting a cat to take pills!
We've had many kitties, and we've been mostly successful with the "kitty burrito." I think it's been described above, the trick being to get their paws bound up with the towel so that they can't struggle. Prying their jaws open and getting the pill in is more art than science.

Our first, Half-Pint, soon learned that if he quit struggling and just gave us that "why me" look that we would relax our grip and he could hop down with a "nice kitty" comment and a scratch on the ears. He would then walk a few steps away, and with that look that only cats can come up with, shake his head and send the pill hurtling into the middle of next week. He had this uncommon ability to "pocket" the pill and no matter how much throat rubbing we did he could bring it right back up. We would even feel him swallow - but never the pill. We would finally finish up a 14 pill prescription in about 4 days and he was never the worse for any wear. He lived to be 19 years old.

Eventually we had to give him subcutaneous fluids because his kidneys started to fail. He was the best kitty to take the needle every night. Maybe he learned that the fluids made him feel better, but for many years it was our nightly routine for me to give him his fluid injection and spend a few minutes discussing the events of the day.

Best of luck with the meds. Chronic health problems in our pets are so hard...

Freightdawg