The Best Way to Give a Cat Liquid Medicine
I have recently acquired a persistant stray cat. Since the passing of my 8 year old Guinea pig 3 years ago, I have been petless. This 16 lb cat showed up on my doorstep one day and knocked on the door and windows for 3 days until I decided to give him a new home. I searched high and low for the owners without success. I took him to the vet to make sure he was healthy. The vet tested Felix (the cat's new name) and gave him a clean bill of health except for a minor ear infection which cleared up easily with ear drops.
I bought Felix all of the usual cat accoutrements including a few toys I thought he would enjoy.
About 2 months into this new cat and servant relationship (I never knew cats were so bossy). I noticed the new love of my life drooling excessively. I quickly took him to the vet who pointed out an abrasion on the roof of Felix's mouth (I found the culprit - one of his toys had a wire that he had chewed free). Oral liquid antibiotics twice a day and only soft food and return in 4 days for a follow up was the RX.
Armed with the cure and a syringe, the first dose was a disaster. Holding a cat with one hand and shooting liquid medication into his mouth was difficult especially when the medicine went one way and the cat the another.
With a new strategy in place, the second dose was a success. These steps may help you if ever faced with the task of giving your cat liquid oral medication.
1. Place a large o
pen towel on a table (don't administer the medication on your bed or any place you want the cat to snuggle with you as he will associate that place with the dosing experience and avoid it like the plaque).
2. Get the syringe ready with the appropriate dosage of medication and place it with reach of the towel.
3. Put the cat in the middle of the towel and firmly yet gently swaddle him in the towel, leaving room to hold him by the scruff of the neck.
4. Firmly holding the cat by the scruff of the neck gently yet firmly use your elbow and arm to help hold him still.
5. Do not shoot all of the medication into the cat's mouth at once. Give him a chance to swallow. Put the syringe tip in the side by his cheek as he will have difficulty swallowing with his mouth open (try it you can't swallow with your mouth open either).
6. Squirt a little at a time (while holding him in the above mentioned position) until all of the dose is given.
7. If on a high surface such as a table put the cat on the floor before unswaddeling as the cat will run like crazy to get away once you open the towel.
After giving the meds, the cat will hide and act like he hates you for a while but he will get over it eventually. Try to follow up the bad experience of administering the meds with a good experience like brushing or whatever your cat enjoys.
Then he can associate a bad experience with a good one. It will get easier with each dose.
Just remember as you watch your cat's health improve that it is all worth it.
I bought Felix all of the usual cat accoutrements including a few toys I thought he would enjoy.
About 2 months into this new cat and servant relationship (I never knew cats were so bossy). I noticed the new love of my life drooling excessively. I quickly took him to the vet who pointed out an abrasion on the roof of Felix's mouth (I found the culprit - one of his toys had a wire that he had chewed free). Oral liquid antibiotics twice a day and only soft food and return in 4 days for a follow up was the RX.
Armed with the cure and a syringe, the first dose was a disaster. Holding a cat with one hand and shooting liquid medication into his mouth was difficult especially when the medicine went one way and the cat the another.
With a new strategy in place, the second dose was a success. These steps may help you if ever faced with the task of giving your cat liquid oral medication.
1. Place a large o
2. Get the syringe ready with the appropriate dosage of medication and place it with reach of the towel.
3. Put the cat in the middle of the towel and firmly yet gently swaddle him in the towel, leaving room to hold him by the scruff of the neck.
4. Firmly holding the cat by the scruff of the neck gently yet firmly use your elbow and arm to help hold him still.
5. Do not shoot all of the medication into the cat's mouth at once. Give him a chance to swallow. Put the syringe tip in the side by his cheek as he will have difficulty swallowing with his mouth open (try it you can't swallow with your mouth open either).
6. Squirt a little at a time (while holding him in the above mentioned position) until all of the dose is given.
7. If on a high surface such as a table put the cat on the floor before unswaddeling as the cat will run like crazy to get away once you open the towel.
After giving the meds, the cat will hide and act like he hates you for a while but he will get over it eventually. Try to follow up the bad experience of administering the meds with a good experience like brushing or whatever your cat enjoys.
Then he can associate a bad experience with a good one. It will get easier with each dose.
Just remember as you watch your cat's health improve that it is all worth it.
Tags & Keywords : cat, cats, cat heath, pet cats, cat care, about cats, cats heath, medicine for cats, cat meds
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