My dear 7 year old boy has a blood disorder called Polycythaemia and needs to take a tablet every other day at the moment. First day was a cinch, 'wrapped' tinned mackerel round tablet and he ate it straight down! Now having trouble though and looking for good ideas rather than whole traumatic way of forcing down his throat.

it's very important that he gets his tablet with his condition. if you can't be sure he eats the tablet then you may have to resort to what you may not want to do. sometimes cats will take them with food and make it look like they ate them and then go around the corner and spit half of it out. you can get a pill helper from online or on the vets that will make it easier for the cat to take the pill but personally i think it's easier to just use your hand as the pilling devices can scratch the throat. once you get the hang of it your cat will be used to it and it won't be such a big deal for him.

you could try it in tuna, or butter or pate but you really can't be sure he's not spitting it out somewhere behind the couch when you do it this way.

i find sitting with puss in your lap with his back to you, then scruffing him which will release endorphins to calm him and with your opposite hand hold the pill and press your pinky or even the pill into the side of his mouth place it in the back as far as you can then close the mouth release the scruff and rub the base of his chin to be sure he swallows. then give him a treat or some dinner so he associates it with a praise. these pills will be long term and with time they will become easier to get down.

Thanks very much for prompt response. I am happy that he ate first tablet. I want to keep it as stress free as possible for both him and me and will certainly try your food ideas! One idea was for ham 'ravioli' with the tablet inside but not sure how to secure parcel! or something I can stuff tablet inside (like a prawn?!).

the more of a routine you make it with a treat after the less stressful it will be as he will get used to it. good luck with the 'ravioli' idea. most of the people i know that have daily or every other day pills for their pets give up on hiding it with cats. as they can't trust they have swallowed it and it becomes a stressful task to change up the diet all the time to get them to eat it. you might find it's more trouble than it's worth but go for it if it's what you feel most comfortable with.

I would just take his food away for a couple of hours before you give it and then put it in tuna, tuna is great becuase its really strong smelling.
I had to give my cat antibiotic tablets twice a day for about a week, and either he never worked out what was going on, or he just decided he liked his tuna too much.

Some cats can be crafty as Steph has said, so just keep a close eye on him for a few mins following giving him the tablet.

As for the ham ravioli idea, sounds great, but would it be easier to poke it inside a small chunk of chicken or other meat where you can just make a little hole to poke it inside.

Also, I think I have see in pets at home some cat treats that are designed for hiding tablets in.

Good Luck!

I use these if i have to give my cats a tablet, they think there getting a treat,lol
Feline Tab Pocket - CATS_Arthritis pet healthcare

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Long time since I had to give a cat a tablet - did try one on those pill popper things initially as I though it would be difficult - well in effect that made it more difficult then it actually was.
Having said that it did take two of us, I used to wrap old Smoking in a blankiet - Terry would put the tablet in his mount hold his head back and rub his throat until he swallowed.
Looked like we were torturing poor smoke - but it was quite easly really qnd he did not seem to object
RIP Smokiey Lad
love
Mummy
xxx

I have to give Socs 5 tablets a day what I find is best is if you tilt the chin up wards and the gently pull bottom lip down and then put tablet right to the back of the mouth and the close mouth and hold and rub your other hand down the neck and then just wait for your cat to swallow then the tablet will be gone.
If you have a ticky cat try wrapping your cat up in a towel so the head is the only thing sticking out and then do the same as the above but you may need two people to do this.
It may sound hard but it really isn't once you have done it a couple of times and this way you know you cat has taken the tablet.

Using a pill pusher makes the job so easy! I used to try wrapping my kitty's tablets in food, but she could alway sense it and wouldn't eat it.

I use the miki pill gun and it is fantastic - my cats don't even realise they are getting a tablet because they do a reflex swallow and the pill is gone!!!

So much easier!

Louise
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