What to do If Your Cat Refuses to Take Pills
Cats, man. They’ve got minds of their own! A cat isn’t going to do what a cat doesn’t want to do. Think that’s ridiculous? Well…your cat could care less. But what do you do when your cat refuses to do something good for her, or even more than that, something she needs to do. Trying to get an unwilling cat to take a pill is one of the most frustrating experiences known to mankind. Worse, it’s anxiety-inducing when you know your cat depends on the medication you’re trying to give her.
What should you do if your cat refuses to take pills?
First of all, take a minute to breathe. Your cat can tell when you’re frustrated and that emotion is almost certainly working against you. If you need something to lighten the mood, laugh for a second at the fact that what you’re trying to do is technically called “pilling” a cat. You never want to create an atmosphere of discomfort around pill-taking. Try your best not to resort to grabbing or forcibly holding down your cat as this can just make her more averse the next time you need to give her a pill. It’s a good idea to reward your cat with a treat or playtime as soon as she swallows her pill.
Options for getting a cat to take pills:
Perhaps the most common option for pilling a cat who resists your advances is to hide the pill inside food or a treat. This only works, of course, if the pill is small enough to go unnoticed, or if it has no discernable bitter taste. You’ll want to double-check with your vet whether it’s okay that this pill gets chewed up a bit before being swallowed; some pills must be swallowed whole. Another option is to quite literally stick the pill down your cat’s throat. We know! It’s as unpleasant as it sounds. This method works best with two people because cats tend to bite when there’s a human hand shoved inside their mouths (go figure). Again, this technique only works with pills of a certain size and even then, cats are sometimes able to eck the pill out of their throats or even to regurgitate it entirely. Pill guns, also known as “pillers” can be used to accomplish this purpose, too. They’re essentially long syringes without a needle that force a pill far down your cat’s throat towards her stomach. You can also talk to your vet about options other than a pill. Some medications come in liquid form, which can be an easier method for your cat to tolerate. Others can be given subdermally, or even through suppository. You have options.
Remember that “no pill” is also an option.
Almost all pet owners will eventually be faced with a choice regarding their pet’s quality of life. It’s easy to overlook as a “choice”, but regularly medicating your cat might be the kind of decision you want to weigh carefully. If your cat simply needs a course of antibiotics, it might be worth her (and your) discomfort for a few days to get her to take her necessary medication. If your cat suffers from hyperthyroidism, though, you may be staring down a daily battle over giving her multiple pills a day. If you’ve got a resistant cat, the constant battle over pill taking is a very real quality of life issue to consider. Talk to your vet about all treatment options for your cat, including the decision not to treat. If you’ve run out of all other options, you, your vet, and your cat might ultimately feel relief in the decision not to wage war over pills. Cats physically forced to take medication can sometimes become withdrawn, aggressive, and detached. For some cat owners, the trade off simply isn’t worth it.
