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Tips for Pilling a Cat
By Nick Radovanovic
Here's some advice on how to give your cat a pill. Note that this advice differs sharply to that given by some people who make a living breeding cats. (Yes, even though animal shelters are overrun with unwanted kitties, there are people who actually breed cats for living! But that's a whole nuther story.) First of all, doing it by force is not the best way. It is not necessary to "dominate" a cat. Cats are not raw recruits in the Marines. Neither is it necessary to use a towel or leather gloves or some other constraint to administer the pill. Forcing the cat to take the pill means that what you end up with is a gladiatorial contest - human vs cat. The cat will squirm and claw and bite. It will try to escape and most probably succeed. You will get scratched and bleed all over the place. The cat will probably come out fine physically but emotionally it will be scarred. It will despise you and hide in a dark corner and never come out. That is not the kind of relationship you want with your cat - unless, of course, the cat isn't actually your pet, and you are only into breeding it for monetary profit - and if you undergo that kind of rigamarole every time you give the cat a pill, you might end up giving up and thinking that it's not worth the bother. Here is a much better way to give your cat a pill. First, you don't need force, but with some cats you do need dexterity and speed. Many cats will willingly take a pill. Those that don't can usually be surprised into taking it. All you need is your wits and nimble fingers. Once a cat knows that a pill is coming, it will spit out anything you put in its mouth, even if it's just bit of dry food. So don't make the pill-giving a routine. Keep it unpredictable, and surprise the cat. Get the pill ready, then scoop your kitty and take it where it usually doesn't go. For example, a tool shed. Or a pantry. Or the guest room. Or the cellar. With house cats, or cats usually kept confined indoors, you can even take it out on the porch - but of course maintain a firm grip on the neck so kitty doesn't go absconding. Now that your kitty is in unfamiliar surroundings, it will be scared. Cats scare easily, and detest being out of their comfort zone. In the tool shed (or wherever), the cat will be so busy freaking out, that it might not even notice the pill going in. Just place the pill in the back of the mouth, and shut the trap. Wait ten seconds and let the cat back into its comfort zone. Your cat will go bouncing back to where it knows it's safe and be very happy to be back home. Remember, the kitty has to be surprised. So work fast - as soon as you hit the tool shed, park the cat on the floor, open its mouth, and in with the pill. In my experience, this method works well even with the most vicious fighting cats. Even an aggressive tom will cling to you like a pussy cat when taken to an unfamiliar place. But if that method doesn't work for you, you can always try crumbling up the pill a little, and mixing it into a teaspoonfull of honey. Then smear it onto your kitty's coat. Your hygiene-loving cat will be upset and proceed to clean hearself, and lick it off right away. Whatever you do, don't turn the pill-giving into a battle. It will be bad for the cat, bad for you, and bad for the relationship.
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Contributor's Note
Nick "Crazy Cat Man" Rado lives with seven cats and runs a feral cat shelter with about 20 inhabitants. Nick "Crazy Cat Man" Rado will be happy to answer questions about cat care - just leave a comment.
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 | | adac appreciated this intel. Feb 14, 2011 |  | | onlineMD recommended this intel. Sep 27, 2011 |
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Good info. I have three of my own. For people like me who try a bit TOO hard to be quick... don't shove the pill back TOO far, or they'll just vomit it back up in a few seconds. :(
Thanks Nick although I know most of what you said already, I still appreciate the way you wrote it so well!
Good timing for me to read this intel. I have a pill in the kitchen waiting to meet the cat. I think I"ll give your suggestions a try.
 | | adac Feb 14, 2011 13:38 |  appreciated |
Interesting idea. I also saw that there's pill holder food in the pet store. There's a hollowed out hole in the center of dry cat food.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Cool! That would make things MUCH easier.
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This intel was contributed by nick
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