I’ve been asked to sit for a friend of a friend in Spain, with one cat on pills and another who might possibly be on them still by the time I’d theoretically arrive. There’s a third cat, but no medication.
Any suggestions or other input on potentially doing such a sit?
I’ve not pilled a stranger’s cat before and don’t know what to anticipate. The prospective host says she currently crushes the pill in water, grabs the cat by the scruff and squirts the mixture down her throat. She’s going to send me a video, so I can see how.
I’ve had to do this over the years for several of my own cats (adults & kittens). Currently I have a young healthy cat and so glad I don’t have to do this anymore.
It is usually not easy, even for a nice calm cat. Since she already referenced crushing them, I would suggest the following which in this case, feel confident you can do: crush it and put it in Churus (confirm cat can have this) or in tasty stinky wet cat food.
Some pills are SOOOO bitter tasting that my cat would foam at the mouth, run around and shake her head . One of my cats would see me get “the stuff” and run and hide.
If you HAVE to give the pill whole, you can consider learning to use one of these cat pill poppers.
I’ve tried putting crushed pills in food, pill pockets, cheese, for cats. They are VERY different than dogs, they sniff the food, treat, item SOOO carefully and if they smell something off or take a lick and dont like it, the medicine is wasted and you have to try something else.
You can also consider to burrito wrap method. I did this for eye drops for one of my cats. Maybe burrito method mixed with pill popper.
All methods can ultimately lead to the cat becoming scared of you, aggressive, hiding, etc.
My suggestion is to talk to the owner and really understand how cooperative the cats are at taking the pills. And maybe suggest some of these other methods to see if she can get them going in an “easier” direction for medicating.
Its good you are thinking this through before saying yes.
Of all the cats we’ve had over 40 years we only had one who would easily take a pill. We dropped the pill on the floor and he just ate it. Mind you this was a cat who would lick hash trays and fresh paint off the wall if you didn’t watch him. Surprisingly he lived up to 20 and a half years. Vets make it seem so easy to give a cat medication. Almost never our experience though. We know the technique but even when it seems like we have succeeded and the cat looks like he swallowed the pill he goes further away and just spits the pill on the floor. I’m reminded of this great meme of Hercules giving his cat a pill which looks surprisingly like the real experience.
I’ve medicated hundreds of cats over the years and giving a pill is one of the most difficult methods. It’s one of those “easy when you know how” scenarios, but very difficult without lots of experience. I agree with the method of just scruffing the cat and squirting the pill down the throat although I probably would not bother crushing the pill in water. That makes the dosage more uncertain.
I had cat loving friends who asked me to help them give one of their cats some liquid oral meds by syringe. They were having trouble, and I realized it’s because they were being too nice and trying to cuddle up with the cat before squirting in the liquid. I just scruffed the cat, squirted it and it was done. Tough love!
On the other hand, I had a cat that needed an inhaler on each visit (not a THS sit). I’ve done this many times, but this cat reacted badly. After the second visit, she was clearly traumatized and I couldn’t get near her. I was very concerned that she wasn’t getting the medication she needed. I used all the tricks I’ve learned in 10 years of cat rescue, but nothing worked.
Depending on why the cat needs medication, there may be an easier way to administer it. Thyroid meds, for example, can be done transdermally, by rubbing it in their ear. My old cat hated that, however, and pilling her was easier.
Vets can sometimes reformulate pills to a different form, like an ear transdermal gel. I would not try to pill a cat that was not mine using the method described. You may have success once or twice but they will most likely hide from you after that. As long as the cat is ok with petting, rubbing the ears is much easier. Of course it does depend on what the medication is.
If the cat will eat the pill crushed into food, that’s different and much easier - but since the owner is not doing that I doubt it worked, or maybe the medication has to be given on an empty stomach.
I’ve had to give pills to cats many times. First, I took pictures of the fingers I would use to give the pills, so I could remember what they looked like (kidding…maybe?).
I’d get on the floor, hold the cat between my knees, lift their head so their nose was pointing up, tease there mouth open and drop the pill down there throat. I’d keep their head pointing up and rub their throat. Worked a lot and then sometimes when I let them go, they’d just spit it back up.
So, if you figure out a way to easily give cats pills, I recommend patenting the method and make yourself a billionaire.
My girl cat is a Houdini. You can do your best your best to try that but she would figure out a way to turn herself to jello to get away.
The only methods for meds that work with her are, if not too bitter, crushing into food (but that is 50-50 with her - she may refuse the food) or the ear gel.
I would ask HOW they pill the cat. I might even ask for a video of the cat being pilled. I’ve done housesits where I’ve had to pill a cat the old fashioned way by putting a pill in the cats mouth closing the mouth, tilting the head, touching the nose, making sure I see the pill being swallowed. It’s not fun but with most cats it can be done with little harm to the human. I would definately want the pills precut as some people are giving tiny bits of pills to their cats and I don’t want to be responsible for a less than adequate dosage or too much.
There are easier ways to pill cats. I’ve had cats on meds who generally either took the medication in liquid form on wet food, or took micro or mini pills in pill pockets or other treats. I’ve also given cats liquid meds with a syringe spritzed into the mouth which is similar to pilling. I know there are also pill “shooters” but I’ve never used one. With my own cats I’ve tried different things and when the cats got wise to one thing, I switched to something else. There are also effective transdermals for many common cat meds.
I’m sure owners have reasons for doing what they are doing, but as cat owner, I always try to find the easiest way to do something – not for my potential sitters, but for me.
Though what works for you may not work for sitters. If asking for sitters to pill cats, it becomes a different situation, as cats are notoriously difficult to pill even for owners.
Dogs, on the other hand, will mostly eat anything so they are usually easier in that respect (always the exception of the non-food motivated dog, of course, but my dog’s nickname is roomba as she will eat pretty much anything)
Also… just a tip. If using a pill shooter approach (where you open the dog/cats mouth and insert the pill at the back of the tongue, close mouth, massage throat) - DON’T coat the pill in peanut butter - too sticky. DO coat the pill in olive oil or even a little butter. Makes it slippery for easy swallowing.
Also have a high value treat the ready so as soon as they swallow the slippery pill they focus on the nice treat ahead of them…as a ‘chaser’
In my experience, it all depends on the cat…! And as we all know, every cat is soooo different. I once did a sit for 8 cats (!), which was quite hilarious but also challenging, and one of them needed pilling. That cat absolutely hated the pill, and would spit it back out several times before eventually swallowing it. I had to stay calm AND relentless, so that the cat understood he wasn’t getting out of it.
Another time, another cat, I would wrap the pill in cheese, and he would wolf it down, no problem.
I guess what I’m saying is it’s hard to tell until you’re actually there how it’s all going to turn out. Trust your instincts, be firm, and roll with it. Best of luck!
I use the come from behind, scruff the neck and tilt up method, open mouth, put pill in back of throat and rub throat. The only thing I would add is that I do it really fast and move smoothly.
I wish, in hindsight I’d skipped a sit with sick cats. It was not explained how to give the medication till I got there. Dogs are so much easier with hidden meds in sausages etc! The cat was emaciated and needed three tablets a day! It was on a special diet as allergic to other foods so had no chance to hide it in tuna etc.. it was spitting the pills out and regurgitating them! I found it very challenging but kept going and persevered.. gaining 4 stars across the board for my efforts!
Never again!
Fortunately I’ve had some 5 stars since!
I found it very stressful as I was worried I’d have to take it to the vet throughout my Easter Week sit. It also meant the cat and I didn’t really bond.. well grabbing it by the scruff of the neck repeatedly is no way to begin a friendship in my book!
The owner was practised at it and had known the cat for 12 years.. I was there six days.
Yes, I was worried about such a scenario. Even if I didn’t get bitten and/or clawed, there was a risk of the cat(s) not taking the meds they needed, which I would stress about.
And I had asked the host how they had behaved when she’d had someone else taking care of them. She said she hadn’t.
. One of my cats would see me get “the stuff” and run and hide.
I’m reminded of this great meme of Hercules giving his cat a pill which looks surprisingly like the real experience. 
, yet they are darlings do not bite or scratch. I am trying to follow these instructions: