How to give a cat a pill like a pro

Updated 22/11/2023

Any pet parent or cat sitter will know that feline friends have an innate talent for sniffing out even the tiniest hint of medication hidden inside one of their favorite treats. Picky eating aside, the claws, teeth, and a tendency to spit medication out can make giving pills to cats extremely difficult. But with our insider knowledge on how to give a cat a pill and a touch of finesse, you can outsmart your clever kitty and make sure they get the medicine they need without too much fuss. We’ve got five different strategies for administering pills quickly to make the experience stress-free for both you and your cat.

But before trying one of these methods, it’s important to note that they won’t be suitable for all types of medication. Some pills can’t be taken with food while others can’t be crushed, so you’ll need to check the introductions on the pill box or speak to your vet to find out the best way to administer it. 

Once you’ve figured out the dos and don’ts of handling your cat’s medication, it’s time to put these techniques to the test. 

The easiest way to give a cat a pill

The easiest (and therefore the best) way to give a cat a pill is to hide it in their food. Check the packaging or with your vet to make sure the medication can be given with food, then mix it with a small amount of wet cat food, tinned tuna, or your kitty’s favorite treat. This method works best if your cat’s super hungry for their meal, but don’t go overboard with the portion size just in case they decide not to finish the bowl. Layering can also be useful, this is when you put some medicine-free food at the base, then food mixed with the medicine in the middle and then medicine-free food on the top. Keep an eye on them to ensure they don’t spit it out and check their bowl once they’ve finished to make sure everything’s been gobbled up!

How to give a pill to a cat using a tool

Your vet will be able to advise you on a number of tools that make giving a cat a pill a little easier. It’s best to ask them to demonstrate how to give a cat pills using each of these tools before trying them yourselves. 

The pill popper 

This syringe-like tool deposits the pill right at the back of the throat to reduce the chance of it being spat out. Get your vet to demonstrate how to use it before giving it a go yourself as it can cause damage to your kitty’s throat if not used correctly. It’s also a good idea to try it with some treats at first so both you and your feline friend can get used to the device.

The pill crusher

If you’ve checked the pill can be crushed and combined with food, a pill crusher can be used to turn it into a fine powder that can be mixed with a small amount of food or water. Rather than breaking up the pill yourself, use the pill crusher to ensure that the dosage stays the same as intended. Simply put the pill at the base of the pill crusher, screw down the lid, et voilá, you’ll be left with a perfectly powdered tablet. 

The pill splitter

This tool is designed to divide pills into perfectly portioned halves or quarters for kitties that don’t need to take the whole thing. Don’t forget to check that the pill you’re using can be divided as some are designed to be released slowly into the body and should not be split.  

How to give a cat a pill by hand

We’ve established that the best way to give a cat a pill is by hiding it in their food, but failing this, you may have tried one of the tools above. If your cat still won’t take the pill, you might want to try administering it by hand. This will take a little bit of preparation and forward-thinking, and you’ll need to remain calm throughout (yes, even if your kitty’s digging their claws in!). It can be useful to have a friend or family member there to help, but if this isn’t possible, we’re here to walk you through how to give a cat a pill by yourself.

1. Prepare the dosage of medicine that your cat needs.
2. Choose a calm, safe space to administer the pill.
3. Gently hold your feline friend in your lap or in a secure, upright position. For extra nervous kitties, a towel can be wrapped around the body leaving the head exposed. Your cat should be facing away from you with their back legs closest to your body to make it easier to restrain them.
4. Use the thumb and index finger of your dominant hand to hold your cat’s jaw gently but firmly. 
5. Hold the pill between the thumb and index finger of your other hand.
6. Tilt your cat’s head backward and use the hand holding the pill to pull the jaw open gently. 
7. Quickly drop the pill as far back into your cat’s mouth as you can. The further back it goes, the more likely they are to swallow it.
8. Hold the mouth closed and gently rub your cat’s throat to encourage them to swallow before returning their head to the normal position. You’ll know your cat’s swallowed the pill if they lick their lips, but it’s still worth checking their mouth if they’ll let you. 
9. If successful, give them a couple of treats to get rid of the taste of the pill and lots of positive reinforcement to show your cat it’s not something to be nervous about. 
10. If it doesn’t work, you can try repeating the procedure - this is easiest to do once your fur baby spits the pill out of their mouth.
11. Remember, you’ll need to be quick and calm throughout the whole process to avoid causing your kitty extra stress. Watch out for signs your cat’s going to bite or scratch you, and if they seem distressed, pause for a few minutes and give them a few treats before trying again. 

Meet our veterinary expert, Aisling

This article has been checked by veterinarian Aisling O’Keeffe MVB CertSAM ISFMCertAdvFB. Aisling qualified as a vet 7 years ago from University College Dublin. She has worked in a mixture of UK small animal hospitals along with Irish practices. She worked for 3 years in a feline-only hospital where she further developed her feline medicine and surgery skills. She currently lives and works in a small animal hospital in Cork, Ireland.

How to pill a difficult cat: What to do if all else fails

So there you have it, five different methods for how to give cats pills. But if you can’t hide the pill in your cat’s food and administering the tablet by hand hasn’t worked, speak to your vet about alternative forms of medication. Some tablets can be taken as oral liquids or injections, while gelatine capsules can also be used to help the pills go down.