How To Give a Cat a Pill | Chewtorials

Cats are notorious for living life on their own terms, and that doesn’t usually involve taking medication. So, how do you give a cat a pill—and make sure they actually swallow it? Read on to learn some veterinarian-approved tricks of the trade to learn the best way to administer tablets to cats.

If your vet has advised you to give your cat a pill, it’s your responsibility to follow through. But getting a cat to take a pill can sometimes be a challenge—even for veterinary professionals. Still, learning how to administer tablets to cats is an important skill to master for the sake of your cat's health. Though it may not be simple, it is absolutely possible, especially when you’re armed with the right tools and tricks.

We’re breaking down the steps below, but don’t forget that your veterinarian is a great resource when it comes to learning the best way to give your cat a pill. Don’t be afraid to ask them for tricks to get your cat to take their medication, or even request a demonstration to help you understand what works for your cat.

What You’ll Need to Give a Cat a Pill

Your cat’s medication (in pill form)
A pet piller, such as 21st Century Essential Pet Pill Gun (recommended)
Cat treats
A towel or blanket (optional)

How to Give Cats Pills

1. Hold Your Cat

You’ll need to have a good grasp on your kitty to make this work. Set yourself up somewhere you and your cat are both comfortable. Some popular options are:

Sitting with your cat in your lap
Standing and holding your cat on a flat surface, like a table or counter
Wrapping your cat in a blanket or towel, burrito-style, with just your cat’s head poking out. (If your cat is a feline escape artist, or prone to biting and scratching, this may be your best option.)

Wherever you decide, make sure you have your cat’s medication within reach.

2. Prepare the Pill

Many cats view humans’ hands in and around their mouth as a threat, and are prone to react by biting. To save your fingers, use a pet piller, which is essentially a long, plastic plunger that will allow you to deposit the pill as far back in your cat’s mouth as possible without putting your hands at risk of a chomp.

With the plunger extended, load the pill into the piller. Make sure it’s securely positioned, so that it doesn’t fall out before you’re ready to administer it. Hold the piller in your dominant hand.

3. Gently Open Your Cat's Mouth

Place your non-dominant hand on your cat’s upper jaw, with your thumb on one side near the back corner and your fingers on the opposite side. Gently apply pressure to encourage your cat to open their lower jaw. If they’re still hesitant, keep your non-dominant hand in place, and use one finger of your dominant hand to apply gentle downward pressure on their front teeth. But don’t put down that piller to do so—you’re going to want to have it in hand for maximum swiftness.

Remember: A cat opens their mouth by dropping the lower jaw, so don't attempt to open the kitty's mouth by prying up.

Continue applying pressure until your cat opens their mouth.

4. Put the Pill In Your Cat's Mouth

You’ll want to be quick with this step: With your cat’s mouth open, insert the piller so that the pill is as close to the back of your cat’s mouth, near the base of the tongue, as possible. Press the plunger on the piller to release the pill.

5. Hold Your Cat's Mouth Closed

To prevent your cat spitting the pill out, use one or both hands to hold your cat's mouth closed. Do this gently, but maintain control to ensure their mouth doesn’t open.

6. Encourage Your Cat to Swallow

There are a couple tactics you can use to encourage your cat to swallow. These include:

Blowing gently on your cat's nose
Stroking their throat softly

Stay in position and keep blowing on their nose and stroking their throat until you’re reasonably sure that they’ve swallowed. Most cats will lick their nose after they've swallowed a pill, so watch for that when you do release their jaw.

8. Reward Your Cat

After successfully giving a cat a pill, always give verbal praise and a treat. This ends the experience on a positive note for your cat, and maybe—just maybe—will encourage them to swallow the pill more easily next time. (Hey, with cats, you never know!)


Now that you fully understand how to give a cat a pill, you’re ready to take action. Because pilling a cat requires more than a little skill, don’t be shy about asking your veterinarian for help. They will be happy to offer advice, explore different options, and even demonstrate.


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