How to Administer Liquid Medication to Cats

If you think your cat is finicky about food, wait until you have to give him medicine. Fortunately, there are ways of getting it down even the pickiest cats. It's just a matter of position and speed--the trick is to get it into him before he knows what's going on. Here's how to administer liquid medicine.

Instructions

    • 1

      Measure out the correct dose of medicine, and then find the cat. Don't try to fumble with the medicine bottle while holding the cat in your arms, because she'll suspect something's coming and try to run away.

    • 2

      Tuck the cat under your left armpit (if you're right-handed) and grasp his cheekbones with your left hand. Wrap the cat in a towel or wear long sleeves if you're concerned about being scratched. Tilt his head back until his jaw opens.

    • 3

      Keep the cat's head back and quickly squirt the medicine into the pocket of her cheek. If it's more than 1 mL, squirt half of the liquid, release the cheekbones while keeping the rest of the cat still, and then repeat Steps 1 through 3 for the remainder of the dose once the cat stops licking and smacking.

    • 4

      Practice with a medicine dropper and water if you're worried about wasting a dose, but make sure that you wait at least an hour after the trial run before giving the real thing so that the cat has a chance to forget.