Expert: Becky - 5/18/2004

Question
What is the best and safest (for me) way to give a cat a pill?

Answer
Hi Candy,

This can be tricky and you need to be careful as not to get bitten.  With your left hand ,  put your hand across the top of your cats head, holding each side of jaw.  Pull head back where nose is in the air  and with right hand, (pill in hand) pull bottom jaw down.  Put the pill towards the throat as far back as you can.  If you put it far enough back, the cat will swallow it.  
If you have a hard time doing this, there is a special device sold in pet stores that enable you to give a pill without putting your hand in the mouth.  
I have found if you do it quickly and push it far enough back, that it will work every time though.

Good luck,
Becky