The Kittie bump part 2

[sparkindarkness]

It seems that the bump on said kittie's tail was caused by an infected bight. (Which IS covered by the pet insurance! HAH!) and that we have to give her hippopotamus sized tab;ets twice a day.

Yeah, right.

Wrestling with Mia proved... less than productive. Even wrapped in a towel to disarm her she proved adept at spitting out any pills forced into her mouth DESPITE not having lips or cheeks. And the noise would amke the enighbours think we'd taken up vivisection for fun and profit

Tactic the second: wrap pill in Tuna.

Mia: *Noms tuna*

Beloved & I: SUCCESS!!!

Mia: *spits out pill* *smirk*

Tactic the third: *crush pill and mix with tuna*
Mia: *is no longer hungry. Stalks off*

Tactic the fourth: *put mushy pill and tuna in food bowl and watch from afar*
Socks: *eats tuna*
Beloved and I: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Tatic the fifth: *more pill/tuna mush and socks to be exiled from kitchen*
Mia: *scatters mush in a large area. Unknown amount consumed*

*le sigh* this will take some time.

Comments

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

Run your fingers down the sides of her mouth to force it open, and drop the pill right down the back of her throat, behind her tongue. Then hold the jaw shut and rub he throat until she swallows.

Try not to catch her tongue in her teeth when you close the jaw, obviously, but yeah. This is the best way I've ever found to get pills into a cat.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

She is skilled at the art of pretend swallows - either that or she manages to somehow trap it with her tongue.

Still it worked in the end...

[jerril]

When you're rubbing her throat, you can feel the difference between "swallow" and "swallow with a horsepill in it". Well, after you get her to swallow one.

[jocelyncs.livejournal.com]

My sympathies, dearie. I went through the same fiasco with all three of my fluffies a few weeks ago with their worm medication. Why why why why WHY do the pharmacists insist on create cat pills the size of a large human pill?! Are they TRYING to get owners lacerated?!

I discovered Pill Pockets, a treat invented with a space to hide a pill, and also a pill pump, which is less friendly to kitty, but is a way of forcing the thrice-damned things down their little throats. Haven't worked up the courage to try them yet.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Do they not realise how small cats are?

We have managed to force the pills down but I don't like that - but mushing with tuna HAS worked. eventually

[helbling.livejournal.com]

Seconding the above Pill Pump. The nurses where I work live on the damn things; sometimes, with cats, there just is no other option.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

It may make force feeding them easier - we manage to force it down but damn it's not easy - cat's are immensely strong for their size

[kirylyn.livejournal.com]

man, I have enough problems shooting the liquid antibiotic down my kitty's throat. I don't even WANT to consider trying to get a pill down!

yeah that its covered by insurance!!

don't forget to give Socks lots of love and attention too!

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Oh for a liquid! That would be so much easier.

yes yes it was :) I enjoyed informing them of this

Socks is saty in a corner making it clear she's happy not be involved in the cat wrestling :)

[chesh.livejournal.com]

The solution that I remember from being a kid was:
(1) break out the old mortar and pestle.
(2) acquire a syringe (sans needle) from vet or local pharmacist.
(3) crush said pill in tuna juice or chicken broth, suck up into syringe.
(4) perform kitty-in-a-blanket.
(5) force cat's mouth open, slowly dribble mixture down kitty's throat (slowly, do not drown the very unhappy cat.)

The pill pump mentioned above seems like an easier option, but if that doesn't work, this might.

Good luck. Have you invested in some kevlar arm covers?

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

We got out the winter weight sheets.

That sounds long winded but it may be worth it - we're at the piull forcing/please eat this tuna phase

[seryan.livejournal.com]

A dish towel is insufficient. As the once, and presumably future, Household Piller of the Cat, you need a large bath towel, in which you will mummify the cat, leaving only a mouth and a pair of balefully glaring eyes. Hold the entoweled cat very tightly, with one hand clamping down the forelegs, prise open the jaw (tools may be necessary), dump the pill down as far back in the cat's throat as you can possibly manage, close the mouth and hold it closed, and stroke the throat until you feel the pill go down. Keep holding the mouth closed for another few minutes. Most of the time, the cat will have been Pilled.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

A dish towel? That would be suicidal! You need something much bigger asnd thicker than that! We use bed sheets. Winter weight. KING SIZE! Wrap her tighter than king tut

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

You might ask your local pharmacist or chemist to compound the pills into a suspension. They can sometimes do this, depending on the medication. If this is possible, then you can request a tuna flavored suspension, or you can mix the appropriate amount into the tuna.

Pilling cats is an acquired skill, and some cats have acquired their own ability to prevent you. It's much easier on everyone if you don't have to struggle with medication.

;-)

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

I never even thought to go to a chemist, we just got from the nice met person

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

It's not always possible. I am not sure about UK compounding laws, but it can't hurt to check. If mashing the pill into tuna is working, then perhaps the suspension will be even easier. Of course, by the time you find out what you can do, and who will do it, and pay for it, your cat will be all better and not need the medication any more.

;-)

[only-playing.livejournal.com]

Pillow case. Stick poorkitty into pillowcase, with just head showing. Wrap pillow case in towel. Pry open mouth, get pill in mouth and shove down throat with tip of finger. Let cat go and put antibiotic ointment on all cat scratches and bites.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

I doubt we have oine thick enough- her cflaws are long and sharp. I'm going with BED SHEET!

[stormcat.livejournal.com]

Sit on the cat.

No, seriously. Grab cat, grab large towel or blanket. Pin cat on floor, belly to floor. Kneel over cat, a knee/shin on each side, thighs blocking sideways movement, and sort of drop your butt to block the rearward scrabble. In front, have the towel essentially wrapped around the front half of the cat like a backwards serape, tucked snug about the neck, and hold the edges down with your knees so that the cat's front legs (and most importantly, claws) are pinned. (This is much easier to do than to describe. I do recommend getting the towel basically in place before "sitting" on the cat -- relatively easy if you've got the scruff.) Feline should be at least vaguely immobilized now, though I do recommend wearing pants to avoid strange tickling sensations in delicate areas.

From here, pry the cat's mouth open as best you can and proceed with the pilling. If you've gone the liquid/syringe route (something I highly recommend) you can essentially wait for the cat to open wide while cussing you out and squirt the liquid down their throat. If it's a lot it might take a couple squirts and yes I know how wrong that sounds. Be prepared to lose it the first few times, but that's part of what the towel's for. :)

(Insert jokes about squirting, pussies and towels here. I've been trying NOT to the entire time I was typing this and giggling madly.)

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

That rearward scrabble gets me every time!

LOL wearing trousers? I'm waring medieveal battle armour. Maybe if we sit on her it won't be a two man job (one to mummify and one to prise open jaws

(It's just too easy but I can't resist!)