The easiest way to give your cat liquid medication is to mix it in with some canned food. To ensure that your cat swallows all of the medication, it is best to mix it into a small amount of canned food that you feed by hand, rather than mixing it into a full bowl of food that the cat may not completely eat.
Some cats may be unwilling to eat the food or may have dietary restrictions that prevent you from using this technique. If this is the case, you will need to administer the medication directly into the cat's mouth.
Before you give the medication, make sure that you have carefully read the prescription label and understand the dosing instructions. Gently shake or mix the liquid medication prior to drawing it into the dosing syringe. If the medication was refrigerated, you may want to warm it up by holding the syringe tightly in your hand for a minute or two, or by placing it in a warm water bath. DO NOT MICROWAVE THE MEDICATION.
Prepare an area where you can safely handle your cat. Have the medication ready and in a place where it will be easily accessible. If you are administering the medication by yourself, you may find it easiest to place your cat in your lap. It may be advisable to restrain the cat by wrapping it in a blanket or towel with only its head exposed. The first few times, it may also be helpful to have someone else hold the wrapped cat while you administer the medication.
"The first few times, it may also be helpful to have someone else hold the wrapped cat while you administer the medication."
Hold the syringe or dropper containing the medication with your dominant hand. First, allow the cat to lick the medication from the tip of the syringe as you slowly depress the plunger (many cats accept medication more readily if it is warmed up as mentioned above).
If your cat is not interested in licking the liquid, gently grasp your cat's head from above with your non-dominant hand by placing your thumb on one side of the upper jaw and your fingers on the other. If needed, gently tilt the head back.
Place the tip of the syringe in the mouth, just behind one of the canine teeth ("fangs"), and advance the tip so that it is in the slight gap between the canine tooth and the pre-molars behind the canine tooth.
Be sure to angle the syringe slightly to the side so that the tip of the syringe deposits the medication onto the tongue. You do not want to forcefully inject the liquid straight into the back of the throat. This can increase the risk of the cat inhaling or aspirating the liquid into its lungs.
"Most cats will spit out some of the medication. Do NOT re-medicate unless you are certain that NONE of the medication was swallowed."
Slowly squeeze the syringe to dispense the liquid medication. Make sure to do this slowly so the cat has time to swallow the liquid and breathe.
Most cats will spit out some of the medication. DO NOT re-medicate unless you are certain that NONE of the medication was swallowed. Your veterinarian will have accounted for a small amount of loss when calculating the required dose of medication for your cat.
Make sure you give your cat plenty of praise throughout the procedure and offer a special treat after giving the medication. This will make the experience more positive and may make it easier to give the medication the next time.
After each use, rinse the dropper or syringe thoroughly with water and refrigerate the remaining medication if necessary.
