How To Give a Cat a Pill: A Step-By-Step Guide
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Giving your cat a pill can be a downright difficult task, but there are steps you can take to make it easier, such as familiarizing yourself with the medication and learning the appropriate steps beforehand. After you learn how and try it the first time, the task becomes much less daunting.
You should always follow the advice of your veterinarian when deciding how to administer tablets to cats. This is important because some pills can be divided or crushed, while others must be kept whole to be effective.
Here’s how to give a cat a pill—and some other helpful tips and tricks.
Key Takeaways
- Veterinarians recommend giving your cat pills directly by mouth or with food and treats.
- The easiest way to give a cat a pill is by using wet food or a Pill Pocket.
- For difficult cats, the best approach is to use a pet piller to administer medication.
How To Give a Cat a Pill
There are various ways to get a cat to swallow a pill. We will share directions for a couple of approaches.
1. With Food or Treats
The easiest way to give cats pills is to offer them with food or a treat. Consider this approach if your cat is food-motivated.
What you’ll need:
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Wet cat food (pâté variety works best)
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Cat treats, such as Feline Greenies Pill Pockets
Here are three ways to give a cat a pill with food or treats:
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Mixed into food: You can add some wet food to your cat’s dish and simply mix the pill into it. Some medications can be crushed into wet food, while others cannot. Ask your veterinarian for specific instructions for your cat’s medication.
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Formed into a wet food “meatball”: Mold your cat’s wet food into a ball and insert the pill inside so that all the medication is covered. Offer the meatball to your cat.
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If that doesn’t work, try the three-meatball trick: Make two plain wet food meatballs and one meatball with the pill stuffed inside. Give your cat one plain meatball, followed by the pill meatball, then another plain meatball. This will make your cat less suspicious of the meatball in the future.
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Stuffed into a treat: There are cat treats, like Pill Pockets, specifically designed for giving medications. Insert the pill into the top of the Pill Pocket and then press the top down to create a seal. Offer the Pill Pocket to your cat just as you would a treat.
2. By Mouth
Sometimes, a cat’s sense of smell will alert them to when there’s medication hidden inside a treat or food and they will refuse it. Other times, they will eat the treat or food but then spit out the medication.
In these cases, you might need to give the pill directly by mouth. This can be a difficult task, and you should be careful not to get bitten or scratched.

What you’ll need:
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Pet piller: Also known as a feline pill popper, a pet piller is a small plastic tube with a plunger to gently dispense a pill into your cat’s mouth.
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Assistant: When giving your cat a pill by mouth, it’s helpful to have a second set of hands. Your assistant can keep the cat still while you administer the medication.
Here's how to give a cat a pill with a pet piller:
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Place your cat’s medication into the pet piller and set it aside.
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Have your assistant hold the cat tucked inside their arms, with the cat’s back against their chest. This prevents your cat from backing away from you when you’re administering the medication. The assistant can gently hold your cat’s head still by placing their hands on either side of your cat’s neck.
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While your assistant is holding your cat securely, gently open your cat's mouth by tipping their head back. Place the pet piller in the back corner of the cat’s mouth and move it deeper until it reaches the base of the tongue.
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Push the plunger to release the pill into your cat’s mouth and make sure it is swallowed. Sometimes, gently blowing on your cat’s nose or gently massaging their neck can help them fully swallow the pill.
Ask your veterinarian for a demonstration of this technique before attempting it. If your pet is struggling, distressed, or trying to bite, call your vet for help.
What if My Cat Won’t Take Their Pill?
If your cat won’t take their pill, you can try a few other methods:
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Practice with treats. Some cats are more willing than others to take treats. If your cat doesn’t usually like treats, you might try different brands to see what entices them. Giving a treat daily can help get your cat used to taking medication with treats.
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Ask your veterinarian for advice. If you cannot seem to get your cat to take their pill, you might ask your veterinarian for additional suggestions for your individual cat.
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Use an alternative. Some medications come in an injectable form that a vet can administer under the cat’s skin or into the muscle.
Safety Tips for Giving Pills to Cats
When giving a cat a pill, it’s important to think about safety. Follow these tips to help give your cat their pill safely:
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Make sure your cat is up to date on all vaccinations.
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Enlist an assistant to keep your cat calm and still.
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Watch your cat’s body language to see whether they need a break. This can include:
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Growling or hissing
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Ears flat against the head
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Wide pupils
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Tail swishing back and forth
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Rigid body posture
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Fur standing on end
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How To Burrito-Wrap Your Cat To Give Medicine
Some cats might need to be burrito-wrapped (aka wrapped with a towel or blanket) to help them feel more secure and to keep their legs gently held in place.
This is helpful for cats who are afraid or very active.

Here’s how to burrito-wrap a cat:
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Lay a towel flat and set your cat in the middle of it, facing away from you.
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Encourage your cat to lie down with their legs tucked beneath them.
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Wrap one of the top corners of the towel around the cat’s back and tuck it near their back leg.
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Repeat this step for the other side of the towel but wrap the corner all the way under the cat’s body. This should leave only your cat’s head exposed. The towel wrap should be fairly snug to prevent your cat from removing any of their legs.
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Offer your cat a treat to create a positive association with this technique.
Your cat is now ready to take their medication.
How To Give Cats Pills FAQs
How do you give an unwilling cat a pill?
If your cat is unwilling to take a pill, you might need to burrito-wrap them and use a pet piller.
If you’re still unable to get your cat to take tablets, ask your veterinarian for an injectable alternative or transdermal option (one that can be given as a gel on the inside of your cat’s ear flap).
How do you open a cat’s mouth to give them a pill?
Do not try to open a cat’s mouth using your hands. This can lead to accidental bites or scratches. Instead, insert a pet piller in the corner of your cat’s mouth and gently push it until your cat’s mouth opens.
How do you get a difficult cat to swallow a pill?
Gently rubbing your cat’s throat after giving a pill can help them to swallow.
Do vets have any tricks to get my cat to take their medication?
Hiding the medication in wet food or a treat is the easiest trick to use, but a veterinarian might also recommend using a pet piller or burrito-wrapping your cat.