How To Give a Cat Liquid Medicine: A Step-By-Step Guide

Updated Jan. 30, 2025
how to give a cat liquid medicine: woman giving liquid medicine to black cat

Adobe Stock/Jorge

Cats tend to put up a fight when taking any type of medication by mouth. For pills, the easiest approach is to offer them along with food or a treat. But what about liquid medication?

Ahead are step-by-step directions for how to give a cat liquid medicine, but you should always follow the advice of your veterinarian. They can tell you the best way to give your cat medicine, ensuring that both you and your cat stay safe during the process.

Key Takeaways

  • You can give liquid medicine to a cat using food or treats or by mouth with a syringe.
  • The easiest way to give liquid medicine to a cat is to offer it with food or a treat.
  • The best approach for giving liquid medicine to a difficult cat is to burrito-wrap them and have someone assist you.

How To Give Cats Liquid Medicine

There are a couple of ways to give a cat liquid medication. We’ll discuss these in detail, including the tools you’ll need for each. Then you can decide which approach works best for you and your kitty.

1. With Food or Treats

The easiest way to give cats liquid medicine is by using food or treats. You can take this approach when you have a cat who is always looking for their next meal or snack.

What you’ll need:

There are a couple of ways to give a cat liquid medication with food or treats:

  1. Mixed into food: Add a little bit of wet food to your cat’s dish and mix the liquid medicine into it. Use only a small amount of wet food to ensure that your cat eats the entire portion containing the medicine.  

  2. Fed by hand: Make a “meatball” of canned food and insert the liquid medicine into the middle of it. Feed the meatball to your cat by hand to make sure they eat all of it.

2. With a Syringe

If your cat won’t take their medicine using food or treats, you might need to use a syringe.

This can be a difficult process, so have your veterinarian demonstrate the technique for you before attempting it.

how to give a cat liquid medicine with a syringe infographic petmd

 

What you’ll need:

  • Oral syringe: Oral syringes are hollow plastic tubes with several lines marking dosage amounts.

  • An assistant: They can keep the cat still while you administer the medication.

Here’s how to give a cat liquid medicine with a syringe:

  1. Fill the syringe. Draw the appropriate amount of liquid medicine into the syringe as prescribed by your veterinarian.

  2. Keep your cat still. Have your assistant gently restrain your seated cat by placing one arm around the cat’s chest and neck area and a hand on the cat’s back. The assistant should hold your cat close to their body.

  3. Dispense the medicine into your cat’s mouth. Gently open your cat's mouth by tipping their head back. Insert the syringe into the back corner of your cat’s mouth and slowly dispense the medication, making sure that it all stays inside your cat’s mouth.

  4. Give them a treat. Give your cat praise and a treat to help make a positive association with receiving the medication.

If your pet is struggling, distressed, or trying to bite, call your vet for help.

What if My Cat Won’t Take Their Liquid Medication?

If your cat is not willing to take their liquid medication, you can try several alternatives:

Practice with Treats

To get your cat used to taking medication, you can offer treats by mouth. This is especially helpful if you’re able to hide the medication inside canned food and offer it by hand.

Another trick is to water down some Churu or other pureed treat, draw some up into the syringe, followed by the medication dose, then more of the pureed treat. Give that to your cat so they receive the medication in a “sandwich” with a delicious treat.

Ask Your Veterinarian for Advice

They might have additional suggestions for how to get your cat to take liquid medicine.

Use an Alternative

Some medications come in injectable or transdermal (given as a gel on the inner surface of your cat’s ear) form. Ask your vet whether this is an option for your cat’s medicine.

What if My Cat Starts Foaming at the Mouth?

If your cat starts foaming at the mouth when you give them liquid medication, don’t fret.

Some cats foam at the mouth because their medicine has a bitter taste they don’t like. Foaming can also develop due to stress and anxiety.

Other signs your cat is becoming stressed during the medicating procedure include:

  • Growling or hissing

  • Ears flat against the head

  • Wide pupils

  • Tail swishing back and forth

  • Rigid body posture

  • Fur standing on end

If you notice your cat foaming at the mouth, follow these steps:

  1. Remain calm. See whether the foaming resolves after your cat has a couple of minutes to relax.

  2. Offer your cat a sip of water. Give them snuggles or a pet to help them relax.

  3. Contact your vet. Ask them for guidance, especially if the foaming doesn’t resolve.

Safety Tips for Giving a Cat Liquid Medication

When giving a cat liquid medication, it’s important to think about safety. Follow these tips to ensure this task is done safely for you and your kitty:

  • Make sure your cat is up to date on all vaccinations.

  • Enlist the help of an assistant to keep your cat calm and still.

  • Protect yourself with gloves and a towel or blanket.

Watch your cat’s body language to determine whether they need a break.

 

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.

how to burrito-wrap a cat infographic petmd

 

Here’s how to burrito-wrap a cat:

  1. Place your cat on a towel. Lay the towel flat and set your cat in the middle, facing away from you.
  2. Encourage your cat to lie down. Their legs should be tucked beneath them.
  3. Wrap one corner of the towel around your cat’s back and tuck it near their back leg.
  4. Wrap the other side of the towel. Repeat Step 3 for the other side of the towel but wrap the corner all the way under your cat’s body. This should leave only your cat’s head exposed. The towel wrap should be fairly snug to prevent your cat from freeing any of their legs.
  5. Offer your cat a treat to create a positive association with this technique.

Your cat is now ready to take their medication.

Cats and Liquid Medicine FAQs

How do you give a cat liquid medicine without a syringe?

You can offer your cat liquid medicine in a canned food “meatball” or by mixing it into their food.

How do you open a cat’s mouth for medicine?

Insert the oral syringe into the back corner of your cat’s mouth and gently press the plunger until they open their mouth. Never stick your hands inside a cat’s mouth or try to pry open a cat’s mouth, as this can lead to an accidental bite.

How do you hold a cat to give liquid medicine?

You can have the cat sit down and then wrap one arm around the cat’s chest and neck while placing a hand on their back. Hold them closely against you to prevent them from wiggling away.

How do you give liquid medicine to a difficult cat?

Ask your veterinarian for the best techniques if you have a difficult cat. Some can be burrito-wrapped to help during medication administration. For others, you might need an alternative injectable medicine.


Brittany Kleszynski, DVM

WRITTEN BY

Brittany Kleszynski, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Brittany Kleszynski is a veterinarian and freelance medical writer who specializes in creating meaningful content that engages readers...


Help us make PetMD better

Was this article helpful?


Get Instant Vet Help Via Chat or Video. Connect with a Vet. Chewy Health