Edit Article

As a cat owner, your cat or kitten depends on you to care for him/her and all the medical needs that come with the duty. Sometimes, that means administering a pill or some medication to a cat who doesn't want it. Giving a cat medication will be met with great protest and is, frankly, a tedious pain in the ass of a task. However, if your cat's health is in your hands, you owe it to him/her to do this for your companion.



  1. 1
    Keep the pill in your more dexterous hand.
  2. Open a Cat's Mouth Step 2.jpg
    Get your arms at the same height as your cat. For instance, you can put your cat on a dryer. You can also administer the medication on the ground with both you and your cat recumbent.
  3. Open a Cat's Mouth Step 3.jpg
    Position your other hand so the four fingers are together with your thumb sticking out. Your hand should look like "B" from the manual alphabet with your thumb perpendicular.
  4. Open a Cat's Mouth Step 4.jpg
    Cup that hand over your cat's eyes, with the thumb and middle finger touching either side of his/her jaw.
  5. Open a Cat's Mouth Step 5.jpg
    Poke with your thumb and middle finger on each side at the aperture behind the teeth, between the cat's jaws. Don't be afraid to exert a lot of force; this won't hurt the cat.
  6. Open a Cat's Mouth Step 6.jpg
    Put the pill in the back of your cat's mouth.
  7. Open a Cat's Mouth Step 7.jpg
    Close your cat's mouth and rub his/her throat to swallow. You must add a tiny bit of water to the cat's cheek to help with swallowing the pill and to avoid esophageal scarring or abrasion, and do not shoot water to the back of the throat directly. Do this with a plastic syringe that your vet provides for free. (Hint: a small saucer of water from a tuna can will keep you from having to squirt water in your cats mouth. I find this works well as the "after pill water" and the treat. Have it already made and close by to flush the pill down as soon as possible.)
  8. Open a Cat's Mouth Step 8.jpg
    Reward him/her with his/her favorite cat treats.

We could really use your help!

Can you tell us about
different ways to enjoy muesli
Can you tell us about
how to house-train Corgi puppies
Can you tell us about
different ways to make vegetable salads
Can you tell us about
box braids?
box braids
how to style box braids
Thanks for helping! Please tell us everything you know about
Provide Details.
Don't say: Eat more fats.


  • As soon as you get the cat's mouth open, get that medication inside as fast as you physically can! Everything after that step must be done very quickly or you'll have to start over.
  • Don't forget the water!
  • Make sure you're in a position that allows you to move freely. Your cat may run away and you may have to chase him/her down.
  • It's not only possible but sometimes easier to do this with two people, but those two must both be very alert.
  • Have your veterinarian demonstrate this for you.
  • Some people feed their cats after doing this so that this becomes a pre-feeding ritual.
  • Some people wrap the cat in a towel to keep him/her still while doing this. You can also use one arm to pin the cat to the ground.


  • It is very important to give your cat a little water immediately after you administer a pill to avoid harming your cat.
  • One way or another, your cat is going to hate this. Try to do this at times when time is not a factor, as this can take a very very long time for a resistant cat.
  • You will probably get bitten your first time doing this. For obvious reasons, never ever ever do this to a cat who hasn't had shots.
  • Remember that you're doing this because you're trying to help your cat. If you need to medicate him/her, chances are that going through this ritual will be much better for his/her health than ignoring it because it is too difficult.
  • Rewarding is not just a superfluous step. It is important to reward your cat as fast as possible after doing this to make him/her more cooperative the next time.

Things You'll Need

  • Pill Dispenser
  • Pills
  • Water
  • Plastic Syringe

Article Info

Categories: Feline Health

In other languages:

Español: Cómo abrirle el hocico a un gato

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 41,733 times.

Did this article help you?
Yes No

an Author!

Write an Article