Giving Liquid Medication to Cats

The easiest way to give your cat liquid medication is to mix it with some canned food, if the medication does not require an empty stomach. To ensure your cat swallows all 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. In this case, you must put the medication directly into the cat’s mouth.

Step by Step

1. Gently shake or mix the liquid medication, as indicated on the label.

2. Draw up the liquid into a syringe or dropper, according to the dosage instructions.

3. If the medication was refrigerated, hold the syringe in your hand for 1–2 minutes to warm it up or place it in a warm water bath. Do not microwave the medication. 

4. Hold your cat in your lap and place the medication within reach. Massage or cuddle your cat to help them relax. It may help to wrap your cat in a blanket or towel with only its head exposed. Consider having another person gently hold the wrapped cat while you give the medication. 

5. Hold the syringe or dropper with your dominant hand. If your cat likes the taste, you can let them lick the medication from the tip of the syringe as you slowly depress the plunger.

6. If your cat does not lick the liquid, gently place your non-dominant hand on their head, holding their cheek bones. If needed, you can gently tilt the head back, causing the mouth to open slightly.

7. Use your dominant hand to place the tip of the syringe in the mouth, just behind one of the canine teeth (“fangs”).

• Advance the tip into the slight gap between the canine tooth and the pre-molars behind it.
• Angle the syringe slightly to the side, so the tip of the syringe deposits the medication onto the tongue, not straight into the back of the throat, which may cause the cat to inhale the liquid into its lungs.

8. Slowly squeeze the syringe to dispense the liquid medication. Make sure the cat has time to swallow the liquid and breathe.

9. Most cats spit out some of the medication. Do not re-medicate unless you are certain that none of the medication was swallowed. You may follow medication with some water or encourage your cat to drink afterward. Sometimes they will foam at the mouth from the taste.

10. Rinse the dropper or syringe thoroughly with water and refrigerate the remaining medication.

Tips

• Use a syringe regularly, to give your cat liquid treats, so the syringe is seen as a good thing.
• Give your cat 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.