Cat people, help me out?

J&K10910 · June 2012

Hey guys, this is probably a P&R, but I need some advice.

We took Box Kitty to the neuro yesterday, and they confirmed (as well as they can, there's no specific test for it) feline hyperaestesia syndrome. We need to give her a liquid med twice a day. It has to be liquid.

It's godawful trying to give it to her. We struggle to do it together, and due to our schedules, there are times when we have to be able to to do it on our own. This morning, I got half the dose on the counter, probably about a quarter all over her, and the rest she spit up back up all frothy and slimy. I feel terrible for the poor thing.

Anyway, does anyone have any med giving tips? Our vet showed us a good way to do it together, but like I said, not always possible.

brilibby4 · June 2012

I don't really have any tips but I wanted to say I'm sorry she is sick! I know with kids mixing medicine with something they actually enjoy eating/drinking helps. I wonder if there is any way to do this with a cat?

J&K10910 · June 2012

Well, we thought about that, but we also don't want to turn her off to the few things she'll eat (she's picky), if that makes sense. And this is something we'll likely have to do for the rest of her life, so I'm definitely hoping for a long term solution

I'm going to call and double check with the vet that we can't do pills, because this is going to suck and not be practical.

J&K10910 · June 2012

She doesn't seem to like the flavor. My H said that no matter the flavor of it, it's going to be bitter because that particular med just is bitter, but he's going to try to compound something when we need a refill with a different flavor and see what he can do to make it better (they compound pet meds at his pharmacy all the time).

ski2play · June 2012

no advice, just sad for you and box kitty that she has this going on,

J&K10910 · June 2012

Ok, running away now, thanks for any tips you guys have, and I'll be checking in from my phone but may or may not be able to respond. But know that I'm reading and I appreciate anything you guys might have!

kimandjosh22 · June 2012

sorry to hear about kitty! Jelly Bean had cronic URIs as a kitten/adolescent and I had the "pleasure" of having to give her several rounds of oral antibiotics. What worked for me was to sit on the floor and tuck the majority of her under my left armpit, keep my forearm under her and hold her jaw open with my hand (gently squeezing both sides of her jaw at the joint). I found the key was to give the meds quickly and not to be afraid of it. Squeeze the liquid as far back in kitty's throat as possible. (I'm right handed, and found it was easiest to give the meds with my dominant hand)
Jelly Bean always ran away after shaking her head, but eventually she got used to it and learned that the more cooperative she was the faster it was over.

edited for spelling

Ashleigh828 · June 2012

If your cat eats wet canned food, I would try mixing it in with some of that. Otherwise, when I have had to give my fiances cats meds by myself, I pet them for a fewminutes and calm them down, then wrap them in a towel and hold them like a baby... that way they can't really squirm around. I know it sounds mean but it's what my vet suggested to us. It definitely helped to control them and get all of the meds in their mouths.

button6004 · June 2012

Sorry about your kitty. Cheyenne frequently has to have medication of some kind, so J and I do it together. I scoop her up and snuggle her against me and he gently tips her head back, puts his thumb and index finger on either side of her mouth, and presses gently until she opens her mouth. Then he quick squeezes the medicine in. I dont know if I described that in a way that makes sense, but it works for us and we are able to get all of the liquid medicine into her.

daubachsgirl23 · June 2012

Sorry your cat is sick

Like PP said, I would try to wrap your cat in a blanket or towel. When I've had to give oral medication before, what I found that worked is to gently squeeze the cat's mouth open--just a little pressure where the upper and lower jaw meet to coax it open. If you can get your index finger into the mouth deep enough to keep it open (but not to deep to trigger a gag reflex), try to get the dropper in as far as you can, squeeze, and get out as quickly as possible. Then try to keep the jaw shut (not forcibly, but a little pressure on the lower jaw) and rub the throat a little to try to encourage swallowing.

It will get easier the more often you do it. Your cat will get used to it too and stop struggling and fighting back as much. Good luck!!

Kate61487 · June 2012

I second the recommendation that you just have to do it confidently and quickly. We had to give Blizzard a round of oral antibotics right after we got him and once the syringe was in his mouth you just had to commit and plunge; otherwise he got that first taste on his tongue and freaked out even more. We usually tag-teamed him, so H would hold him and I'd administer the meds, but I think the towel/blanket idea would be helpful for doing it yourself.

[Deleted User] · June 2012

I've had to give Whisky liquid meds twice a day for the past year, so I feel your pain. The method that works best for me is to set him on the floor and straddle him from behind. Then I lean over and lift his head so that the back of his head is against my chest. Then I open his mouth with one hand and stick the syringe in with the other. You have to do it quickly or else they get squirmy and it goes everywhere.

Sometimes I've had to hold his mouth closed with one hand (head still against me for support) and massage his throat so he swallows. Now, that being said, Whisky also began spitting it back up in a kind of frothy, drooly way. I don't know why and the only way I found to stop it was to dilute the meds with water. But, that took forever so recently I got everything switched to pills.

I was told that keeping the meds in the fridge makes them taste better, but I don't believe it. Whisky hates them whether they are cold or room temp.

J&K10910 · June 2012

Thanks, guys! Sesh, I think I'll try your way too. She's good at squirming out backwards so it sounds like your way will help that, hopefully.

[Deleted User] · June 2012

Yeah, Whisky tries the back-up method too, but if I'm straddling him, he can't go anywhere. He's locked in my by legs/stomach/chest. He also hates being wrapped in a towl because it freaks him out, so we can't go that route.

I hope it gets easier! It's hard in the beginning but eventually you get into your routine and figure it all out.

BrightFirefly · June 2012

My cat slowly got easier to give liquid meds too. I honestly think liquid is easier than pill in cats.

I second Sesh's advice.

Either that - or I'd attack while my cat was still sleeping - squirt it in - and then hold his mouth closed until he swallowed..lol

Callmefia · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_cat-people-help-me-out?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:bf2fc2db-e7d2-4f6f-9cb0-cd587bb98fdePost:b3cc6e8b-1c6f-474b-8ec7-417d6b28991a">Re: Cat people, help me out?</a>:
[QUOTE]The method that works best for me is to set him on the floor and straddle him from behind. Then I lean over and lift his head so that the back of his head is against my chest. Then I open his mouth with one hand and stick the syringe in with the other. You have to do it quickly or else they get squirmy and it goes everywhere. Sometimes I've had to hold his mouth closed with one hand (head still against me for support) and massage his throat so he swallows. Posted by Seshat411[/QUOTE]

The way Sesh does it is pretty much what I've done. My cat is like 25 pounds and I used to live on my own so had to do it by myself. It was short term and a pill - the vet gave me this super long pill dispenser so I just kneeled on the floor with the cat between my knees to support him and pulled his head up and shoved the dispenser down his throat. Agreed that quick is the key to getting it down and the longer you can keep their head up and massage down, the more likely they are to keep it in. I know it doesn't sound nice but if you are quick and then maybe give her a treat so she associates it with something good afterward, she will get over it. I would definitely ask about a longer dropper if you have to do it this way. (the pill dispenser was maybe 5 or 6 inches long)

Now my cat gets powdered cosequin joint supplement and we feed him 1/2 can of fancy feast that we mix it with. The cosequin isn't supposed to be terrible flavor though....
I think the FF is pretty strong tasting if you base it on the smell, so it might be enough to cover the bitter flavor.

PetalPockets2012 · June 2012

I used the counter to help me with our cat. Wrap her in the towel and then put her on the counter. I would use my left arm and body against it to keep her still. I used my left and to open her mouth and tried to hold her head open and then squirt meds in her throat as fast as possible. I also would try to hold her mouth closed till she swallowed. Good luck.

LesPaul · June 2012

When Cheddar had a broken pelvis I had to give him liquid pain meds several times a day, and he hated it. I would get a good grip on him with his body under my arm, and put my hand at the corners of his mouth to open it, then stick the syringe thing way back on the side of his mouth. It minimized him spitting the medicine out.

Good luck - poor Box Kitty!

StefffiC · June 2012

Can you get it compounded into a fish oil flavor? There is a compounding place in Charlotte, NC that did that for us.

Also, they did a lot of meds as transdermal gels I could rub into their ears, would that be easier?

Or, what about injections? I find those easier.

lv2011 · June 2012

What my vet taught me, was to grasp our cat firmly at the back of the neck, pulling gently backward while retaining hold of skin and fur (think how a mother cat would pick up her kittens-- ferrets and small kittens will actually fall asleep in that position). Hold your cat in that position and insert the the medicine (one-handed) into the cats mouth, aiming for the back of the mouth/ throat. Your cat may still squirm and yap a bit, but continue to hold firmly at the back of the neck until your cat calms down. Then, slowly and gently release your cat and pet soothingly. If you can have a bowl of water immediately available for the cat to drink from, they appreciate it, and it seems to ensure that they swallow and not spit up the medicine you gave. You may feel very awkward the first couple of times doing this, but the quicker and more efficient you become at it, the better for your cat.

Fluffernut · June 2012

I'm sorry your kitty is sick :-( When I've had to give liquids, I've found it easier to put my cat on my lap. I had a cat who would NOT take the liquid...it'd get all over the place. But I tried it with her on my lap and she took it great, no struggling. You could place a towel on your lap to protect yourself from claws. Then I guess I just grabbed the back of the jaw to open her mouth and put the syringe in as far as I could without it being in the throat and got the liquid back as far as possible. Otherwise, straddling is a good way too, as PP said. Good luck!

rlavach · June 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_cat-people-help-me-out?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:bf2fc2db-e7d2-4f6f-9cb0-cd587bb98fdePost:a2bf18b8-dcb6-4015-8c38-b5c0553e7425">Re: Cat people, help me out?</a>:
[QUOTE]Sorry your cat is sick :( Like PP said, I would try to wrap your cat in a blanket or towel. When I've had to give oral medication before, what I found that worked is to gently squeeze the cat's mouth open--just a little pressure where the upper and lower jaw meet to coax it open. If you can get your index finger into the mouth deep enough to keep it open (but not to deep to trigger a gag reflex), try to get the dropper in as far as you can, squeeze, and get out as quickly as possible. Then try to keep the jaw shut (not forcibly, but a little pressure on the lower jaw) and rub the throat a little to try to encourage swallowing. It will get easier the more often you do it. Your cat will get used to it too and stop struggling and fighting back as much. Good luck!!
Posted by daubachsgirl23[/QUOTE]
Yep, this is how I've had to do it also. I swaddle the cat in a thick blanket & then him on the floor, face up, in between my two legs so I can hold him in place. By now, he is giving me a very evil look. I have to hide the bottle of medication because even just looking at it makes his mouth foam & he starts to dry heave. So keep it hidden as much as possible. I gently open his mouth & stick it all the way in the back, squirting fast. Then I quickly lift him upright & gently pour a water bottle cap (1/2 full) of water into his mouth to wash it down. After a few times, you'll get quicker at it. <div>
</div><div>I noticed that mixing it in with food does NOT work because he'll just reject the food & would rather starve. </div>

shoebie · June 2012

I mix my cats liquid meds with a teaspoon of tuna i bought can covers too so 1 can (in the fridge) lasts 5 days

S6ix · June 2012

Last time I had to give my cat meds, I asked the vet to trim her claws when he prescribed them. It made giving her meds a lot less stressful for me, since I knew she couldn't do any major damage for a bit.

Licia&Wayne · June 2012

One of the things you might try in the long run is to kind of "train" for medicine time.

Our vet recommended putting down a special towel/rug/blanket whenever it was medicine time and always administering it with that towel/rug/blanket around. But, before that rug is associated with medicine, she said to give plenty of treats and love to the kitty on that rug and slowly phase in the medicine. The rug is supposed to become kind of a "positive event" rug for the cat.

I really can't tell you how well it worked because we weren't administering medicine long enough to move past the, "I hate your guts, stop forcing me to eat this" phase. But, it seemed good in theory.

I definitely second the straddle-the-cat method, and will say that the less anxiety I have about giving medicine, the more calm the cat is.

caiti2u · June 2012

The kitty burrito, wrapped in a towel, works for us, but mine gets solid pills. Once when she was on liquids, it was recommended I try mixing it with baby food. I never got that far b/c I found a wet food she'd eat it in, so I can't vouch for it, but may be worth a try.

Edit. Actually I remember now that it was a powder, not a liquid. But might still work anyway?

StefffiC · June 2012

Also, you can buy soft tip syringes and curve tip from KVVet.com, that way you won't jab kitty in the mouth.

LFenlason · June 2012

I am assuming they have given you a syringe to medicate? If not make sure you get one. Working at an animal hospital for years we have heard all the horror stories of medicating kitties. I myself have a cat that was pretty tricky to medicate when he needed liquid antibiotics. The thing you need to keep in mind is that you will NOT hurt your cat by scruffing him or her (holding tight to the skin on the back of their neck). After you have them in a firm scruff tip their head up to the ceiling this will help in opening their mouth (some cats automatically do it when their head is tilted up). Slide the syringe down the side of their mouth and then in between their molars in the back so you have the syringe just above their throat. Empty the syringe out quickly. I toss it to the side then hold my cat's mouth shut for just a moment so he swallows and doesn't spit it back out. Rubbing their neck in the front and blowing lightly in their nose are also good tricks to get them to swallow. One thing I will warn against is using your fingers to pry their mouth open. If they bite down on your finger and break the skin it can turn into a serious situation. Cat bites almost always end up infected. Use the syringe to get them to open up! If your kitty foams at the mouth it is fine, he or she won't be able to foam all the medication back out. Believe it or not once getting the hang of it, giving a cat liquid meds are much easier then a pill! GOOD LUCK!

I hope your cat feels better.

specialk84 · June 2012

My childhood cat (died in 2008) needed liquid medicine twice a day for two years. At first, it was a huge PITA, mainly because she was a biter.

I found the easiest way was just to grab a towel, scoop her up in my left hand and hold her close to me in my left arm. She'd usually open her mouth to hiss, so I'd just stick the syringe in as far as I could and squirt it down her throat. I'd immediately put her down.

Do it fast and be confident about it. When anyone else tried to be super gentle or go slow with her, it just stressed her out and made her bite and pee.

harpsdesire · June 2012

Okay so, this is probably going to sound like I'm a little insane, but I actually trained my cats to stand and take liquid meds.

Syringe with tuna juice, I put it near their mouth and when they nosed or licked it, I squeeze out a tiny bit slowly and give lots of love/praise. Moved on to squeezing it faster as they got used to drinking from the syringe.

When I was able to reliably get them taking a whole 'dose' of tuna juice in one quick squirt, I pulled up the right amount of meds, then some tuna juice, and gave it all at once quickly. They seemed not to notice the difference as long as it went fast and there was some tuna in there.

When they don't need any meds I give them a booster to the training with just juice every once in a while. Now if they see me with the syringe they actually stand still and open mouths for a treat.

I hope this is helpful!

zizibet · June 2012

I just talked to a friend of mine whose cat is also on daily liquid meds he hates, and this is what works for her. She layshim down and kneels over him with her feet crossed so he can't bakck out She then pulls the top part of his face up, squirts the meds down his throat, and then watches to make sure he's swallowed twice. She then immediately rewards him with a treat so he won't go and barf. She says she has the treat visible to him so he knows it's there while she's doing the dosing. She's find this method easier to manage by herself than towels.

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