How to Give Cat Dewormer Pill | Without the Battle

Giving a cat a pill rarely goes smoothly on the first try, and a dewormer that ends up on the floor does nothing for the worms. The working method comes down to calm restraint, a confident hand, and knowing where the pill actually needs to sit. A few technique tweaks turn a wrestling match into a ten-second task.

The Standard Technique: Step by Step

The direct method works for most cats and most dewormer tablets. Do it in a quiet room, and keep your own voice low and steady.

1. Secure the cat. Wrap a towel or blanket around the body, leaving only the head free, to cut down on struggling and scratching. Or have someone hold the front half gently while you work.
2. Tilt the head back. With your thumb and forefinger on the cheekbones, tip the nose toward the ceiling. This naturally drops the lower jaw open.
3. Open the mouth. Press gently on the lower front teeth or the sides of the jaw with your other hand until the mouth opens.
4. Place the pill deep. Drop or push the tablet as far back on the tongue as you can reach. Dropping it loosely at the front of the mouth triggers gagging, and a pill placed too far forward gets spit right back out.
5. Close and hold. Close the mouth and hold it shut with one hand while keeping the head tilted slightly up.
6. Encourage the swallow. Stroke the throat lightly or rub the nose. Licking the nose or lips is a good sign the pill went down.

You can also follow the pill with a small squirt of water from a syringe to help it along. Wait to see a swallow before you let go of the mouth.

Can the Dewormer Pill Be Hidden in Food?

Some dewormer tablets can be given in a small amount of food, but not all — the package insert is the final word on your specific product. When the label allows it, mix the tablet into a spoonful of wet food, tuna, or another strong-smelling treat so the cat eats the whole portion at once. Food should not be withheld before or after treatment.

Pilling pockets or soft treats with a slit work well for cats that eat the whole treat in one bite. Cats that chew or pick around the pill will need the direct method instead.

Whichever route you use, watch for vomiting afterward. Some oral dewormers can trigger an upset stomach, and a pill that comes back up needs a call to your vet before you re-dose.

Dosing by Weight, Not by Guess

Dewormer doses are tied to the cat’s body weight, and products differ. These two products are not interchangeable, so always check the label of what you have.

If you are weighing your options for treatment, our roundup of the best dewormers for cats without a vet prescription breaks down which products cover which worms and how the dosing compares.

Common Mistakes That Make It Harder

• The pill sits too far forward. This is the most common failure. It has to go deep on the tongue — right at the back — or the cat’s tongue flicks it out instantly.
• Letting go of the mouth too soon. Hold the jaw shut until you see the swallow. The nose-lick is your confirmation.
• Dropping the pill in loose. That triggers a gag and a spit-out. Place it deliberately instead.
• Skipping restraint. A cat that can pull away is a cat that will. The towel wrap takes ten seconds and saves you both the stress.

These instructions cover oral dewormer tablets. Liquid dewormers use a different delivery method — usually a syringe aimed at the side of the mouth — so do not try to adapt the pill technique. If your vet or the package insert recommends gloves, wash your hands well after handling the medication.