How to give a cat an anti-worm tablet: precautions, methods

At first glance, it seems that there is nothing simpler than giving a cat a pill. In fact, this is far from a simple procedure, since cats, thanks to their love of freedom, absolutely do not tolerate being manipulated against their will. In order to give the cat medicine, you will have to hold it tightly. The first thing he will do at this moment is try to run away quickly, because cats do not tolerate being held tightly.

There are many ways to properly give your pet this ill-fated pill. Their advantage is not only that the medicine will reach its target, but also in the absence of stress for both the cat and its owner.

Basic rules for treatment with anthelmintic drugs:

The medicine is usually given on an empty stomach.
The second time the anthelmintic drug should be given after 10 days.
Every 3 months for preventive actions it is necessary to carry out anthelmintic measures.
Before you begin deworming, you need to make sure that the animal does not have fleas. If they are present, then it is imperative to get rid of them, and then expel the parasites.
Before giving an anthelmintic, you need to give a gamavit injection to the withers. 4 hours after taking the anthelmintic, you need to give any sorbents: activated carbon, polysorb, enterosgel.

Basic methods of giving medicine to a cat

Mix with food

This method can be used after first finding out whether the positive effect of taking the tablet will disappear after mixing. This can be read in the instructions for the medicine.

The tablet must be pre-crushed.
Mix with your cat’s favorite food, taken in small quantities.
Make sure that the food is completely eaten. If the cat did not eat everything, then we can say with confidence that the required dose did not enter the animal’s body.
You can try dividing the tablet into two parts and fixing it either in a sausage or in boiled minced meat. It is important that the lined pieces are small. This is required so that the cat does not chew them, but swallows them whole.

Using butter

Even with a strong desire, the cat will not be able to spit out the tablet. Thanks to the butter, it slips into the throat.

If the tablet is small, then it needs to be dipped in butter.
Place the cat as close to the root of the tongue as possible.
If the tablet is large, it must first be divided into parts.

Helminths in cats, symptoms of helminthiasis

Cats, like all pets, are excellent targets for parasites. Most often, roundworms and tapeworms parasitize the body of domestic cats: roundworms, trematodes and tapeworms, toxocara, nematodes and the like. Some owners believe that if the cat does not leave the house, then infection cannot occur. This is fundamentally wrong. A cat can become infected with worms in the following ways:

Through dirty street shoes, shopping bags, the hands of the owner.
In contact with other animals going outside, such as a dog.
By eating contaminated foods (raw meat, fish, unwashed vegetables and fruits).
When infected with external parasites, for example, fleas.

Common worms in cats

Accordingly, even without existing signs of helminthiasis, it can be assumed that there are parasites in the animal’s body. Therefore, deworming treatment should be carried out prophylactically every three to four months throughout the cat’s life. If specific symptoms are present, antiparasitic treatment should be carried out immediately.

What parasites can you get from a cat?

How can you tell if a cat has worms?

The most accurate way to determine helminthiasis in cats is a laboratory stool test. This method allows not only to identify parasites, but also to accurately determine their type. Also, an infection is absolutely indicated by the presence of worms in the pet’s feces, which the owner can notice when removing the tray. There are also indirect signs indicating that it is time for anthelmintic treatment:

Digestive disorders, most often soft stools.
Itching in the anal area (the cat constantly licks under its tail and can “ride” on its butt).
Weight loss, lack of appetite.
Problems with the coat (loss of shine, hair loss, dishevelment).
The abdomen is swollen and hard to the touch.
Apathetic state of the cat, drowsiness, lethargy.

Itching in the anus makes the cat nervous and even aggressive

In small kittens, it is more difficult to determine helminths, since the above signs may not be present. But, if a kitten has a hard and swollen tummy, which even to the eye seems disproportionately large, the likelihood of infecting the baby with worms is very high.

Video - How to determine that a cat has worms and how to treat them

The main ways to give deworming tablets to a cat

Method 1

Irritation of the root of a cat's tongue causes a swallowing reflex.

You need to open the animal's mouth.
The medicine for worms should be placed as close to the root of the tongue as possible.
Then close your pet’s mouth and hold it for a few seconds.
It is important not to press on the base of the tongue, as this may cause backfire.

Method 2

To give your cat deworming medicine, you need to sit comfortably on your knees. Place the animal with its back to itself, so that it does not have the physical ability to escape.

With one hand, tilt the cat's head up, lightly pressing on the lower jaw. The cat will open its mouth. All that remains is to push the medicine as close to the root of the tongue as possible.

Having closed the mouth, be sure to make stroking movements along the pet’s throat from top to bottom. This way the swallowing movement is stimulated. After this, it is worth making sure that he really swallowed the anthelmintic.

Method 3

Before you start giving your cat deworming medicine, you need to sit him on your lap facing you. A distraction will be the stroking movements of the abdomen. At this time, the pet relaxes, and the desire to slip out of the owner’s hands disappears.

With your left hand, the cat's head is thrown back, at the same time the jaw is unclenched by applying firm pressure on the base of the jaw. With your right hand, the tablet is pushed closer to the root of the tongue. To stimulate the swallowing reflex, you need to carry out movements directed from top to bottom along the animal’s throat. After the cat makes a swallowing movement, it is necessary to check for the presence of the tablet in the mouth.

You need to be wary of its strong hind legs, which it can use to rest on its owner’s stomach. You also need to carry out manipulations as quickly as possible so that she does not have the desire to kick with her hind legs.

Method 4

Using a peeler. A piller is a design that looks like a syringe. With its help, you can easily and quickly give your cat medicine. To use this device to feed a deworming tablet, you need to:

Place the medicine securely in the rubber tip.
After opening the cat's mouth, place the tip with the medicine as close to the root of the tongue as possible.
By confidently pressing the piller piston, push the drug into the animal’s mouth.
Get the peeler.
Close the cat's mouth.
Stimulate the swallowing reflex by stroking the throat.

Method 5

If there is no original device at home, and the drug against worms needs to be introduced into the body, the faster the better, then it can be easily done at home.

Take a syringe. The tablet must match the diameter of the syringe circumference. Typically a 2 ml syringe is used.
Carefully cut off the edge, preferably without jagged edges.
Place the medicine inside the syringe.
Open the cat’s mouth and, placing the “piller” closer to the root of the tongue, squeeze the medicine into his mouth.

The harmfulness of worms

The destructive effects of worms on the host body are as follows:

Traumatic. Parasites have teeth, spines, hooks, and a hard exoskeleton made of chitin. When migrating, they destroy everything they encounter. Helminths are sociable creatures; they curl up into balls that clog the intestinal tube, the lumen of the liver passages and heart valves.
Toxic. Metabolic products of worms necrotize surrounding tissues, which, when disintegrating, release toxic metabolites. Substances formed during the decomposition of dead parasites are cadaveric poisons.
Provocative. The vital activity of helminths weakens the immune defense. Sluggish pathologies become aggravated. The inability to resist aggression from banal microflora leads to the emergence of new diseases.

The structure of tapeworms

How to give the suspension

Giving a suspension to a cat is no easier than giving tablets, since in no case does it want to swallow what a caring owner offers it. She begins to salivate excessively. On the face you get a whole beard from the medicine.

To give your cat or kitten a suspension, you can try mixing it with your pet’s favorite food: pate, minced meat, sour cream. This must be done with a small amount of food in order to accurately control the dose of the drug eaten.
Everyone knows that cats are very clean animals. The anti-worm suspension can be spread on your pet’s paws. He will diligently begin to lick them. This way he will lick the entire dose of the drug and save both himself and the owner’s nerves.

Popular drugs

What medications should I give my cat for worms? There is a wide range of effective tablets on the market. Let's look at the line of products that are in greatest demand:

"Dirofen" is a universal drug;
"Kaniquantel plus" is a universal remedy;
"Drontal" - effective against roundworms and tapeworms;
"Prasitel" - destroys nematodes, cestodes, mixed invasions;
"Polivercan" fights nematodes and cestodes at any stage of their development.

How to give anthelmintics to a kitten

A kitten can only be given anti-worm medication from three weeks of age. After the first deworming, it is necessary to repeat the procedure 10 days later.

As a rule, it is easier for a kitten to carry out such activities than for an adult animal.

The medicine in tablet form can be crushed to form a powder, which should be carefully poured from a piece of paper into the baby’s mouth. It is better to keep the kitten on your lap while lying on its back.
Second option: the tablet is diluted with a small amount of water. Give from an insulin syringe, from which the needle must first be removed.
It is easier to administer the suspension to a kitten together. One carefully holds the baby so that he does not twitch. And the second, raising his upper lip, gradually injects the medicine from the side. Then you need to stroke the animal’s neck from top to bottom.

Alternative methods

Some cats are so resistant that owners choose other deworming options. The most preferred ones are the following:

Preparation of suspension. Study the instructions, making sure that there is no prohibition on crushing the tablet. If you don’t understand something, consult a veterinarian. Grind the dosage form into powder. Grind the tablet by rubbing. Dilute with water. Draw it into a syringe, remove the needle and slowly pour it into the cat’s cheek. It is necessary to ensure that she does not spit out the contents.
Giving medicine with food. Grind the tablet, mix with sour cream 20% fat. Apply the mixture to your nose. The cat, licking its lips, swallows the medicine.

Licked his lips and recovered

Additional ideas

The animal should not be wrapped in a blanket. You can try to do it without using force. You can put it on the table and turn it away from you. The main thing is not to show the cat the medicine in advance.
Before giving your cat deworming medicine, you need to prepare everything first. The tablet must be removed from the blister and, if necessary, crushed. When administering the drug, every second will count.
In order to properly open your pet's mouth, you need to insert your finger between the front teeth. Then firmly but painlessly press on the lower jaw.
To make the cat more flexible, you can hold it by the withers.
Never let your cat go until she licks her lips. If she licks her lips, then this is a sign that she has swallowed the medicine.
Deworming tablets, which have an extremely unpleasant odor and taste, can be kept in the refrigerator before use. Cold can reduce odor and eliminate bitterness at least for the duration of taking the product.

Precautionary measures

Deworming must be not only effective, but also safe. To do this you need:

Make sure your pet is healthy. The skin should be free of dandruff and wounds, the nose should be wet and cool, the eyes should be clean and free of purulent discharge. It is recommended to measure the animal's body temperature rectally. If it exceeds +38°C, it is better to show the cat to a veterinarian and only then give medicine.
Use a high-quality anthelmintic. Some manufacturers use active ingredients that instantly kill parasites and provoke their decomposition in the intestines. Because of this, the animal experiences severe intoxication. Veterinarians do not recommend using cheap medications (Bars and its analogues). It is better to choose the most gentle anthelmintic drug, even if it is expensive, than to treat a cat from the consequences of taking low-quality tablets.
Know the date of previous deworming. Anthelmintic drugs should not be given more than once every 3 months. The active substance accumulates in the blood and is eliminated from the body for a long time. An exception can be made only in case of severe helminthic infestation. In this case, the medicine is given again after 10 days.
Teach your pet to regular preventative care from an early age. Over time, he will get used to it and will calmly respond to taking medications.
Remove fleas and ticks if present. Through them, worm eggs are often transmitted, so even after eating an anthelmintic tablet, the cat can become infected again. It is recommended to give medicine against parasites only 3 days after removing fleas.

The owner’s calm behavior is the main rule of how to give a cat a deworming pill without damaging its psyche. If a pet feels a person’s confidence, he trusts and is more willing to take the necessary drug.

Features of cat behavior

Normal behavior for a cat is to refuse medications. If a cat actively resists attempts to feed it tablets, then this indicates its health. Passive behavior and calm use of medicine are a sign of illness.

If the owner has little experience and finds it difficult to feed the cat a tablet, then it can be replaced with drops, a suspension or even an injection. At the pharmacy, you can ask whether the medicine prescribed for your pet is available in other forms.

The younger the animal, the easier it is to give medicine. It seems that it will be more difficult to get a pill into their small mouth, but kittens are more flexible than adult animals.

If a cat is regularly given anthelmintic drugs from infancy, then with an adult animal there will be less hassle in this matter in the future.

How often is an animal dewormed?

If you pick up a cat on the street, you need to start fighting worms immediately (unless the animal is too exhausted). In case of severe parasite infestation, repeated deworming is recommended after ten days. For preventive purposes, a pet is treated once every three months (some veterinarians recommend once every six months).

When treating worms, the body is poisoned by decay products. And the more parasites lived in the cat’s body, the more severe the poisoning it receives. To ease your pet's condition during deworming, you can give him chamomile decoction, activated carbon or other sorbents.

What is important to consider when giving your pet medication?

To properly medicate your cat without stressing it out, it is important to consider the following:

the cat should be calm, that is, it is not recommended to pester the animal after trips, guests, etc. Only actions and surroundings that are familiar to the animal are suitable;
All manipulations must be done confidently and quickly so that the animal does not have time to get scared. Fear manifests itself as follows: the pupils sharply dilate (the eyes become black, almost entirely), a large amount of hair falls out profusely, the paw pads begin to sweat, leaving wet marks, breathing quickens and becomes noisy. If such a condition occurs, you should immediately stop all manipulations, provide the animal with access to water and monitor the condition. If the symptoms do not stop, and the mucous membranes (better visible in the mouth) begin to turn blue, you need to go to the veterinarian;
the animal must be well restrained. This may require the help of a family member. It is necessary to ensure that the fixation is correct and does not harm the cat’s health. It is important to remember that the effort applied must be comparable to the resistance of the animal;
You should definitely make sure that the cat swallowed the tablet and that it did not come out with saliva. But there is no need to try to shove it in by any means;
making a cat eat a tablet as if it were a treat will never work;
you need to know whether the drug is bitter in order to choose the right method of administration.

You can’t just throw medicine into your mouth

How to give medicine to a cat mixed with food

The easiest and safest (for humans) way to properly give medicine to a cat is to crush the tablet and mix it with the cat's food. This works great in some situations.

What's important here is:

carefully grind the tablet to a powder, leaving no large pieces (the cat will pick them out from the food and will not eat them);
mix the medicine with food of liquid or semi-liquid consistency to obtain a homogeneous mass;
choose fragrant and favorite food for the cat in order to mask the taste and smell of medications as much as possible.

The catch is that the cat may refuse its favorite food if it smells the chemical smell of the pills. But it's worth a try. It goes without saying that this option is absolutely not suitable, since the drug must be taken on an empty stomach.