Useful Tips for Giving your Cat Probiotics or Other Pills

Live, helpful bacteria called probiotics encourage intestinal homeostasis. The microbiome, which is made up of billions of microorganisms, is found in the intestines. The microbiota can become out of balance, which can affect digestion.

Few animals are as adored (or bothersome) as cats, yet probiotics must be given to your cat. Because of their small digestive tracts, they have difficulty digesting down some nutrients in food. This may cause constipation, diarrhea, weight gain, and erratic nutrient absorption, among other health issues. If you’re considering feeding your cat probiotics, read and carefully heed the advice provided below to ensure a successful outcome.

Cat pill, Giving a pill

Things to Take Note Before:

Do not give pills unless necessary

The first thing to keep in mind is that it is not a good idea to give your cat extra pills or medication. Your cat can be reluctant to consume her food if you are trying to conceal medication in it, and she might wind up skipping meals or eating less than she should. This can be an even bigger issue if you are giving your cat medicine every day even though she doesn’t need it.

If your veterinarian has prescribed medication for your cat, it should be administered in the shortest length of time and at the indicated dose. For instance, if she has worms and has been given a prescription for worm medicine, the medication should only be taken up until all worm indications have vanished. Stop administering the drug as soon as the worms are gone.

Get your cat used to pills

If your cat is a kitten, get it used to taking pills from the start. Use something small like a baby pill that it can swallow whole. Don’t worry if it gets sick after you give it the pill; this is normal, and it will stop being sick once its body adjusts to the new medicine.

Wear durable clothing

When you try to provide the medicine to the cat, it will probably struggle and possibly try to scratch or bite you. Wear sturdy clothing that you don’t mind being scratched as a result.

Cat pills, Cat vitamin pill

Tips for Giving Prebiotics to Cat

Don’t be discouraged

First of all, if the initial effort is unsuccessful, don’t give up. Depending on how many pills you’re trying to administer, some cats are more resistant than others, so it may take several attempts before they finally become used to the procedure and begin ingesting the pills with food.

Get your cat get used to the idea

The next most crucial step is to let your cat feel at ease with the concept of taking pills, like cat multivitamins. This is crucial if the medication you’re giving your cat reduces anxiety and/or stress, which is vital if they have a tendency to over-mark their territory, scratch the furniture, or engage in combat when they see another cat. Consider scattering a few tiny goodies in the form of pills throughout the house throughout the day.

Hide pills in their favorite food

This one can be more difficult because cats can be particular about what they eat and don’t consume. This can be a great way to sneak extra vitamins into your cat’s diet, though, if you know that they have a preference for a particular food and aren’t allergic.

Utilize pill shooter

These tools are made to make it simpler for you and your cat to administer medication. The approximately 4 to 5 inch long pill shooter has a tiny plastic tip that keeps the pill in place until it is time to administer it to the cat. 

When the device is pointed at the side of your cat’s mouth and softly but firmly gripped, a rubber plunger presses on the pill and forces it down her throat. Your cat will experience no pain at all during the entire operation, which lasts less than two seconds.

Giving liquid medications

If your cat won’t eat a medication, try putting it in some water to dissolve it. Try syringe-feeding it to your cat once it has dissolved in the water, but be sure to follow it up with a little treat.

Ask your vet for options

After trying every suggestion, if your cat is still having problems swallowing pills, ask your vet to prescribe a liquid prescription that may be administered using a syringe or dropper. Some medicines are also offered in transdermal gel form, which can be applied to skin that has less hair, like the inner ear. They cost a little more than pills, though. 

Safety Tips:

  • You can use a cloth to enclose the body and legs while leaving the head free for cats who scratch or bite when being held. 
  • Before attempting again, divert your stressed-out cat by giving it some food and giving it a gentle pet. 
  • Ask a friend to hold your cat while you provide the medication if it isn’t taking the pill.
  • Owners of cats and kittens should socialize their animals to having their mouths gently opened. When the cat becomes older, this will aid with medication administration. 
  • Don’t force the pill into your cat’s mouth; doing so will just make her anxious and make her flee. Bring her into a space where she feels secure instead. 
  • When feeding the cat a pill, avoid pointing the pill shooter’s tip at yourself or other persons. The medication could accidentally slip out of the gadget and land in your or another person’s eye!
  • If you wish to administer a pill to your cat by hand, make sure it will go all the way down her throat and into her mouth. She might not be able to fully swallow it if not. She might even regurgitate it!

Conclusion

When it comes to giving your cat her medications, there is ultimately no one-size-fits-all solution; what works for one cat, or even another feline buddy of yours, may not work for all. However, if you follow a few straightforward precautions and keep an eye on your cat’s behavior, probiotics can be administered with hardly any effort. Giving your cat probiotics is worth the extra effort because of the beneficial effects these supplements have on their general health.