Tips to help you medicate your cat
Make the experience as pleasurable as possible by giving lots of praise and reward your pet with a treat.

Giving Your Cat a Pill
If you are attempting to medicate you cat by yourself, it may be easier to place the cat in your lap or put the cat on a table.  If the cats’ claws are intact, prevent scratches by wrapping the body in a towel leaving only the head exposed.

• Hold the pill between your thumb and index finger, making sure to pay close attention to dosage information.
• Use your other hand and place it on the cat head with the thumb on one side of the jaw and the other fingers on the other side.
• Tilt the cat’s head up towards the ceiling; this will cause the lower jaw to drop down.
• Use the medication hand’s pinky and ring finger to pull down the lower jaw if necessary by gently pushing down on the front bottom teeth.
• Place the pill far back on the tongue as possible and close the mouth.
• Rub the throat gently to stimulate swallowing.

If you cannot get your cat to open its mouth, try placing the cat on the table.

• Hold the scruff of the neck and pull the head back until the front paws are lifted off the table.  This will cause the cat to open its mouth.
• Then place the pill as far back on the tongue as possible and close the mouth.
• Rub the throat gently to stimulate swallowing

Giving Your Cat Liquids
If you are attempting to medicate you cat by yourself, it may be easier to place the cat in your lap or on the table.  If your cats’ claws are intact, prevent scratches by wrapping the body in a towel leaving only the head exposed.

• Prepare the medication in the syringe, making sure to pay close attention to the dosage information.
• Hold the syringe with your dominant hand.
• Grab the scruff of the neck gently but firmly and tilt the head back to about a 45° angle.
• Insert the tip of the syringe in the side of the mouth just behind the teeth.
• Slowly press the plunger, allowing time for the cat to swallow and breathe.

Administering Ear Medication Ear infections can be very painful, take extra care because your cat may bite or scratch.

• If you are attempting to medicate you cat by yourself, it may be easier to place the cat in your lap or on the table.
• If your cats’ claws are intact, prevent scratches by wrapping the body in a towel leaving only the head exposed.
• Prepare the medication in the syringe, making sure to pay close attention to the dosage information.
• With the same hand that is holding the syringe, use the last two fingers to hold the tip of the ear.
•  Use the other hand to support under the jaw.
• Place the medication in the ear but do not insert the tip too far into the canal.
• Gently massage the base of the ear to spread the medication and step back and allow the cat to shake its head.

Administering Eye Ointment
If you are attempting to medicate you cat by yourself, it may be easier to place the cat in your lap or on the table.  If your cats’ claws are intact, prevent scratches by wrapping the body in a towel leaving only the head exposed

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
• Read the dosage instructions on the tube and place the allotted amount of ointment on the tip of your index finger.
• Place your other hand on the top of your cats head so that he/she cannot turn away from you.
• With the medication hand use your middle finger to gently pull down the lower lid.
• Apply the medication to the inside of the exposed lower lid and gently shut the eye using your thumb and index finger to make sure the medication sticks to the eye.
• Your cat will blink, spreading the medication around the eye.

Collecting a Urine Sample
A urine sample should not be older then 12 hours in order for the vet to get a good reading.  If you cannot bring the sample to the vet with-in the hour, be sure to refrigerate it.

• Empty the litter box of any litter and replace it with shredded plastic.  An alternative would be to replace the litter with non-absorb a plastic pellet litter which can be obtained through your Veterinarian.
• Place the prepared litter box in a closed room with your cat until he/she urinates in the box.  Make sure to leave water for your cat to drink.
• To collect the urine, tip the box so that the urine will collect to one side
• Carefully pour the urine into a clean plastic container.  You may also use a clean syringe to transfer the urine if it is difficult to pour directly from the box.
• After collecting the specimen, place a top on the container.

Brushing Your Cats Teeth
Brushing your cat’s teeth requires patience and lots of praise.  The best age to start brushing is when they are a young but it is never too late to start.

• First you must purchase a cat toothbrush and toothpaste.  There are fingerbrushes available if the toothbrush head is too big to fit into your cats’ mouth.  Do not use human toothpastes because it will upset your cat’s stomach and it may be harmful.
• Brushing should start in short phases so that your cat can get used to you touching the inside of the mouth, the taste of the toothpaste, and the feel of the brush.
• At first, just use your finger to gently rub the teeth like a brush.
• When your cat seems comfortable with this, then squeeze a small amount of paste onto your finger and allow him/her to get use to the taste.
• Then using the toothbrush (or fingerbrush) and toothpaste, start with one section of the mouth and use your other hand to lift up the lip.
• Hold the brush at a 45° angle with the bristles toward the gum line and move the bush back and forth.
• Gradually increase the duration of the sessions until you can brush all the teeth.
• Focus on the outside of the teeth since this is where the most of the plaque buildup forms.
• Be sure to brush the back teeth even though they may be harder to reach.
• Wash your hands and the toothbrush thoroughly with warm water