How to properly give an injection to a cat 💉

Injecting your cat may seem difficult at first, but with practice and the appropriate technique, it can become a task that you can handle. The ability to administer injections correctly guarantees that your cat receives the care they require while reducing stress for both of you, whether it’s for a medical condition, routine vaccinations, or medication.

Because cats can be sensitive, it may seem overwhelming to poke them with a needle. But don’t worry, you can ease the process along by maintaining your composure and adhering to a few easy steps. It all comes down to planning, execution, and a little patience.

We’ll walk you through the process of injecting your cat safely and effectively in this guide, allowing you to feel secure and ensuring your cat stays as comfortable as possible.

How to prepare a cat for an injection

It is, to put it mildly, naive to think that a cat will understand the owner’s desire to inject violence into his body with a syringe; a furry friend will not condone such violent manipulations. First and foremost, the owner must understand that the goal of this is to aid the animal in regaining its health rather than to subject it to unnecessary suffering. This is precisely how you ought to interact with your pet.

See also: Cat and kitten vaccinations. Schedule of vaccinations

Cats pick them up and use soft talk and cuddles to divert their attention. The needle is inserted rapidly and clearly so that the cat doesn’t even have time to realize what happened. You shouldn’t pull on the paw or skin. In any event, the pet is only strained and scared by the delay and the use of force.

It is best to use a special bag or coverlet if the cat is very painful or stubbornly refuses to comply; however, the withers or hind limbs must remain in the access zone.

Although administering an injection to your cat at home might be frightening at first, with the correct techniques, it can be easy and stress-free for both of you and your pet. The secret is to remain composed, get everything ready ahead of time, and handle your cat gently to keep them as comfortable as possible. It’s important to follow a clear procedure to guarantee your cat receives their medication safely and with the least amount of discomfort, whether it’s an intramuscular or subcutaneous shot.

Where to make a cat"s injection

Despite the fact that in theory you can deviate in almost any place, there are places on the body of an animal where it will be more effective and not so painful. The cat can be injected subcutaneously into the withers (between the shoulder blades) or intramuscularly into the thigh. The muscle tissue of the thigh has a large number of blood vessels, so any administered medicine is delivered very quickly to the bloodstream. An injection is introduced into the thigh, if the drug is not very painful. In some cases, intramuscular administration is preferable, so you should carefully read the instructions. Intramuscular injections have a volume limit – the liquid injected inside causes greater muscle stratification, which is a microtrauma.

Since the withers’ skin is denser, it is preferable to deal with "painful" remedies in this specific area; just keep in mind how animals fight and grab one another over it.

How to give a cat an intramuscular injection

When injecting a cat in the thigh, there are a few guidelines to follow:

• sterility of hands and syringes;
• accurate injection dosage (not from the series "I know better than a specialist");
• correct set of the drug;
• mixing two drugs in one syringe without a prescription from a veterinarian is unacceptable;
• accuracy of administration.

Take the syringe out of its packaging. If you’ve never injected a cat into a muscle before, it’s best to have two or three syringes ready so that you can quickly take another one without frightening the animal.

Draw up the medication while keeping an eye on the dosage accuracy, then either alone or with help, fix the animal in any way. The cat is pressed with the free hand’s elbow to stop it from twitching right before the needle is inserted.

A maximum of 1-1.5 milliliters of medication should be injected into the paw of a 4-kg cat. There is no need to disinfect the animal’s skin.

Choose the appropriate location before injecting the leg. This is the rear leg muscle that is located close to the knee bend. It’s crucial to strike the muscle rather than the joint. A 45° angle is used to insert the needle. Aim for a depth of insertion of one to 1.5 cm.

Giving a cat an intramuscular injection for the first time can be frightening, but it is not hard to perform correctly.

How to give an injection to a cat in the withers

If the medicine is quite painful and also large in volume, it is better to insert the needle with the drug subcutaneously. In order to correctly give an injection into the withers no special experience is required. If there is a chance to hit the joint when administering intramuscularly, then here there is nowhere else to hit but the right place. Why it is easier to inject the medicine here? Because the animal gets into a "mother cat and kitten" situation, when the mother carried the little one in her teeth by the scruff of the neck. Therefore, it is easier to immobilize the animal, but it is still better to ask an assistant to do this – the skin in this place is very thick, and it is sometimes difficult to pierce it.

The syringe preparation process is the same as for injecting medicine into the animal’s thigh.

The direction of the needle should be strictly at an angle of 45 °. The fold on the neck is pulled up, and the injection is made at the base of the withers. The cat"s head is pressed with a free hand or an assistant. The lower back also needs to be pressed so that the cat does not twitch and does not hurt itself. During the insertion of the needle, the resistance of the skin layer will be clearly felt – but as soon as it stops, it means that the needle is inserted, and you can release the plunger of the syringe. Do not rush when inserting the needle – you can accidentally pierce the skin through and through.

No matter how quickly the medication is injected, the volume shouldn’t go over 90 ml for every kilogram of body weight. The syringe itself is changed and the needle is left in place if a larger injection is required.

After injecting the medication to the full extent, you can take out the needle and release the animal.

If you gave the cat an injection incorrectly

Administering injections to animals such as Aibolit is a skill that not everyone possesses, and even experienced practitioners may make mistakes and administer the injection in the incorrect location. The procedure itself happened to go rather well, but the cat started limping and touching everything when it walked. The sciatic nerve was most likely touched by the needle. If so, you can apply some light pressure to the afflicted area, and the animal should resume its previous gait and speed in two to three days.

Occasionally, the medication injected does not dissolve all the way. Usually, the instructions state that one of the possible side effects of taking the medication is an abscess. In this instance, a lump will develop at the injection site, and it will be evident that the cat is in pain. Call a veterinarian right away rather than waiting. The resultant liquid will be pumped out, and a medication to help dissolve the lump and get rid of the abscess will be injected.

Where to give a cat an injection from male cats

You really don’t want a kitten, and how difficult is it to avoid being hunted for sex by female cats during this time? In this instance, sterilizing the animal takes care of the problem. However, some owners mistakenly think that suppressing the reproductive instinct is the easiest thing to do, despite the potentially disastrous consequences of doing so.

You will still need to see your veterinarian if you truly want to play around with your cat and give her an injection "from a male cat"; however, this should happen prior to the onset of estrus rather than during it. The medication will be given by the doctor directly, and three months later the next injection will be given in accordance with the plan. After 4 months, the third ampoule is given, and then each one after 5 months.

Why don’t you administer injections yourself? Even in the absence of inexperience, there is a significant risk involved, so a doctor must oversee the entire procedure.

Although administering an injection to a cat can initially seem frightening, it becomes less difficult with the correct planning and composed demeanor. Prior to beginning, make sure everything is ready, and follow the veterinarian’s advice regarding where to inject.

Recall that maintaining your composure will aid in your cat’s relaxation. Gently approach them; if necessary, ask someone else to assist in keeping the cat motionless. Throughout the procedure, be patient and reassure your cat often.

Reward your cat with a treat or some affection after the injection and keep an eye out for any strange reactions. Over time, your cat will grow accustomed to it and you will gain confidence with continued practice.

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