Update on Aurea

Question
Hi Hilary,
 You wanted me to tell you about Aurea's visit to the doctor about her urinary tract infection, and that is exactly what it was. She had to stay over for a couple of nights for urinalysis, and that told the story. The doctor proscribed Cephalexin 125mg tuna flavored, and I'm having a devil of a time getting her to eat it.
  At first I tried putting it in her food bowl before feeding, no good. Then I mixed it with her food but Mz. Finicky would rather starve to death than eat something she didn't want to. I wish I knew how to get her to open her mouth so I can put in the meds and make her swallow it. Advice? Thanks much!  JOE

Answer
Hi Joe!  Glad to here Aurea is going to be just fine!  Did your veterinarian give you a syringe to give her the medication with?  If not, a syringe or eye-dropper will do the trick.  Hold Aurea on your lap, or have someone else hold her for you.  In the back of a cat's mouth, near the jaw joint, there is a gap where there are no teeth.  Take your thumb and middle finger and apply a bit of pressure on either side of her mouth in this area, simultaneously.  This will cause her to open her mouth. As soon as she opens her mouth, squirt the medication in there....and watch out for claws!  If this is a pill form of the medication, the same theory works.  After placing the pill as far back in her mouth as possible, close her mouth and rub her nose.  Rubbing a cat's nose causes them to swallow.
I hope this was helpful and give Aurea get well kisses for me!
Hilary