The one thing I like to think I got out of owning a cat is my new tolerance to being clawed. I'd say I'm at +80 resistance to slash damage at this point.
My dog would nibble the cheese in her mouth and spit out the pill. She could eat anything around a pill. If I coated it in peanut butter, she'd suck it off like a lollypop and then hide the pill under the kitchen cabinets to make me think she took it.
When I last had a dog (I still love and miss you, Ali) he would eat whatever I wrapped his pill in and spit out the pill. I had to put the pill in his mouth, gently hold his snoot close, and massage his throat until he swallowed the pill. Cats I've lived with? I tried to give a pill to one of my cats. The cat became a whirlwind of anger, fury, and indignation. I think they bent time-space and opened a wormhole. I wound up taking them to the vet, and having a vet tech give my cat the pill.
Our cat seems to only deep sleep when we sleep. The rest of the time he’s pretty much just resting his eyes. There’s no easy way to surprise him like that.
Butter! You don't need much, just a thin layer. Rub a little butter onto your fingers then rub the pill itself. Can help mask the bitterness of the pill and prevent it from sticking to their tongue. Was a big game changer giving pills to my cat.
I guess I hit the lottery with my cat. She is so sweet and just puts up with me doing what I need to do. When it comes to ear cleaning, she just runs and hides(understandable! I would, too).
It takes two of us, but we're pretty damn good at it. When one of us are on vacation it takes 4x as long and kitteh is 10x more pissed off at the end, but very little blood gets drawn.
What do you guys do with your cats so that it scratches you? I have 4 and none of them has ever intentionally scratched me or my wife. Just clip their nails and if it really is a situation where the cat is not cooperating at all, burrito blanket is the answer.
See, the problem is the "owner" part. I am a cat pet and even the most hatey, "evil," "vicious" lil fuzzbuddies tend to end up liking me pretty quicklish :3
Which isn't to say that I haven't bled my share, just... nocritter owns a cat :P