I sympathize! If being a bit more *firm* holding him in the blanket doesn't work, then try giving him the liquid by putting a few drops on his fur to lick off (not too much at a time or he'll just shake it off!)
I used to sneak the pill in by sticking it inside a piece of cheese (my cats favorite treat), or crushing it, mixing with wet food, and rubbing it on her fur to lick off.
But, the best way is just to have you FIRMLY hold him in a blanket, get your husband to hold his head, and then pop the pill in. You will feel cruel doing this, but you aren't hurting him. And he'll probably be mad for am hour or so at you. But show him who's boss, if nothing else works. When the pill is down his throat, close his jaw and rub his neck to make him swallow. My sister now has to give her cat a pill every day for the rest of her life
and this is what she does. Good luck!
If nothing else, know that you're not alone:
Instructions for giving your cat a pill
1. Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Talk to it softly. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call your spouse in from the garden.
6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Have spouse to hold cat’s head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into its mouth. Drop pill down, remove ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.
7. Retrieve cat from curtain rod, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines from hearth and set to one side for glueing later.
8. Wrap cat in large towel and get your spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force cat's mouth open with pencil and blow pill down drinking straw.
9. Check label to make sure pill is not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply band-aid to your spouse’s forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
10. Retrieve cat from neighbour's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Throw Tee-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
12. Call fire department to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take another pill from foil wrap.
13. Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed, hold cat's mouth open with small wrench. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of steak. Hold cat’s head vertically and pour pint of water down throat to wash pill down.
14. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.
15. Arrange for the local animal shelter to get cat and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.
