[stomachmonkey]

Have had many cats I've had to pill over the years.

The thing with cats is you can't let them see what's going on.

Sorta like putting them in a carrier head first does not work pilling them face to face is a fail.

My fail proof method is cradling them like a football with my dominant hand, palming the top of their head, grabbing their upper jaw with my fingers then gently pulling back which will make them open up. Stick the pill as far back as possible and push on the back of their tongue when you drop the pill then quickly close their mouth and hold it shut till they swallow.

Another option that works with some cats and small pills is cream cheese.

Stick the pill in a dollop of cream cheese them smear it on their nose. They will reflexively lick the cream cheese off and swallow the pill.

FWIW, had a diabetic cat, sticking her with a needle twice a day was easier than pilling. YMMV.