This test of wills is a game that can last the whole day. The pill-giving process has 5 distinct stages: 

Denial: Fluffy, here is a lovely bowl of food, please ignore the large orange capsule hidden inside.

Anger: Every molecule of food is gone but the capsule remains, taunting you.

Bargaining: Fluffy if you eat the pill, I'll give you your favorite snack.

Depression: I just found a small pyramid of orange capsules under the bed.

Acceptance: Fluffy, if you don't swallow this, I'll strangle you.

When you have pill in your hand, your docile cat will turn into seven pounds of pure shredding terror.

Although there is no foolproof way to give a pill, here are a few easy steps to make this procedure as painless and easy as possible.