Does LilEli like particular treats like roast beast, or sardines at all? It's so much easier to pill them when they think it's a treat instead of a threat. If he likes sardines, you can get a small can and roll the fish around the doxy and if it's small enough he'll eat it without dissecting it. I give kitties here that need meds a small piece w/out the pill, then one with the pill. If they start eating the pill one too slowly, I'll pat them and they think I'm stealing it from them, and they tend to just swallow it then. The ear infection's a whole other can of worms. Maybe you can call area vets and see if they carry "Pill Pockets". These work well, but some cats don't care for them.