Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Amitriptyline is dosed at 0.5–2 mg/kg PO q12-24h in cats, per Monteiro BP. Feline Chronic Pain and Osteoarthritis. Vet Clin North Am Small Animal Pract. 2020;50(4):769-788. Distributed by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2020.02.003 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.89 (2026-08-01).. Amitriptyline is used in cats for Inappropriate elimination, anxiety, feline idiopathic cystitis. Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Amitriptyline in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Elavil
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.5–2 mg/kg | q12-24h | Long-term | Inappropriate elimination, anxiety, feline idiopathic cystitis | Moderate | Monteiro BP. Feline Chronic Pain and Osteoarthritis. Vet Clin North Am Small Animal Pract. 2020;50(4):769-788. Distributed by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2020.02.003 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.89 (2026-08-01). |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
These ranges are per kg. Enter your cat's weight to get the precise dose and draw-up volume — unit and concentration math done for you.
Inhibits reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine. Also has anticholinergic, antihistaminic, and alpha-adrenergic blocking properties.
Allow 2-4 weeks for behavioral effects. Sedation, dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation. CONTRAINDICATED with MAOIs. Serotonin syndrome risk with tramadol. Cardiotoxic in overdose.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Amitriptyline dose range in cats, with cited source references: PO 0.5–2 mg/kg q12-24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Amitriptyline in cats: PO.
Cited course lengths for Amitriptyline in cats include: Long-term. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Amitriptyline is indicated in cats for: Inappropriate elimination, anxiety, feline idiopathic cystitis.
These are general warnings for Amitriptyline across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Allow 2-4 weeks for behavioral effects. Sedation, dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation. CONTRAINDICATED with MAOIs. Serotonin syndrome risk with tramadol. Cardiotoxic in overdose.
Why a species-specific page? Amitriptyline pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in cats — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice.