Atropine for Cat
Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Atropine is used in cat for Pre-anesthetic anticholinergic, Bradycardia, organophosphate toxicity, CPR protocol, Pre-anesthetic. Routes documented in cat: IM, IV, SC. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 4 cited dose rules for Atropine in cat, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Dose ranges
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.02–0.04 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Pre-anesthetic anticholinergic | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 0.02–0.04 mg/kg | q15-20min | As needed | Bradycardia, organophosphate toxicity | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 0.04 mg/kg | q3-5min | During CPR | CPR protocol | Moderate | RECOVER CPR Guidelines |
| SC | 0.02–0.04 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Pre-anesthetic | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
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.
Mechanism of action
Competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist. Increases heart rate (vagolytic), reduces secretions, and mydriasis.
Side effects & warnings
Tachycardia, ileus, urinary retention. Increases myocardial oxygen demand. Rabbits have high atropinase activity — may need higher/more frequent doses or use glycopyrrolate instead.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cat may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Other Emergency drugs with cat dosing
Atropine dosing in other species
Why a species-specific page? Atropine pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in cat — 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.