Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Azithromycin is dosed at 5–10 mg/kg PO q24h for 3 to 7 days in cats, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed, printed p.122 (corpus p.149), CATS - Susceptible infections (extra-label). No superscript is printed on this dose sentence.. Azithromycin is used in cats for Cryptosporidiosis, URI, Bartonella, Mycobacteria, Feline upper respiratory infection. Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Azithromycin in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Zithromax
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg | q24h for 3 to 7 days | 7-21 days | Cryptosporidiosis | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed, printed p.122 (corpus p.149), CATS - Susceptible infections (extra-label). No superscript is printed on this dose sentence. |
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg |
| q24-48h |
| 5-7 days or pulse dosing |
| URI, Bartonella, Mycobacteria |
| Strong |
| Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.149 (2026-08-01). |
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg | q24-48h | 5-10 days | Feline upper respiratory infection | Strong | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.149 (2026-08-01). |
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Binds to 50S ribosomal subunit, inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. Concentrates in tissues with long half-life.
CONTRAINDICATED orally in rabbits and guinea pigs (fatal dysbiosis). May cause GI upset. Long tissue half-life means prolonged effect after discontinuation.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Azithromycin dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: PO 5–10 mg/kg q24h for 3 to 7 days; PO 5–10 mg/kg q24-48h; PO 5–10 mg/kg q24-48h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Azithromycin in cats: PO.
Cited course lengths for Azithromycin in cats include: 7-21 days; 5-7 days or pulse dosing; 5-10 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Azithromycin is indicated in cats for: Cryptosporidiosis, URI, Bartonella, Mycobacteria, Feline upper respiratory infection.
These are general warnings for Azithromycin across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. CONTRAINDICATED orally in rabbits and guinea pigs (fatal dysbiosis). May cause GI upset. Long tissue half-life means prolonged effect after discontinuation.
Why a species-specific page? Azithromycin 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.