Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Bupivacaine is dosed at 1–2 mg/kg Local once per procedure in cats, per Tobias KM, Harvey RC, Byarlay JM. A comparison of four methods of analgesia in cats following ovariohysterectomy. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. 2006;33(6):390-398. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2995.2005.00282.x; Yilmaz OT, Toydemir TSF, Kirsan I, Dokuzeylul B, Gunay Z, Karacam E. Effects of Surgical Wound Infiltration with Bupivacaine on Postoperative Analgesia in Cats Undergoing Bilateral Mastectomy. J Vet Med Sci. 2014;76(12):1595-1601. doi:10.1292/jvms.14-0112 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.172 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.144, Bupivacaine monograph spanning p.144-146; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Bupivacaine is used in cats for Local/regional anesthesia. Routes documented in cats: Local. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Bupivacaine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Marcaine, Nocita
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local | 1–2 mg/kg | once per procedure | Duration 4-8 hours | Local/regional anesthesia | Strong | Tobias KM, Harvey RC, Byarlay JM. A comparison of four methods of analgesia in cats following ovariohysterectomy. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. 2006;33(6):390-398. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2995.2005.00282.x; Yilmaz OT, Toydemir TSF, Kirsan I, Dokuzeylul B, Gunay Z, Karacam E. Effects of Surgical Wound Infiltration with Bupivacaine on Postoperative Analgesia in Cats Undergoing Bilateral Mastectomy. J Vet Med Sci. 2014;76(12):1595-1601. doi:10.1292/jvms.14-0112 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.172 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.144, Bupivacaine monograph spanning p.144-146; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (%) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.115 | • Epidural dose: 1-1.5 mg/kg; for nerve blocks, usually 0.2 mL/kg of 0.5% solu- |
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–1.5 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.115 | • Epidural dose: 1-1.5 mg/kg; for nerve blocks, usually 0.2 mL/kg of 0.5% solu- |
| Dose (ml/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
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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.
Long-acting amide local anesthetic blocking voltage-gated sodium channels. Duration 4-8 hours (standard) or 72 hours (Nocita liposomal).
Nocita (liposomal bupivacaine) FDA-approved for post-op pain in dogs/cats. Cardiotoxic if inadvertently given IV. Do not use with epinephrine on digits/tail.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Bupivacaine dose range in cats, with cited source references: Local 1–2 mg/kg once per procedure. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Bupivacaine in cats: Local.
Cited course lengths for Bupivacaine in cats include: Duration 4-8 hours. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Bupivacaine is indicated in cats for: Local/regional anesthesia.
These are general warnings for Bupivacaine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Nocita (liposomal bupivacaine) FDA-approved for post-op pain in dogs/cats. Cardiotoxic if inadvertently given IV. Do not use with epinephrine on digits/tail.
Why a species-specific page? Bupivacaine 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.
| 0.2 |
| — |
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.115 |
| • Epidural dose: 1-1.5 mg/kg; for nerve blocks, usually 0.2 mL/kg of 0.5% solu- |
Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.