Bupivacaine for Cat
Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Bupivacaine is used in cat for Local/regional anesthesia. Routes documented in cat: Local. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Bupivacaine in cat, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Marcaine, Nocita
Dose ranges
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local | 1–2 mg/kg | once per procedure | Duration 4-8 hours | Local/regional anesthesia | 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
Long-acting amide local anesthetic blocking voltage-gated sodium channels. Duration 4-8 hours (standard) or 72 hours (Nocita liposomal).
Side effects & warnings
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 cat may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Other Neurological drugs with cat dosing
Bupivacaine dosing in other species
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 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.