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).. 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). |
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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.