Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Buprenorphine is dosed at 0.01–0.02 mg/kg IM q6-8h in cats, per Plumb's 10th ed printed p.150, Buprenorphine monograph spanning p.150-154. Buprenorphine is used in cats for Moderate pain, Moderate pain, peri-operative, Moderate pain, post-operative, Control of postoperative pain associated with surgical procedures (Simbadol label). Routes documented in cats: IM, IV, OTM, SC. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 4 cited dose rules for Buprenorphine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Simbadol, Buprenex
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.01–0.02 mg/kg | q6-8h | As needed | Moderate pain | Strong | Plumb's 10th ed printed p.150, Buprenorphine monograph spanning p.150-154.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| IV | 0.01–0.02 mg/kg | q6-8h | As needed | Moderate pain, peri-operative | Strong | Plumb's 10th ed printed p.150, Buprenorphine monograph spanning p.150-154.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| OTM | 0.01–0.03 mg/kg | q6-8h | As needed | Moderate pain, post-operative | Strong | Plumb's 10th ed printed p.153, Buprenorphine monograph spanning p.150-154.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| SC | 0.24 mg/kg | q24h | Up to 3 days | Control of postoperative pain associated with surgical procedures (Simbadol label) | Strong | SIMBADOL - Buprenorphine Injection for Cats [US Product Label]. Kalamazoo, MI: Zoetis Inc; 2017. Distributed by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3395bb4d-e032-4c16-81cf-d8f364033bb8 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.153, Buprenorphine monograph spanning p.150-154. |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mcg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | • Constant rate infusion (CRI): 20 mcg/kg IV, followed by 12 mcg/kg/hour |
| 270 | SC | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | • Buprenorphine SR: 120 mcg/kg-270 mcg/kg (0.12-0.27 mg/kg) SQ (duration |
| 120 | SC | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | • Buprenorphine SR: 120 mcg/kg-270 mcg/kg (0.12-0.27 mg/kg) SQ (duration |
| 12.5 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | • Epidural: 12.5 mcg/kg diluted with saline to a volume of 0.3 mL/kg. |
Typical range: 2.5–7 kg
If provided, volume will be calculated alongside dose.
Reference only. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors with high receptor affinity. Provides analgesia with a ceiling effect on respiratory depression.
OTM (oral transmucosal) absorption effective in cats. Ceiling effect limits maximum analgesia. Difficult to reverse with naloxone due to high receptor affinity.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Buprenorphine dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: IM 0.01–0.02 mg/kg q6-8h; IV 0.01–0.02 mg/kg q6-8h; OTM 0.01–0.03 mg/kg q6-8h; SC 0.24 mg/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Buprenorphine in cats: IM, IV, OTM, SC.
Cited course lengths for Buprenorphine in cats include: As needed; Up to 3 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Buprenorphine is indicated in cats for: Moderate pain, Moderate pain, peri-operative, Moderate pain, post-operative, Control of postoperative pain associated with surgical procedures (Simbadol label).
These are general warnings for Buprenorphine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. OTM (oral transmucosal) absorption effective in cats. Ceiling effect limits maximum analgesia. Difficult to reverse with naloxone due to high receptor affinity.
Why a species-specific page? Buprenorphine 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.
| 20 |
| — |
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 |
| 0.02 mg/kg (20 mcg/kg) is equivalent to 0.066 mL per kg. This may be applied |
| 20–40 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | • Buccal (transmucosal) administration: 0.02-0.04 mg/kg (20-40 mcg/kg) q8h. |
| 240 | SC | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | administered SQ once daily for up to 3 days at a dose of 0.24 mg/kg (240 mcg/kg). |
| 12 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | • Constant rate infusion (CRI): 20 mcg/kg IV, followed by 12 mcg/kg/hour |
| 10–20 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | • For analgesia, a dose of 0.01-0.02 mg/kg (10-20 mcg/kg) IV or 0.02 mg/kg |
| 20 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | (20 mcg/kg) IM. Duration is 4-6 hours typically. Additional doses of 0.02 mg/kg |
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.02–0.03 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.54 | 0.02-0.03 mg/kg i.v., i.m., s.c. q6h. Also well tolerated and effective when given oral transmucosal |
| 0.12–0.27 | SC | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | • Buprenorphine SR: 120 mcg/kg-270 mcg/kg (0.12-0.27 mg/kg) SQ (duration |
| 0.02 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | 0.02 mg/kg (20 mcg/kg) is equivalent to 0.066 mL per kg. This may be applied |
| 0.02–0.04 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | • Buccal (transmucosal) administration: 0.02-0.04 mg/kg (20-40 mcg/kg) q8h. |
| 0.24 | SC | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | administered SQ once daily for up to 3 days at a dose of 0.24 mg/kg (240 mcg/kg). |
| 0.02 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | (20 mcg/kg) IM. Duration is 4-6 hours typically. Additional doses of 0.02 mg/kg |
| 0.02 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | • For analgesia, a dose of 0.01-0.02 mg/kg (10-20 mcg/kg) IV or 0.02 mg/kg |
| 0.01–0.02 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | • For analgesia, a dose of 0.01-0.02 mg/kg (10-20 mcg/kg) IV or 0.02 mg/kg |
| Dose (ml/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.90 | • Epidural: 12.5 mcg/kg diluted with saline to a volume of 0.3 mL/kg. |
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.