Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Butorphanol is dosed at 0.2–0.4 mg/kg IM q2-4h in cats, per Lascelles BDX, Robertson SA. Use of thermal threshold response to evaluate the antinociceptive effects of butorphanol in cats. Am J Vet Res. 2004;65(8):1085-1089. doi:10.2460/ajvr.2004.65.1085 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.187 (2026-08-01).. Butorphanol is used in cats for Pre-anesthetic sedation, Visceral pain, sedation adjunct. Routes documented in cats: IM, IV, SC. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Butorphanol in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Torbugesic, Torbutrol
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.2–0.4 mg/kg | q2-4h | As needed | Pre-anesthetic sedation | Strong | Lascelles BDX, Robertson SA. Use of thermal threshold response to evaluate the antinociceptive effects of butorphanol in cats. Am J Vet Res. 2004;65(8):1085-1089. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.187 (2026-08-01). |
| IV | 0.1–0.4 mg/kg | q2-4h | As needed | Visceral pain, sedation adjunct | Strong | Lascelles BDX, Robertson SA. Use of thermal threshold response to evaluate the antinociceptive effects of butorphanol in cats. Am J Vet Res. 2004;65(8):1085-1089. / 45. Ansah OB, Vainio O, Hellsten C, Raekallio M. Postoperative Pain Control in Cats: Clinical Trials with Medetomidine and Butorphanol. Vet Surg. 2002;31(2):99-103. doi:10.2460/ajvr.2004.65.1085 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.187 (2026-08-01). |
| SC | 0.2–0.4 mg/kg | q2-4h | As needed | Pre-anesthetic sedation | Strong | Lascelles BDX, Robertson SA. Use of thermal threshold response to evaluate the antinociceptive effects of butorphanol in cats. Am J Vet Res. 2004;65(8):1085-1089. doi:10.2460/ajvr.2004.65.1085 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.187 (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.
Kappa-opioid receptor agonist and mu-opioid receptor antagonist. Provides visceral analgesia and sedation.
Short duration of action (1-2 hours). Better for visceral than somatic pain. Ceiling effect on analgesia. May cause sedation and mild respiratory depression.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Butorphanol dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: IM 0.2–0.4 mg/kg q2-4h; IV 0.1–0.4 mg/kg q2-4h; SC 0.2–0.4 mg/kg q2-4h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Butorphanol in cats: IM, IV, SC.
Cited course lengths for Butorphanol in cats include: As needed. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Butorphanol is indicated in cats for: Pre-anesthetic sedation, Visceral pain, sedation adjunct.
These are general warnings for Butorphanol across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Short duration of action (1-2 hours). Better for visceral than somatic pain. Ceiling effect on analgesia. May cause sedation and mild respiratory depression.
Why a species-specific page? Butorphanol 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.