Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Calcitriol is dosed at 0.0025–0.003 mcg/kg PO q24h in cats, per Gunn-Moore D. The diagnosis and treatment of renal insufficiency in cats. Paper presented at: Proceedings: World Veterinary Congress 2008. Distributed by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. PMID: 42012812; Chew D. Chronic Renal Failure Treatment Updates. Paper presented at: Proceedings: Western Veterinary Conf 2003. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.198 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.170, Calcitriol monograph spanning p.170-171; 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; Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833. Calcitriol is used in cats for CKD — secondary hyperparathyroidism. Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Calcitriol in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Rocaltrol
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|
| PO | 0.0025–0.003 mcg/kg | q24h | Long-term; monitor ionized calcium | CKD — secondary hyperparathyroidism | Moderate | Gunn-Moore D. The diagnosis and treatment of renal insufficiency in cats. Paper presented at: Proceedings: World Veterinary Congress 2008. Distributed by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. PMID: 42012812; Chew D. Chronic Renal Failure Treatment Updates. Paper presented at: Proceedings: Western Veterinary Conf 2003. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.198 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.170, Calcitriol monograph spanning p.170-171; 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; Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia — ISBN 9780813811833, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780813811833 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.01–0.04 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.126 | 0.01-0.04 mcg/kg/day PO (10-40 ng/kg/day). |
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.
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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.
Active form of vitamin D3 (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol). Promotes calcium absorption, regulates PTH, and has renoprotective effects in CKD.
Hypercalcemia risk — monitor ionized calcium closely. Requires phosphorus to be controlled first. Narrow therapeutic index.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Calcitriol dose range in cats, with cited source references: PO 0.0025–0.003 mcg/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Calcitriol in cats: PO.
Cited course lengths for Calcitriol in cats include: Long-term; monitor ionized calcium. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Calcitriol is indicated in cats for: CKD — secondary hyperparathyroidism.
These are general warnings for Calcitriol across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Hypercalcemia risk — monitor ionized calcium closely. Requires phosphorus to be controlled first. Narrow therapeutic index.
Why a species-specific page? Calcitriol 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.