Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Cefazolin is dosed at 22 mg/kg IV q2h intraoperative in cats, per Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.229 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.201, Cefazolin monograph spanning p.201-202; 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. Cefazolin is used in cats for Surgical prophylaxis. Routes documented in cats: IV. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Cefazolin in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Ancef, Kefzol
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 22 mg/kg | q2h intraoperative | Single dose pre-op | Surgical prophylaxis | Strong | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.229 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.201, Cefazolin monograph spanning p.201-202; 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 |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20–35 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.148 | • 20-35 mg/kg q8h IV or IM. |
| 1.3 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.148 | • Constant-rate infusion (CRI): 1.3 mg/kg loading dose, followed by |
| 22 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.148 | • Perisurgical use: 22 mg/kg IV every 2 hours during surgery. |
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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Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis. First-generation cephalosporin with excellent gram-positive coverage. Commonly used for surgical prophylaxis.
Perioperative use common. Adjust dose in renal impairment. Pain at IM injection site.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Cefazolin dose range in cats, with cited source references: IV 22 mg/kg q2h intraoperative. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Cefazolin in cats: IV.
Cited course lengths for Cefazolin in cats include: Single dose pre-op. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Cefazolin is indicated in cats for: Surgical prophylaxis.
These are general warnings for Cefazolin across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Perioperative use common. Adjust dose in renal impairment. Pain at IM injection site.
Why a species-specific page? Cefazolin 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.