Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Contraindicated in Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Chinchilla, Hamster, Degu
Cephalexin is dosed at 15–22 mg/kg PO q12h in cats, per Therios Chewable Tablets for Cats [Product Label; UK). Ceva Animal Health; 2018. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.234, Cephalexin monograph spanning p.234-236. Cephalexin is used in cats for Feline acne, Dental abscess, Skin infections, UTI, Wound infections. Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 4 cited dose rules for Cephalexin in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Keflex
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 15–22 mg/kg | q12h | 14-21 days | Feline acne | Moderate | Therios Chewable Tablets for Cats [Product Label; UK). Ceva Animal Health; 2018. — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.234, Cephalexin monograph spanning p.234-236.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| PO | 22–30 mg/kg | q8h | 7-14 days | Dental abscess | Weak | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed, Part A (Canine and Feline) — Cefalexin (Cephalexin), DOSES, printed p.68: "Cats: 15 mg/kg p.o. q8-12h. Increased doses (20-30mg/kg p.o. q8-12h) should be used for […]"Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| PO | 15–30 mg/kg | q8-12h | 7-14 days |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15–20 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.172 | • 15-20 mg/kg q12h PO. |
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.
Inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to PBPs. First-generation cephalosporin with good gram-positive coverage.
May cause GI upset. Use with caution in penicillin-allergic animals (cross-reactivity). Not effective against Pseudomonas.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Cephalexin dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: PO 15–22 mg/kg q12h; PO 22–30 mg/kg q8h; PO 15–30 mg/kg q8-12h; PO 15–25 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Cephalexin in cats: PO.
Cited course lengths for Cephalexin in cats include: 14-21 days; 7-14 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Cephalexin is indicated in cats for: Feline acne, Dental abscess, Skin infections, UTI, Wound infections.
These are general warnings for Cephalexin across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. May cause GI upset. Use with caution in penicillin-allergic animals (cross-reactivity). Not effective against Pseudomonas.
Why a species-specific page? Cephalexin 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.
| Skin infections, UTI |
| Weak |
| BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed, Part A (Canine and Feline) — Cefalexin (Cephalexin), DOSES, printed p.68: "Cats: 15 mg/kg p.o. q8-12h; 10 mg/kg i.m., s.c. q24h. Increased doses (20-30mg/kg p.o. q8-12h) […]"Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| PO | 15–25 mg/kg | q12h | 7-14 days | Wound infections | Strong | Weese JS, Blondeau J, Boothe D, et al. International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats. Vet J. 2019;247:8-25. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.02.008 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.234, Cephalexin monograph spanning p.234-236. |