Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Chloramphenicol is dosed at 12.5–25 mg/kg IV q12h in cats, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed. Chloramphenicol is used in cats for Severe systemic infections requiring CNS penetration, Susceptible infections, Bacterial conjunctivitis (ophthalmic). Routes documented in cats: IV, PO, TOPICAL. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Chloramphenicol in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 12.5–25 mg/kg | q12h | Until oral feasible | Severe systemic infections requiring CNS penetration | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| PO | 12.5–25 mg/kg | q12h | 7-14 days | Susceptible infections | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| TOPICAL | Ophthalmic ointment 1% | q6-8h | 7-14 days | Bacterial conjunctivitis (ophthalmic) | Strong | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1380 (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.
Binds to 50S ribosomal subunit, inhibiting peptidyl transferase and bacterial protein synthesis. Bacteriostatic.
Human health hazard: wear gloves when handling (aplastic anemia risk in humans). May cause bone marrow suppression in cats. Monitor CBC during prolonged use.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Chloramphenicol dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: IV 12.5–25 mg/kg q12h; PO 12.5–25 mg/kg q12h; TOPICAL Ophthalmic ointment 1% q6-8h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Chloramphenicol in cats: IV, PO, TOPICAL.
Cited course lengths for Chloramphenicol in cats include: Until oral feasible; 7-14 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Chloramphenicol is indicated in cats for: Severe systemic infections requiring CNS penetration, Susceptible infections, Bacterial conjunctivitis (ophthalmic).
These are general warnings for Chloramphenicol across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Human health hazard: wear gloves when handling (aplastic anemia risk in humans). May cause bone marrow suppression in cats. Monitor CBC during prolonged use.
Why a species-specific page? Chloramphenicol 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.