Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Diazepam is dosed at 0.5–1 mg/kg IV q5 min (max 3 doses) in cats, per BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part A - Canine and Feline (2020), printed p.121 (corpus PDF p.137), 'Cats: Emergency management of seizures including status epilepticus'. Diazepam is used in cats for Status epilepticus, Appetite stimulation. Routes documented in cats: IV, PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Diazepam in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Valium
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 0.5–1 mg/kg | q5 min (max 3 doses) | Emergency | Status epilepticus | Strong | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part A - Canine and Feline (2020), printed p.121 (corpus PDF p.137), 'Cats: Emergency management of seizures including status epilepticus' |
| PO | 0.2–0.5 mg/kg | q12-24h | Short-term (1-3 days) | Appetite stimulation | Weak | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
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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.
Enhances GABA-A receptor activity by binding the benzodiazepine site, increasing chloride ion conductance, producing sedation, anxiolysis, muscle relaxation, and anticonvulsant effects.
HEPATOTOXICITY in cats (oral use — acute hepatic necrosis, sometimes fatal). Short duration in dogs (rapid redistribution). Avoid IM (erratic absorption). Reversible with flumazenil. Controlled substance.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Diazepam dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: IV 0.5–1 mg/kg q5 min (max 3 doses); PO 0.2–0.5 mg/kg q12-24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Diazepam in cats: IV, PO.
Cited course lengths for Diazepam in cats include: Emergency; Short-term (1-3 days). Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Diazepam is indicated in cats for: Status epilepticus, Appetite stimulation.
These are general warnings for Diazepam across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. HEPATOTOXICITY in cats (oral use — acute hepatic necrosis, sometimes fatal). Short duration in dogs (rapid redistribution). Avoid IM (erratic absorption). Reversible with flumazenil. Controlled substance.
Why a species-specific page? Diazepam 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.