Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Diltiazem is dosed at 0.5–2.5 mg/kg PO q8h in cats, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.396, Diltiazem monograph spanning p.396-398; 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. Diltiazem is used in cats for Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Diltiazem in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Cardizem, Dilacor
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.5–2.5 mg/kg | q8h | Long-term | Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.396, Diltiazem monograph spanning p.396-398; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.05–0.25 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.142 | 0.05-0.25 mg/kg i.v. over 1-2 min, 0.5-2.5 mg/kg p.o. q8h, or one 10 mg tablet for cats of 3-6.25 k |
| 0.5–2.5 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.142 | 0.05-0.25 mg/kg i.v. over 1-2 min, 0.5-2.5 mg/kg p.o. q8h, or one 10 mg tablet for cats of 3-6.25 kg p.o. q8h. |
| 1.75–2.4 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.273 | • 1.75-2.4 mg/kg q8h PO. Most common dose in cats with immediate-release |
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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Blocks L-type calcium channels in cardiac and smooth muscle. Slows AV conduction, reduces heart rate, and reduces myocardial oxygen demand.
Monitor heart rate and blood pressure. Drug of choice for feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Bradycardia, hypotension, AV block possible. Do not combine with beta-blockers without caution.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Diltiazem dose range in cats, with cited source references: PO 0.5–2.5 mg/kg q8h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Diltiazem in cats: PO.
Cited course lengths for Diltiazem in cats include: Long-term. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Diltiazem is indicated in cats for: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
These are general warnings for Diltiazem across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Monitor heart rate and blood pressure. Drug of choice for feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Bradycardia, hypotension, AV block possible. Do not combine with beta-blockers without caution.
Why a species-specific page? Diltiazem 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.