Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Epinephrine is dosed at 0.01–0.02 mg/kg IM q5-15min in cats, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed. Epinephrine is used in cats for Anaphylaxis, Cardiac arrest, anaphylaxis, Mild vaccine reaction. Routes documented in cats: IM, IV, SC. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Epinephrine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Adrenalin
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.01–0.02 mg/kg | q5-15min | As needed | Anaphylaxis | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 0.01–0.02 mg/kg | q3-5min | During CPR | Cardiac arrest, anaphylaxis | Strong | Verified against Papich/Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th Ed, p.320 (2026-08-01). |
| SC | 0.01–0.02 mg/kg | q15-20min | As needed | Mild vaccine reaction | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
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Non-selective adrenergic agonist (alpha and beta). Increases heart rate, contractility, and vascular tone. Bronchodilator. First-line for cardiac arrest and anaphylaxis.
Causes tachycardia, arrhythmias, hypertension. Dilute for IV use (1:10,000). Tissue necrosis if extravasated. Very short duration of action. Light-sensitive.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Epinephrine dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: IM 0.01–0.02 mg/kg q5-15min; IV 0.01–0.02 mg/kg q3-5min; SC 0.01–0.02 mg/kg q15-20min. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Epinephrine in cats: IM, IV, SC.
Cited course lengths for Epinephrine in cats include: As needed; During CPR. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Epinephrine is indicated in cats for: Anaphylaxis, Cardiac arrest, anaphylaxis, Mild vaccine reaction.
These are general warnings for Epinephrine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Causes tachycardia, arrhythmias, hypertension. Dilute for IV use (1:10,000). Tissue necrosis if extravasated. Very short duration of action. Light-sensitive.
Why a species-specific page? Epinephrine 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.