Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Famotidine is dosed at 0.5–1 mg/kg IV q12h in cats, per Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.527 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.499, Famotidine monograph spanning p.499-500; 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. Famotidine is used in cats for Acute gastritis, Gastric acid reduction. Routes documented in cats: IV, PO, SC. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Famotidine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Pepcid
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 0.5–1 mg/kg | q12h | As needed | Acute gastritis | Strong | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.527 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.499, Famotidine monograph spanning p.499-500; 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 |
| PO | 0.5–1 mg/kg | q12-24h | 5-14 days | Gastric acid reduction | Strong | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.527 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.499, Famotidine monograph spanning p.499-500; 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 |
| SC | 0.5–1 mg/kg | q12-24h | As needed | Gastric acid reduction | Strong | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.527 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.499, Famotidine monograph spanning p.499-500; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5–1 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.174 | 0.5-1.0 mg/kg p.o. q12-24h. |
| 0.2 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.339 | • 0.2 mg/kg q24h, up to 0.25 mg/kg q12h IM, SQ, PO, or IV (slowly over |
| 0.25 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.339 | • 0.2 mg/kg q24h, up to 0.25 mg/kg q12h IM, SQ, PO, or IV (slowly over |
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.
Need the exact dose for your patient?
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.
Competitively blocks histamine H2 receptors on parietal cells, reducing basal and stimulated gastric acid secretion.
Generally well-tolerated. Adjust dose in renal impairment. Less effective than proton pump inhibitors at acid suppression.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Famotidine dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: IV 0.5–1 mg/kg q12h; PO 0.5–1 mg/kg q12-24h; SC 0.5–1 mg/kg q12-24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Famotidine in cats: IV, PO, SC.
Cited course lengths for Famotidine in cats include: As needed; 5-14 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Famotidine is indicated in cats for: Acute gastritis, Gastric acid reduction.
These are general warnings for Famotidine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Generally well-tolerated. Adjust dose in renal impairment. Less effective than proton pump inhibitors at acid suppression.
Why a species-specific page? Famotidine 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.