Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Furosemide is dosed at 1–4 mg/kg IM q6-8h in cats, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed. Furosemide is used in cats for CHF when IV not available, Acute CHF (emergency), CHF, pleural effusion, Pleural effusion (chronic management). Routes documented in cats: IM, IV, PO, SC. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 5 cited dose rules for Furosemide in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Lasix, Salix
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 1–4 mg/kg | q6-8h | Until stabilized | CHF when IV not available | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 1–4 mg/kg | q1-4h | Emergency | Acute CHF (emergency) | Strong | Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th Ed., 'Furosemide', Small Animal Dosage, printed p.348 (corpus page 376): 'Cats — Start with 1 mg/kg, then increase as needed, within a range of 1-4 mg/kg q8-24h IV, IM, SQ, or PO.' |
| PO | 1–2 mg/kg | q12-24h | Chronic; lowest effective dose | CHF, pleural effusion | Strong | Cote E. Feline congestive heart failure: Current diagnosis and management. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2017;47(5):1055-1064. PMID: 28647113 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.593 (2026-08-01). |
| PO | 1–2 mg/kg | q12-24h | Chronic | Pleural effusion (chronic management) | Strong | Cote E. Feline congestive heart failure: Current diagnosis and management. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2017;47(5):1055-1064. PMID: 28647113 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.593 (2026-08-01). |
| SC | 1–2 mg/kg | q12-24h | Chronic | CHF maintenance | Moderate | DeFrancesco TC. Management of cardiac emergencies in small animals. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2013;43(4):817-842. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2013.03.012 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.593 (2026-08-01). |
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Inhibits sodium-potassium-chloride cotransporter (NKCC2) in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle, producing potent diuresis.
Monitor electrolytes (hypokalemia, hyponatremia). Ototoxicity at high IV doses. Dehydration risk. May worsen renal azotemia. Adjust dose based on clinical response.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Furosemide dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: IM 1–4 mg/kg q6-8h; IV 1–4 mg/kg q1-4h; PO 1–2 mg/kg q12-24h; PO 1–2 mg/kg q12-24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Furosemide in cats: IM, IV, PO, SC.
Cited course lengths for Furosemide in cats include: Until stabilized; Emergency; Chronic; lowest effective dose; Chronic. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Furosemide is indicated in cats for: CHF when IV not available, Acute CHF (emergency), CHF, pleural effusion, Pleural effusion (chronic management), CHF maintenance.
These are general warnings for Furosemide across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Monitor electrolytes (hypokalemia, hyponatremia). Ototoxicity at high IV doses. Dehydration risk. May worsen renal azotemia. Adjust dose based on clinical response.
Why a species-specific page? Furosemide 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.