Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Hydroxyzine is dosed at 1–2 mg/kg PO q12h in cats, per Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.658 (2026-08-01).. Hydroxyzine is used in cats for Pruritus. Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Hydroxyzine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Atarax, Vistaril
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 1–2 mg/kg | q12h | Variable | Pruritus | Moderate | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.658 (2026-08-01). |
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H1 antihistamine with anxiolytic and antipruritic properties. Metabolized to cetirizine (active metabolite). Crosses blood-brain barrier.
Sedation common. Anticholinergic effects. Used for pruritus and anxiety. IM injection painful — avoid. Metabolized to cetirizine which is also used clinically.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Hydroxyzine dose range in cats, with cited source references: PO 1–2 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Hydroxyzine in cats: PO.
Cited course lengths for Hydroxyzine in cats include: Variable. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Hydroxyzine is indicated in cats for: Pruritus.
These are general warnings for Hydroxyzine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Sedation common. Anticholinergic effects. Used for pruritus and anxiety. IM injection painful — avoid. Metabolized to cetirizine which is also used clinically.
Why a species-specific page? Hydroxyzine 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.