Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Contraindicated in Tortoise / Turtle
Ivermectin is dosed at 0.2 mg/kg PO q7d x 3 doses in cats, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.712, Ivermectin monograph spanning p.709-713. Ivermectin is used in cats for Ear mites, ectoparasites, Ear mites, scabies. Routes documented in cats: PO, SC. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Ivermectin in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Ivomec, Heartgard
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration |
|---|
| Indication |
|---|
| Evidence |
|---|
| Source |
|---|
| PO | 0.2 mg/kg | q7d x 3 doses | Single dose; repeat in 14 days | Ear mites, ectoparasites | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.712, Ivermectin monograph spanning p.709-713.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| SC | 0.2–0.3 mg/kg | q14d | 2-3 treatments | Ear mites, scabies | Moderate | Miller, W.H., Griffin, C.E., & Campbell, K.L. (2013f) Parasitic skin disease. In: Muller and Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology (eds. Miller, W.H., Griffin, C.E., & Campbell, K.L.), 7th ed., pp. 284-342. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier. — Veterinary Ophthalmology (Gelatt), 6th Ed, p.1782Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mcg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 600 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.232 | 300-600 μg (micrograms)/kg p.o. daily. |
| 24 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.451 | • Heartworm preventative: 24 mcg/kg q30 days PO. |
| 200–400 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.451 | • Ectoparasite therapy: 200-400 mcg/kg (0.2-0.4 mg/kg) IM, SQ, or PO, every |
| 200–400 |
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Potentiates glutamate-gated chloride channels in invertebrate nerve and muscle cells, causing paralysis and death of parasites.
TOXIC to MDR1-mutant dogs (Collies, Shelties, Aussies) at elevated doses. DO NOT use in chelonians (turtles/tortoises). Narrow safety margin in some species. Test MDR1 status before use in herding breeds.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Ivermectin dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: PO 0.2 mg/kg q7d x 3 doses; SC 0.2–0.3 mg/kg q14d. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ivermectin in cats: PO, SC.
Cited course lengths for Ivermectin in cats include: Single dose; repeat in 14 days; 2-3 treatments. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Ivermectin is indicated in cats for: Ear mites, ectoparasites, Ear mites, scabies.
These are general warnings for Ivermectin across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. TOXIC to MDR1-mutant dogs (Collies, Shelties, Aussies) at elevated doses. DO NOT use in chelonians (turtles/tortoises). Narrow safety margin in some species. Test MDR1 status before use in herding breeds.
Why a species-specific page? Ivermectin 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.
| SC |
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.451 |
| • Endoparasite therapy: 200-400 mcg/kg (0.2-0.4 mg/kg) weekly SQ or PO. |
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2–0.4 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.451 | • Ectoparasite therapy: 200-400 mcg/kg (0.2-0.4 mg/kg) IM, SQ, or PO, every |
| 0.2–0.4 | SC | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.451 | • Endoparasite therapy: 200-400 mcg/kg (0.2-0.4 mg/kg) weekly SQ or PO. |
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.