Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Ketamine Nasal is dosed at 14 mg/kg INTRANASAL Single dose; with midazolam 0.5 mg/kg IN in cats, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.717, Ketamine monograph spanning p.717-724; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — located 2026-08-05 in Plumb's 10th ed, Ketamine monograph, printed p.717-724; the earlier note claiming no held source contained this figure was wrong and has been removed. — figure located 2026-08-05 at Plumb's 10th ed printed p.720, Ketamine monograph; the page cited previously does not carry it. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Ketamine Nasal is used in cats for Chemical restraint for fractious cats. Routes documented in cats: INTRANASAL. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Ketamine Nasal in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Compounded Ketamine Nasal Spray
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INTRANASAL | 14 mg/kg | Single dose; with midazolam 0.5 mg/kg IN | 15-30 min sedation | Chemical restraint for fractious cats | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.717, Ketamine monograph spanning p.717-724; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — located 2026-08-05 in Plumb's 10th ed, Ketamine monograph, printed p.717-724; the earlier note claiming no held source contained this figure was wrong and has been removed. — figure located 2026-08-05 at Plumb's 10th ed printed p.720, Ketamine monograph; the page cited previously does not carry it. — 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.234 | of ketamine (5-7.5 mg/kg i.m.) combined with medetomidine (80 μg (micrograms)/kg i.m.) or dexmedetomidine (40 μg/kg i.m.) will provide 20-30 min general anaesth |
| 40 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.234 | (80 μg (micrograms)/kg i.m.) or dexmedetomidine (40 μg/kg i.m.) will provide 20-30 min general anaesthesia. Reduce the doses of both drugs when |
| 2–5 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | min) if needed, or lowered to 2-5 mcg/kg/min when combined with other drugs |
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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.
NMDA receptor antagonist absorbed via nasal mucosa. Provides sedation and chemical restraint without injection. Rapid absorption through nasal turbinates.
Controlled substance (CIII). Compounded formulation. Unpredictable absorption in some patients. May cause sneezing. Combine with midazolam intranasally for better effect.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Ketamine Nasal dose range in cats, with cited source references: INTRANASAL 14 mg/kg Single dose; with midazolam 0.5 mg/kg IN. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ketamine Nasal in cats: INTRANASAL.
Cited course lengths for Ketamine Nasal in cats include: 15-30 min sedation. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Ketamine Nasal is indicated in cats for: Chemical restraint for fractious cats.
These are general warnings for Ketamine Nasal across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Controlled substance (CIII). Compounded formulation. Unpredictable absorption in some patients. May cause sneezing. Combine with midazolam intranasally for better effect.
Why a species-specific page? Ketamine Nasal 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.
| 15 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | (5-10 mcg/kg/min). This rate may be increased to 1 mg/kg/hr (15 mcg/kg/ |
| 5–10 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | (5-10 mcg/kg/min). This rate may be increased to 1 mg/kg/hr (15 mcg/kg/ |
| 25 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | • Short-term procedures: 3-5 mg/kg ketamine 1 25 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine, |
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–7.5 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.234 | combinations of ketamine (5-7.5 mg/kg i.m.) combined with medetomidine (80 μg (micrograms)/kg i.m.) or dexmedetomidin |
| 10 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | 10 mg/kg/hr (both drugs combined). |
| 0.3–0.5 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | • CRI: Loading dose of 0.3-0.5 mg/kg IV, followed by 0.3-0.6 mg/kg/hr |
| 0.3–0.6 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | • CRI: Loading dose of 0.3-0.5 mg/kg IV, followed by 0.3-0.6 mg/kg/hr |
| 1 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | (5-10 mcg/kg/min). This rate may be increased to 1 mg/kg/hr (15 mcg/kg/ |
| 2 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | amine and 2 mg/kg propofol administered IV, followed by infusion (CRI) of |
| 2 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | • Mix with propofol combined 1:1 in the same syringe at a dose of 2 mg/kg ket- |
| 3–5 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | • Short-term procedures: 3-5 mg/kg ketamine 1 25 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine, |
| 10 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | also can be sprayed into the mouth and produces similar effect as IM 10 mg/kg.) |
| 0.1 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | Note: When used in cats, a sedative such as acepromazine (0.1 mg/kg) or a benzodi- |
| 2–25 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.457 | • 2-25 mg/kg IV or IM. (Generally, the lower dose range is given IV compared to IM.) |
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.