Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Ketamine is dosed at 10–20 mg/kg IM once in cats, per Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th Ed (2016), printed p.429 (PDF p.457), Small Animal Dosage > Cats. Ketamine is used in cats for Feral cat trap-neuter-return (TNR), Sedation/restraint for fractious cats, Anesthetic induction, CRI for somatic analgesia. Routes documented in cats: IM, IV. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 4 cited dose rules for Ketamine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Ketaset, Vetalar
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 10–20 mg/kg | once | Single dose for TNR protocol | Feral cat trap-neuter-return (TNR) | Strong | Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th Ed (2016), printed p.429 (PDF p.457), Small Animal Dosage > Cats |
| IM | 5–10 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Sedation/restraint for fractious cats | Strong | Papich, Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th Ed (2016), printed p.429 (PDF p.457), Small Animal Dosage > Cats |
| IV | 2–5 mg/kg | once | Single induction dose | Anesthetic induction | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 0.1–0.5 mg/kg | per hour (CRI) | Intra/post-operative | CRI for somatic analgesia | Moderate | Lamont LA. Adjunctive analgesic therapy in veterinary medicine. Vet Clin North Am Small Animal Pract. 2008;38(6):1187-1203, v. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2008.06.002 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.748 (2026-08-01). |
One of the cited rules is a continuous-rate-infusion regimen: IV 0.1–0.5 mg/kg per hour (CRI). CRI regimens are delivered as a continuous infusion rather than discrete doses — verify the rate against the cited source before use.
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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 producing dissociative anesthesia. Provides somatic analgesia, amnesia, and catalepsy while maintaining pharyngeal reflexes.
Increases intracranial and intraocular pressure. Causes increased salivation (premedicate with anticholinergic). Eyes remain open under anesthesia — use lubricant. Do NOT use alone in dogs/cats (muscle rigidity) — combine with a sedative.
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 dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: IM 10–20 mg/kg once; IM 5–10 mg/kg once; IV 2–5 mg/kg once; IV 0.1–0.5 mg/kg per hour (CRI). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ketamine in cats: IM, IV.
Cited course lengths for Ketamine in cats include: Single dose for TNR protocol; Single dose; Single induction dose; Intra/post-operative. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Ketamine is indicated in cats for: Feral cat trap-neuter-return (TNR), Sedation/restraint for fractious cats, Anesthetic induction, CRI for somatic analgesia.
These are general warnings for Ketamine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Increases intracranial and intraocular pressure. Causes increased salivation (premedicate with anticholinergic). Eyes remain open under anesthesia — use lubricant. Do NOT use alone in dogs/cats (muscle rigidity) — combine with a sedative.
Why a species-specific page? Ketamine 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.