Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Ketoconazole is dosed at 5–10 mg/kg PO q12-24h in cats, per Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, Ketoconazole, Small Animal Dosage, Cats, printed p.431 - "5-10 mg/kg q8-12h PO." CAVEAT FROM THE OTHER HELD BOOK - Plumb's 10th ed printed p.728 CATS states "Use is controversial, and some clinicians recommend against using ketoconazole in cats because of […]", and printed p.726 "anorexia, weight loss, and hepatotoxic effects are possible".. Ketoconazole is used in cats for Dermatophytosis, Dermatophytosis / Malassezia dermatitis. Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Ketoconazole in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Nizoral
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg | q12-24h | 4-8 weeks | Dermatophytosis | Moderate | Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, Ketoconazole, Small Animal Dosage, Cats, printed p.431 - "5-10 mg/kg q8-12h PO." CAVEAT FROM THE OTHER HELD BOOK - Plumb's 10th ed printed p.728 CATS states "Use is controversial, and some clinicians recommend against using ketoconazole in cats because of […]", and printed p.726 "anorexia, weight loss, and hepatotoxic effects are possible". |
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg | q12-24h | 4-8 weeks | Dermatophytosis / Malassezia dermatitis | Moderate | Medleau L, Greene CE, Rakich PM. Evaluation of ketoconazole and itraconazole for treatment of disseminated cryptococcosis in cats. Am J Vet Res. 1990;51(9):1454-1458. doi:10.2460/ajvr.1990.51.09.1454 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.755 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.725, Ketoconazole, Systemic monograph spanning p.725-728; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — 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.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–10 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.459 | • 5-10 mg/kg q8-12h 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.
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Inhibits lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase (CYP51), blocking ergosterol synthesis in fungal membranes. At high doses, inhibits adrenal and gonadal steroidogenesis.
Hepatotoxic — monitor liver enzymes. Strong CYP inhibitor (many drug interactions). Requires gastric acid for absorption (do not give with antacids). Also used for Cushing's disease (adrenal steroidogenesis inhibition).
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Ketoconazole dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: PO 5–10 mg/kg q12-24h; PO 5–10 mg/kg q12-24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Ketoconazole in cats: PO.
Cited course lengths for Ketoconazole in cats include: 4-8 weeks. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Ketoconazole is indicated in cats for: Dermatophytosis, Dermatophytosis / Malassezia dermatitis.
These are general warnings for Ketoconazole across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Hepatotoxic — monitor liver enzymes. Strong CYP inhibitor (many drug interactions). Requires gastric acid for absorption (do not give with antacids). Also used for Cushing's disease (adrenal steroidogenesis inhibition).
Why a species-specific page? Ketoconazole 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.