Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Methadone is used in cat for Perioperative analgesia. Routes documented in cat: IM. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Methadone in cat, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Methadose
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.1–0.3 mg/kg | q4-6h | Perioperative | Perioperative analgesia | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
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Full mu-opioid receptor agonist providing analgesia. Also antagonizes NMDA receptors and inhibits serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake, contributing to multimodal analgesia.
Respiratory depression. Bradycardia. No histamine release (advantage over morphine). NMDA antagonism provides wind-up prevention. Controlled substance (Schedule II). Dogs and cats.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cat may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Why a species-specific page? Methadone pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in cat — 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.