Midazolam for Cat
Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Midazolam is used in cat for Pre-anesthetic sedation, Seizure control (emergency), Pre-anesthetic sedation, seizures. Routes documented in cat: IM, INTRANASAL, IV. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Midazolam in cat, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
Trade names: Versed
Dose ranges
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.2–0.5 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Pre-anesthetic sedation | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| INTRANASAL | 0.2–0.5 mg/kg | once | Emergency | Seizure control (emergency) | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
| IV | 0.1–0.3 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Pre-anesthetic sedation, seizures | Strong | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed |
Need the exact dose for your patient?
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.
Mechanism of action
Enhances GABA-A receptor activity, increasing chloride conductance. Provides anxiolysis, sedation, muscle relaxation, and anticonvulsant effects.
Side effects & warnings
May cause paradoxical excitement in healthy dogs when used alone. Water-soluble (less painful IM than diazepam). Respiratory depression at high doses. Flumazenil is the reversal agent.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cat may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Other Anesthetic drugs with cat dosing
Midazolam dosing in other species
Why a species-specific page? Midazolam 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.