Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Midazolam is dosed at 0.2–0.5 mg/kg IM once in cats, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 9th Ed, Midazolam monograph, p.910 (CATS); refs 36 = Marjani M, Akbarinejad V, Bagheri M. Comparison of intranasal and intramuscular ketamine-midazolam combination in cats. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2015;42(2):178-181; 37 = Ueoka N, Hikasa Y. Effects in cats of atipamezole, flumazenil and 4-aminopyridine... J Feline Med Surg. 2015;17(8):711-718; 39 = Wheeler EP, Abelson EL, Lindsey JC, Wetmore LA. Sedative effects of alfaxalone and hydromorphone with or without midazolam in cats: a pilot study. J Feline Med Surg. 2021;23(12). Midazolam is used in cats for Pre-anesthetic sedation, Seizure control (emergency), Pre-anesthetic sedation, seizures. Routes documented in cats: IM, INTRANASAL, IV. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Midazolam in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Versed
| 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, Midazolam monograph, p.910 (CATS); refs 36 = Marjani M, Akbarinejad V, Bagheri M. Comparison of intranasal and intramuscular ketamine-midazolam combination in cats. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2015;42(2):178-181; 37 = Ueoka N, Hikasa Y. Effects in cats of atipamezole, flumazenil and 4-aminopyridine... J Feline Med Surg. 2015;17(8):711-718; 39 = Wheeler EP, Abelson EL, Lindsey JC, Wetmore LA. Sedative effects of alfaxalone and hydromorphone with or without midazolam in cats: a pilot study. J Feline Med Surg. 2021;23(12) |
| INTRANASAL | 0.2–0.5 mg/kg | once | Emergency | Seizure control (emergency) | Moderate | Marjani M, Akbarinejad V, Bagheri M. Comparison of intranasal and intramuscular ketamine-midazolam combination in cats. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2015;42(2):178-181. doi:10.1111/vaa.12183 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.910 (2026-08-01). |
| IV | 0.1–0.3 mg/kg | once | Single dose | Pre-anesthetic sedation, seizures | Strong | Biermann K, Hungerbuhler S, Mischke R, Kastner SBR. Sedative, cardiovascular, haematologic and biochemical effects of four different drug combinations administered intramuscularly in cats. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2012;39(2):137-150. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2995.2011.00699.x — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.909 (2026-08-01). |
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Enhances GABA-A receptor activity, increasing chloride conductance. Provides anxiolysis, sedation, muscle relaxation, and anticonvulsant effects.
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 cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Midazolam dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: IM 0.2–0.5 mg/kg once; INTRANASAL 0.2–0.5 mg/kg once; IV 0.1–0.3 mg/kg once. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Midazolam in cats: IM, INTRANASAL, IV.
Cited course lengths for Midazolam in cats include: Single dose; Emergency. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Midazolam is indicated in cats for: Pre-anesthetic sedation, Seizure control (emergency), Pre-anesthetic sedation, seizures.
These are general warnings for Midazolam across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. 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.
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 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.