Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Minocycline is dosed at 5–12.5 mg/kg PO q12h in cats, per Tynan BE, Papich MG, Kerl ME, Cohn LA. Pharmacokinetics of minocycline in domestic cats. J Feline Med Surg. 2016;18:257-263. doi:10.1177/1098612x15579114 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.920 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.890, Minocycline monograph spanning p.890-892; 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; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855. Minocycline is used in cats for Susceptible infections. Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Minocycline in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Minocin
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 5–12.5 mg/kg |
| q12h |
| 14-21 days |
| Susceptible infections |
| Moderate |
| Tynan BE, Papich MG, Kerl ME, Cohn LA. Pharmacokinetics of minocycline in domestic cats. J Feline Med Surg. 2016;18:257-263. doi:10.1177/1098612x15579114 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.920 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.890, Minocycline monograph spanning p.890-892; 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; Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs — ISBN 9780323244855, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323244855 |
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 | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.285 | 5-10 mg/kg p.o. q12h. |
| 8.8 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.563 | • 8.8 mg/kg (or 50 mg per cat) PO once daily. |
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 protein synthesis by binding 30S ribosomal subunit. More lipophilic than doxycycline with excellent tissue penetration including CNS.
Vestibular toxicity (ataxia, nausea) more common than with doxycycline. Tooth discoloration in young animals. Photosensitivity.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Minocycline dose range in cats, with cited source references: PO 5–12.5 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Minocycline in cats: PO.
Cited course lengths for Minocycline in cats include: 14-21 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Minocycline is indicated in cats for: Susceptible infections.
These are general warnings for Minocycline across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Vestibular toxicity (ataxia, nausea) more common than with doxycycline. Tooth discoloration in young animals. Photosensitivity.
Why a species-specific page? Minocycline 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.