Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Morphine is dosed at 0.1–0.3 mg/kg IM q4-6h in cats, per KuKanich B, Wiese AJ. Chapter 11: Opioids. In: Grimm KA, Lamont LA, Tranquilli WJ, Greene SA, Robertson SA, eds. Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, The Fifth Edition of Lumb and Jones. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; 2015:207-226. (Plumb's Morphine, reference on the CATS intermittent-dosing line) — Verified against BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part A, p.291 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.907, Morphine monograph spanning p.907-911; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — figure located 2026-08-05 at Plumb's 10th ed printed p.910, Morphine monograph; the page cited previously does not carry it. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705; Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Morphine is used in cats for Moderate to severe pain. Routes documented in cats: IM. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Morphine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 0.1–0.3 mg/kg | q4-6h | Short-term | Moderate to severe pain | Strong | KuKanich B, Wiese AJ. Chapter 11: Opioids. In: Grimm KA, Lamont LA, Tranquilli WJ, Greene SA, Robertson SA, eds. Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia, The Fifth Edition of Lumb and Jones. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; 2015:207-226. (Plumb's Morphine, reference on the CATS intermittent-dosing line) — Verified against BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part A, p.291 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.907, Morphine monograph spanning p.907-911; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, verified to name the drug in its body text. — figure located 2026-08-05 at Plumb's 10th ed printed p.910, Morphine monograph; the page cited previously does not carry it. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.1–0.4 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.291 | 0.1-0.4 mg/kg i.v., i.m. q3-4h. Pain should be assessed frequently and the dose adjusted based on |
| 0.1–0.2 | IM | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.573 | • Analgesia: 0.1-0.2 mg/kg IM, IV, or SQ q3-6h (or as needed). |
| 0.2 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.573 | • CRI: loading dose of 0.2 mg/kg IV, followed by 0.05-0.1 mg/kg/hour IV. |
| 0.05–0.1 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.573 | • CRI: loading dose of 0.2 mg/kg IV, followed by 0.05-0.1 mg/kg/hour IV. |
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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.
Prototype full mu-opioid receptor agonist. Activates mu, kappa, and delta opioid receptors producing analgesia, sedation, and euphoria.
Histamine release with rapid IV injection (hypotension, bronchoconstriction — give slowly). Vomiting and defecation common initial effects. Respiratory depression. Cats: may cause excitation/dysphoria at higher doses. Controlled substance (Schedule II).
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Morphine dose range in cats, with cited source references: IM 0.1–0.3 mg/kg q4-6h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Morphine in cats: IM.
Cited course lengths for Morphine in cats include: Short-term. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Morphine is indicated in cats for: Moderate to severe pain.
These are general warnings for Morphine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Histamine release with rapid IV injection (hypotension, bronchoconstriction — give slowly). Vomiting and defecation common initial effects. Respiratory depression. Cats: may cause excitation/dysphoria at higher doses. Controlled substance (Schedule II).
Why a species-specific page? Morphine 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.
| 0.1 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.573 | • Epidural 0.1 mg/kg diluted in saline to 0.3 mL/kg. |
| Dose (ml/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.573 | • Epidural 0.1 mg/kg diluted in saline to 0.3 mL/kg. |
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.