Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Nalbuphine is dosed at 0.25–0.5 mg/kg IV q3-4h 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. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.951 (2026-08-01).. Nalbuphine is used in cats for Moderate pain / opioid side effect reversal. Routes documented in cats: IV. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Nalbuphine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Nubain
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 0.25–0.5 mg/kg | q3-4h | Short-term use | Moderate pain / opioid side effect reversal | Weak | 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. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.951 (2026-08-01). |
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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.
Kappa opioid receptor agonist and mu opioid receptor antagonist. Provides moderate analgesia with ceiling effect on respiratory depression. Does not increase biliary pressure.
Not a controlled substance despite opioid activity. Ceiling analgesic effect. Will reverse mu-agonist analgesia if given concurrently. Used for moderate pain and to partially reverse mu-agonist side effects.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Nalbuphine dose range in cats, with cited source references: IV 0.25–0.5 mg/kg q3-4h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Nalbuphine in cats: IV.
Cited course lengths for Nalbuphine in cats include: Short-term use. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Nalbuphine is indicated in cats for: Moderate pain / opioid side effect reversal.
These are general warnings for Nalbuphine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Not a controlled substance despite opioid activity. Ceiling analgesic effect. Will reverse mu-agonist analgesia if given concurrently. Used for moderate pain and to partially reverse mu-agonist side effects.
Why a species-specific page? Nalbuphine 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.