Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Naloxone is dosed at 0.01–0.04 mg/kg IV IV bolus, repeat as needed in cats, per NARCAN INJECTION - Naloxone Hydrochloride Liquid (Solution) for Dogs [US Product Label]. Endo Pharmaceutical Co.; 2017. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.952 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.924, Naloxone monograph spanning p.924-925; 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. Naloxone is used in cats for Opioid reversal. Routes documented in cats: IV. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Naloxone in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Narcan
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 0.01–0.04 mg/kg | IV bolus, repeat as needed | Short duration | Opioid reversal | Strong | NARCAN INJECTION - Naloxone Hydrochloride Liquid (Solution) for Dogs [US Product Label]. Endo Pharmaceutical Co.; 2017. — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.952 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.924, Naloxone monograph spanning p.924-925; 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 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.01–0.02 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.296 | 0.01-0.02 mg/kg i.v.; 0.04 mg/kg i.m., s.c., intratracheal. Naloxone can be administered as a continuous |
| 0.04 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.296 | 0.01-0.02 mg/kg i.v.; 0.04 mg/kg i.m., s.c., intratracheal. Naloxone can be administered as a continuous rate infusion at |
| 0.01–0.04 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.581 | • 0.01-0.04 mg/kg IV, IM, or SQ as needed to reverse opiate. |
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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Competitive mu, kappa, and delta opioid receptor antagonist. Rapidly reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression, sedation, and hypotension.
Very short duration (30-60 min) — renarcotization risk with long-acting opioids. May precipitate acute withdrawal, pain, and sympathetic surge. Repeat dosing often needed.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Naloxone dose range in cats, with cited source references: IV 0.01–0.04 mg/kg IV bolus, repeat as needed. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Naloxone in cats: IV.
Cited course lengths for Naloxone in cats include: Short duration. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Naloxone is indicated in cats for: Opioid reversal.
These are general warnings for Naloxone across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Very short duration (30-60 min) — renarcotization risk with long-acting opioids. May precipitate acute withdrawal, pain, and sympathetic surge. Repeat dosing often needed.
Why a species-specific page? Naloxone 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.