Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Nitrofurantoin is dosed at 4.4–5 mg/kg PO q8h in cats, per Weese JS, Blondeau J, Boothe D, et al. International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats. Vet J. 2019;247:8-25. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.02.008 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.964 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.937, Nitrofurantoin monograph spanning p.936-937; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — SOURCE EDITION: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — ISBN 9781394172207, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781394172207. Nitrofurantoin is used in cats for Lower UTI (cystitis). Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Nitrofurantoin in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Macrodantin
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 4.4–5 mg/kg | q8h | 7-14 days | Lower UTI (cystitis) | Weak | Weese JS, Blondeau J, Boothe D, et al. International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases (ISCAID) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats. Vet J. 2019;247:8-25. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.02.008 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.964 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.937, Nitrofurantoin monograph spanning p.936-937; page located 2026-08-05 from the book's own running heads, and carries this exact dose under the matching species heading. — 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.
The sources disagree for this combination. The ranges below do not overlap on a comparable route. This is not an error in one of them — published veterinary references differ, and reconciling them for a particular patient is a clinical judgement.
| Dose (mg/kg) | Route | Source | As printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4–5 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.302 | 4.4-5 mg/kg p.o. q8h. |
| 10 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.596 | • 10 mg/kg/day divided into four daily treatments. Then 1 mg/kg at night PO. |
| 1 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.596 | • 10 mg/kg/day divided into four daily treatments. Then 1 mg/kg at night PO. |
| 2–3 |
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Reduced by bacterial enzymes to reactive intermediates that damage DNA, ribosomes, and other macromolecules. Concentrated in urine.
Only effective for lower urinary tract infections (requires urinary concentration). GI upset common. Avoid in renal failure (inadequate urinary concentration). Pulmonary toxicity rare.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Nitrofurantoin dose range in cats, with cited source references: PO 4.4–5 mg/kg q8h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Nitrofurantoin in cats: PO.
Cited course lengths for Nitrofurantoin in cats include: 7-14 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Nitrofurantoin is indicated in cats for: Lower UTI (cystitis).
These are general warnings for Nitrofurantoin across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Only effective for lower urinary tract infections (requires urinary concentration). GI upset common. Avoid in renal failure (inadequate urinary concentration). Pulmonary toxicity rare.
Why a species-specific page? Nitrofurantoin 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.
| PO |
| Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.596 |
| • Macrocrystalline formulation: 2-3 mg/kg q8h PO, followed by 1-2 mg/kg once |
| 1–2 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.596 | • Macrocrystalline formulation: 2-3 mg/kg q8h PO, followed by 1-2 mg/kg once |
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.