Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Paroxetine is dosed at 0.5–1 mg/kg PO q24h in cats, per Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1016 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.988, Paroxetine monograph spanning p.988-989; 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. Paroxetine is used in cats for Urine marking, anxiety. Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Paroxetine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Paxil
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.5–1 mg/kg | q24h | Weeks to months | Urine marking, anxiety | Moderate | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1016 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.988, Paroxetine monograph spanning p.988-989; 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5–1 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.322 | 0.5-1 mg/kg p.o. q24h; can be increased to 2 mg/kg p.o. q24h but close monitoring is required. |
| 2 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.322 | 0.5-1 mg/kg p.o. q24h; can be increased to 2 mg/kg p.o. q24h but close monitoring is required. |
| 0.5 | — | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.640 | 0.5 mg/kg q24h). For urine spraying in cats, some have responded to every- |
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.
Need the exact dose for your patient?
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.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Also has mild anticholinergic activity contributing to anxiolytic effects.
Used for anxiety disorders, aggression, and compulsive behaviors. 4-6 weeks for full effect. Serotonin syndrome risk. GI upset initially. Do not combine with MAO inhibitors.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Paroxetine dose range in cats, with cited source references: PO 0.5–1 mg/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Paroxetine in cats: PO.
Cited course lengths for Paroxetine in cats include: Weeks to months. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Paroxetine is indicated in cats for: Urine marking, anxiety.
These are general warnings for Paroxetine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Used for anxiety disorders, aggression, and compulsive behaviors. 4-6 weeks for full effect. Serotonin syndrome risk. GI upset initially. Do not combine with MAO inhibitors.
Why a species-specific page? Paroxetine 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.