Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Penicillamine is dosed at 10–15 mg/kg PO q12h in cats, per Hurwitz BM, Center SA, Randolph JF, et al. Presumed primary and secondary hepatic copper accumulation in cats. Javma-Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2014;244:68-77. doi:10.2460/javma.244.1.68 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1018 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.991, Penicillamine monograph spanning p.990-991; 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. Penicillamine is used in cats for Copper hepatopathy. Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Penicillamine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Cuprimine, Depen, D-Penicillamine
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 10–15 mg/kg | q12h | Long-term; monitor hepatic values | Copper hepatopathy | Weak | Hurwitz BM, Center SA, Randolph JF, et al. Presumed primary and secondary hepatic copper accumulation in cats. Javma-Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2014;244:68-77. doi:10.2460/javma.244.1.68 — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1018 (2026-08-01). — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.991, Penicillamine monograph spanning p.990-991; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.323 | before receiving penicillamine 30 minutes before feeding at 15 mg/kg p.o. q6-8h for 1 week. Dose may then be reduced to 5 mg/kg p.o. q6-8h if serum lead level |
| 5 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.323 | 15 mg/kg p.o. q6-8h for 1 week. Dose may then be reduced to 5 mg/kg p.o. q6-8h if serum lead levels remain high despite the resolution of clinical signs. |
| 10–15 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.641 | • 10-15 mg/kg q12h PO, best administered 30 minutes before a meal. |
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Chelates copper, lead, mercury, and other heavy metals, forming soluble complexes excreted by the kidneys. Also has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties.
Give on empty stomach (1 hour before or 2 hours after meals). GI upset common — start low and increase gradually. Monitor CBC and urinalysis (proteinuria). Primary use: copper-associated hepatopathy (Bedlington Terriers, others).
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Penicillamine dose range in cats, with cited source references: PO 10–15 mg/kg q12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Penicillamine in cats: PO.
Cited course lengths for Penicillamine in cats include: Long-term; monitor hepatic values. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Penicillamine is indicated in cats for: Copper hepatopathy.
These are general warnings for Penicillamine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Give on empty stomach (1 hour before or 2 hours after meals). GI upset common — start low and increase gradually. Monitor CBC and urinalysis (proteinuria). Primary use: copper-associated hepatopathy (Bedlington Terriers, others).
Why a species-specific page? Penicillamine 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.
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.