Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Pentobarbital is dosed at 86 mg/kg IV IV bolus in cats, per US FDA product label, FATAL-PLUS (pentobarbital sodium) injection, Vortech Pharmaceuticals Ltd., DailyMed setid 0da20b0f-dda7-47cb-917f-1d0002f0bcd7 (https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=0da20b0f-dda7-47cb-917f-1d0002f0bcd7): "Inject rapidly 1 mL for every 10 lbs. body weight Minimum 1 mL" at 390 mg/mL = 86 mg/kg; labelled for euthanasia of animals, naming dog and cat. Retrieved 2026-08-05.. Pentobarbital is used in cats for Euthanasia. Routes documented in cats: IV. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Pentobarbital in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Nembutal
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IV | 86 mg/kg | IV bolus | Single dose | Euthanasia | Strong | US FDA product label, FATAL-PLUS (pentobarbital sodium) injection, Vortech Pharmaceuticals Ltd., DailyMed setid 0da20b0f-dda7-47cb-917f-1d0002f0bcd7 (https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=0da20b0f-dda7-47cb-917f-1d0002f0bcd7): "Inject rapidly 1 mL for every 10 lbs. body weight Minimum 1 mL" at 390 mg/mL = 86 mg/kg; labelled for euthanasia of animals, naming dog and cat. Retrieved 2026-08-05. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.326 | 80 mg/kg in debilitated animals, up to 120-160 mg/kg in younger and fitter animals, rapid i.v. inj |
| 120–160 | IM | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.326 | 80 mg/kg in debilitated animals, up to 120-160 mg/kg in younger and fitter animals, rapid i.v. injection. Pentosan polysulphate (Cartro |
| 25–30 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.648 | • General anesthesia: 25-30 mg/kg IV to effect. |
| 2–15 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.648 | • CRI: 2-15 mg/kg IV to effect, followed by 0.2-1 mg/kg/hr. |
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Barbiturate enhancing GABA-A receptor activity and directly activating GABA receptor at high doses. Dose-dependent CNS depression from sedation to death.
DEA Schedule II. Primary component of euthanasia solutions. Controlled substance requiring DEA registration. Rapid IV causes apnea — give slowly for anesthetic use.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Pentobarbital dose range in cats, with cited source references: IV 86 mg/kg IV bolus. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Pentobarbital in cats: IV.
Cited course lengths for Pentobarbital in cats include: Single dose. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Pentobarbital is indicated in cats for: Euthanasia.
These are general warnings for Pentobarbital across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. DEA Schedule II. Primary component of euthanasia solutions. Controlled substance requiring DEA registration. Rapid IV causes apnea — give slowly for anesthetic use.
Why a species-specific page? Pentobarbital 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.
| 0.2–1 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.648 | • CRI: 2-15 mg/kg IV to effect, followed by 0.2-1 mg/kg/hr. |
| 2–6 | IV | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.648 | • Status epilepticus: 2-6 mg/kg IV (15-20 minutes may be needed to take full effect). |
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.