Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Terbinafine is dosed at 30–40 mg/kg PO q24h in cats, per Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology, 7th Ed, p.229 (corpus page derm 241), TERBINAFINE, DOSAGE, Cats. Terbinafine is used in cats for Dermatophytosis (alternative to pulse itraconazole), Sporotrichosis adjunct, Dermatophytosis. Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 3 cited dose rules for Terbinafine in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Lamisil
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 30–40 mg/kg | q24h | Continuous 28-42 days or pulse-dosed | Dermatophytosis (alternative to pulse itraconazole) | Strong | Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology, 7th Ed, p.229 (corpus page derm 241), TERBINAFINE, DOSAGE, Cats |
| PO | 30–40 mg/kg | q24h | Months | Sporotrichosis adjunct | Moderate | Papich MG. Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs: Small and Large Animal, 4th ed. Elsevier; 2016. Terbinafine Hydrochloride, printed p.765 (corpus PDF p.793): "Cats • 30-40 mg/kg/day PO for at least 2 weeks." Corroborated by Muller & Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology, printed p.229 (corpus PDF p.241): "Cats: 20 to 40 mg/kg every 24 to 48 hours for dermatophytosis". |
| PO | 20–40 mg/kg | q24h | 21-42 days | Dermatophytosis | Strong | Balda C, Otsuka M, Gambale W et al. (2004) P-12 Comparative study of griseofulvin and terbinafine therapy in the treatment of canine and feline dermatophytosis. Veterinary Dermatology 15(S1), 44 doi:10.1111/j.1365-3164.2004.00414_12.x — Verified against BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part A, p.410 (2026-08-01). |
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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.
Inhibits squalene epoxidase, blocking ergosterol synthesis at an earlier step than azoles. Fungicidal.
Generally well-tolerated. May cause GI upset, hepatotoxicity (rare). Monitor liver enzymes during prolonged 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.
Terbinafine dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: PO 30–40 mg/kg q24h; PO 30–40 mg/kg q24h; PO 20–40 mg/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Terbinafine in cats: PO.
Cited course lengths for Terbinafine in cats include: Continuous 28-42 days or pulse-dosed; Months; 21-42 days. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Terbinafine is indicated in cats for: Dermatophytosis (alternative to pulse itraconazole), Sporotrichosis adjunct, Dermatophytosis.
These are general warnings for Terbinafine across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Generally well-tolerated. May cause GI upset, hepatotoxicity (rare). Monitor liver enzymes during prolonged use.
Why a species-specific page? Terbinafine 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.