Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Theophylline is dosed at 4–8 mg/kg PO q12h (immediate-release tablets) in cats, per Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1220, Theophylline monograph spanning p.1220-1222; 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. Theophylline is used in cats for Feline asthma adjunct. Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Theophylline in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
US trade names: Theo-Dur, Theo-24
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 4–8 mg/kg | q12h (immediate-release tablets) | Long-term | Feline asthma adjunct | Moderate | Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023, held copy; the original seed cited the 9th, which was never consulted) — Plumb's 10th ed (held) printed p.1220, Theophylline monograph spanning p.1220-1222; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15–19 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.415 | 15-19 mg/kg p.o. q24h (sustained-release preparation). |
| 4 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.800 | • 4 mg/kg q8-12h PO (immediate-release formulations). |
| 20 | PO | Papich Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th edp.801 | • Theophylline sustained release: 20 mg/kg for tablets (100 mg per cat) q24h PO |
| 25 |
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Inhibits phosphodiesterase, increasing cAMP. Also antagonizes adenosine receptors. Relaxes bronchial smooth muscle and improves diaphragmatic contractility.
Narrow therapeutic index. Serum monitoring recommended (10-20 mcg/ml). Tachycardia, GI upset, CNS stimulation, seizures in overdose. Many drug interactions (fluoroquinolones, cimetidine increase levels).
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Theophylline dose range in cats, with cited source references: PO 4–8 mg/kg q12h (immediate-release tablets). Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Theophylline in cats: PO.
Cited course lengths for Theophylline in cats include: Long-term. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Theophylline is indicated in cats for: Feline asthma adjunct.
These are general warnings for Theophylline across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Narrow therapeutic index. Serum monitoring recommended (10-20 mcg/ml). Tachycardia, GI upset, CNS stimulation, seizures in overdose. Many drug interactions (fluoroquinolones, cimetidine increase levels).
Why a species-specific page? Theophylline 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.801 |
| or 25 mg/kg for extended-release capsule (125 mg per cat) q24h PO. With long- |
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.