Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Tramadol is dosed at 1–4 mg/kg PO q12h in cats, per Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1291 (2026-08-01).. Tramadol is used in cats for Moderate pain, chronic pain, Chronic pain (feline). Routes documented in cats: PO. A typical adult cat weighs 2.50–7.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 2 cited dose rules for Tramadol in cats, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.
| Route | Dose | Frequency | Duration | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 1–4 mg/kg | q12h | As needed | Moderate pain, chronic pain | Moderate | Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.1291 (2026-08-01). |
| PO | 2–4 mg/kg | q8-12h | Chronic | Chronic pain (feline) |
| Guedes AGP, Meadows JM, Pypendop BH, Johnson EG. Evaluation of tramadol for treatment of osteoarthritis in geriatric cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2018;252:565-571. (this is the reference behind the DISSENTING Plumb's figure, not behind the live dose) doi:10.2460/javma.252.5.565 — Verified against Papich/Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th Ed, p.831 (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.
Weak mu-opioid receptor agonist plus norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibition. Dual mechanism of analgesia.
Dogs metabolize to O-desmethyltramadol poorly compared to humans (reduced opioid effect). May cause sedation, dysphoria. Serotonin syndrome risk with concurrent SSRIs. Cats may respond better than dogs.
Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for cats may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.
Tramadol dose ranges in cats, with cited source references: PO 1–4 mg/kg q12h; PO 2–4 mg/kg q8-12h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.
Documented routes for Tramadol in cats: PO.
Cited course lengths for Tramadol in cats include: As needed; Chronic. Duration depends on the indication — match it to the specific dose rule in the table above.
Tramadol is indicated in cats for: Moderate pain, chronic pain, Chronic pain (feline).
These are general warnings for Tramadol across species; consult the cat dosing table above for species-specific guidance. Dogs metabolize to O-desmethyltramadol poorly compared to humans (reduced opioid effect). May cause sedation, dysphoria. Serotonin syndrome risk with concurrent SSRIs. Cats may respond better than dogs.
Why a species-specific page? Tramadol 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.