Cat · Felis catus · typical adult weight 2.50–7.00 kg
Tramadol is dosed at 1–4 mg/kg PO q12h in cats, per Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1261, Tramadol monograph spanning p.1261-1263. 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 | Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1261, Tramadol monograph spanning p.1261-1263.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
| PO | 2–4 mg/kg | q8-12h | Chronic | Chronic pain (feline) | Moderate | 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 — Papich/Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 4th Ed, p.831 — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.1261, Tramadol monograph spanning p.1261-1263.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–4 | PO | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.427 | 2-4 mg/kg p.o. q8h, 1-2 mg/kg i.v., s.c. |
| 1–2 | IV | BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part A (Canine and Feline)p.427 | 2-4 mg/kg p.o. q8h, 1-2 mg/kg i.v., s.c. |
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.
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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.