This tool converts vet prescriptions to doses. It does not replace veterinary advice. Always confirm with your vet before administering medication.
Prescription Converter · Reference Library · Dosing Schedule

Cat Medication Calculator: Dosage by Weight & Giving Guide

Your vet prescribed medication, now convert it to exact doses for your cat. Enter the prescribed mg/kg and your cat's weight to get the precise amount to give, plus a dosing schedule.

My vet prescribed mg/kgWhat time should each dose be?How do I give this medication?

Cat Medication Dosage Calculator

Use this only when you already have a veterinarian's prescription. Do not use it to choose a medication or invent a dose.

Step 1

Prescription details

Weight unit

= 8.8 lbs

Step 2

Medication form

Medication formulation

Reference Library

Common Cat Medications: Reference Dosage Guide

For reference only. These ranges help you understand a prescription, not choose a medication or dose.

Amoxicillin

Amoxil, Amoxi-Tabs, Amoxi-Drop

Reference dose: 5-20 mg/kg · BID

Bacterial infections such as skin, respiratory, and urinary tract infections

  • - Give with food to reduce GI upset.
  • - Complete the full prescribed course.
  • - Shake liquid suspension well before each dose.

Amoxicillin-Clavulanate

Clavamox, Augmentin

Reference dose: 12.5-25 mg/kg · BID

Broad-spectrum bacterial infections, bite wounds, and skin infections

  • - Use veterinary Clavamox when prescribed.
  • - Give with food to reduce GI upset.
  • - Refrigerate liquid formulation.

Doxycycline

Vibramycin, Ronaxan

Reference dose: 5-10 mg/kg · SID / QD

Respiratory infections, Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, and tick-borne diseases

  • - Always follow tablets with water or food.
  • - Dry tablets can cause esophageal strictures in cats.
  • - Liquid formulation is often preferred.

Metronidazole

Flagyl

Reference dose: 7.5-15 mg/kg · BID

Giardia, anaerobic bacterial infections, and some GI conditions

  • - Very bitter taste can cause foaming and drooling.
  • - Neurologic side effects are possible at high doses.
  • - Use short courses when prescribed.

Prednisolone

Prednisolone, Omnipred

Reference dose: 0.5-4 mg/kg · SID / QD

Allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, and immune-mediated disease

  • - Cats generally need prednisolone rather than prednisone.
  • - Do not stop abruptly after long-term use.
  • - Long-term use can increase diabetes risk.

Meloxicam

Metacam, Loxicom

Reference dose: 0.05-0.1 mg/kg · SID / QD

Acute pain and inflammation under close veterinary direction

  • - High-risk NSAID in cats.
  • - Never combine with another NSAID or corticosteroid.
  • - Avoid in kidney disease, dehydration, or heart disease.

Gabapentin

Neurontin

Reference dose: 5-10 mg/kg · BID

Chronic pain, neuropathic pain, anxiety, and seizure support

  • - Human liquid gabapentin may contain xylitol.
  • - Sedation and wobbly gait are common.
  • - Taper after long-term use if your vet instructs.

Buprenorphine

Buprenex, Simbadol

Reference dose: 0.01-0.03 mg/kg · BID

Moderate to severe acute pain and post-operative pain

  • - Often absorbed through cheek pouch mucosa in cats.
  • - Controlled substance requiring careful storage.
  • - Follow route instructions exactly.

Famotidine

Pepcid, Pepcid AC

Reference dose: 0.5-1 mg/kg · BID

Gastric ulcers, reflux, nausea, and esophagitis

  • - Can be used in cats only under veterinary direction.
  • - Give before feeding if your vet instructs.
  • - Dose reduction may be needed in kidney disease.

Maropitant

Cerenia

Reference dose: 1-2 mg/kg · SID / QD

Vomiting, nausea, and motion sickness

  • - FDA-approved for cats.
  • - Use caution with liver disease.
  • - Follow timing instructions for travel-related nausea.

Fenbendazole

Panacur, Safe-Guard

Reference dose: 25-50 mg/kg · SID / QD

Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and Giardia protocols

  • - Generally considered safe in cats when prescribed.
  • - Often given for 3-5 consecutive days.
  • - Confirm protocol for Giardia with your vet.

Fluoxetine

Prozac, Reconcile

Reference dose: 0.5-1 mg/kg · SID / QD

Anxiety, compulsive behaviors, urine marking, and aggression

  • - Takes weeks for full effect.
  • - Taper when stopping if your vet instructs.
  • - Monitor appetite early in treatment.

Methimazole

Tapazole, Felimazole

Reference dose: 1.25-2.5 mg/kg · BID

Hyperthyroidism in older cats

  • - Requires regular T4, CBC, and kidney monitoring.
  • - Transdermal ear gel may help cats that resist pills.
  • - Humans who are pregnant should avoid handling tablets.

Giving Guide

How to Give Cat Medication

How to Give Your Cat a Pill

  1. 1. Prepare the pill, a small treat, and water before bringing your cat.
  2. 2. Use a towel wrap if your cat struggles.
  3. 3. Place the pill behind the tongue or use a pill popper.
  4. 4. Close the mouth briefly and stroke the throat.
  5. 5. Follow with water or a treat to help the pill reach the stomach.

How to Give Liquid Medicine

  1. 1. Measure with the provided syringe only.
  2. 2. Insert the syringe into the side of the mouth, between cheek and teeth.
  3. 3. Give small amounts slowly and allow swallowing.
  4. 4. Keep the head level instead of tipping it back.
  5. 5. Follow with a treat if your vet says food is allowed.

Topical and Transdermal Medications

Wear gloves if the label instructs. Apply only where directed, prevent licking, and keep other pets separated until the area dries.

Medication Safety

Cat Medication Safety: What to Never Give Your Cat

Acetaminophen / Tylenol

Can be fatal to cats even in small amounts.

Go to an emergency vet immediately if exposure occurs.

Ibuprofen, naproxen, and most NSAIDs

Can cause kidney failure and GI ulceration.

Only use pain medication prescribed specifically for your cat.

Aspirin without vet direction

Cats clear aspirin slowly, increasing toxicity risk.

Use only when a veterinarian gives exact instructions.

Human liquid medications with xylitol

Sweeteners and inactive ingredients may be unsafe.

Ask for veterinary or compounded formulations.

Check toxicity risk

Prescription Abbreviations

What BID, TID, SID, and q48h Mean

SID / QD

Once daily

Every 24 hours

BID

Twice daily

Every 12 hours

TID

Three times daily

Every 8 hours

QID

Four times daily

Every 6 hours

EOD

Every other day

Every 48 hours

q48h

Every 48 hours

Every 48 hours

q72h

Every 72 hours

Every 72 hours

Related Tools

Connect medication safety to the bigger care picture

View all calculators

Cat Weight Calculator

Compare your cat's weight against breed-specific healthy ranges and get a Body Condition Score interpretation.

Cat Calorie Calculator

Get daily kcal targets using feline RER and MER formulas adjusted for spay status and activity level.

Cat Toxicity Calculator

Assess risk from lilies, onions, xylitol, and other common cat poisons by amount ingested and body weight.

Medication safety

Convert prescriptions carefully without turning the page into a prescribing tool

This calculator is meant to translate a veterinarian's existing prescription into practical tablet, capsule, or liquid amounts. It should help prevent arithmetic mistakes, build a dosing schedule, and surface warnings, but it should never be used to choose a medication or dose on your own.

Result guide

How to read a medication conversion

Check the weight, prescribed mg/kg dose, formulation strength, frequency, and course length before using the result. A correct formula can still produce a dangerous plan if any one input came from the wrong bottle, wrong unit, or outdated weight.

  • Confirm whether the prescription is mg per kg, total mg per dose, ml per dose, or another format.
  • Match the bottle concentration exactly, especially for liquids with mg/ml labels.
  • Use the current weight and unit; kg/lb confusion can multiply the dose.
  • Call the clinic before changing frequency, skipping doses, or extending the course.

Formulation strength drives the final amount

The same mg/kg dose can become very different tablet fractions or liquid volumes depending on tablet strength or concentration.

Reference ranges are guardrails

A range can flag an unusual entry, but it does not override the veterinarian's case-specific decision.

Scheduling reduces missed doses

A written schedule is especially useful for multiple daily doses, multi-day courses, and households where more than one person helps.

Dose decisions

Use the calculator to verify the prescription workflow

Medication pages need a narrow purpose: reduce conversion mistakes after a veterinarian has already chosen the medicine and dose. The decision support here focuses on checking inputs and knowing when to call back.

Clear prescription

If the label, concentration, frequency, duration, and cat weight all match the fields, the result can help prepare the correct measured amount.

Double-check the first dose against the label before giving it.

Unit mismatch

mg/kg, total mg, ml, tablet fraction, and concentration are easy to confuse. A single unit error can change the final amount dramatically.

Pause and call the clinic before giving any medication if units do not line up.

Side effects or missed dose

Vomiting, drooling, sedation, agitation, appetite loss, or a missed dose can change what the safest next dose should be.

Ask the prescribing clinic before doubling, skipping, or extending doses.

Every dose

Confirm the schedule and measured amount before each dose.

After weight changes

Recalculate if a kitten, senior, or sick cat's weight changes materially.

Before refills

Confirm duration and concentration before continuing a course.

Safe medication workflow

1

Read the prescription aloud

Before entering values, compare the label, discharge notes, and calculator fields so the units match.

2

Check the first dose twice

Verify the tablet fraction or liquid ml amount before giving the first dose, then keep the same measuring method.

3

Document side effects

Record vomiting, appetite change, diarrhea, drooling, sedation, agitation, or missed doses so the clinic can advise clearly.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Cat Medications

How do I calculate my cat's medication dose?

Use the dose your veterinarian prescribed in mg/kg. Multiply that dose by your cat's weight in kg to get mg per dose, then divide by the medication concentration for ml or tablet strength for tablets. Always confirm the final amount with your veterinarian.

Can this calculator tell me what medication to give my cat?

No. This tool only converts an existing veterinary prescription into a practical amount to give. It does not diagnose symptoms, choose medications, or recommend doses.

What does BID, TID, or SID mean on a prescription?

SID or QD means once daily, BID means twice daily, TID means three times daily, and QID means four times daily. EOD means every other day. Try to space doses evenly unless your vet gives different instructions.

How do I give my cat a pill?

Prepare the pill, a treat, and water first. You can use a pill pocket, a pill popper, or a towel wrap if needed. Place the pill behind the tongue, close the mouth briefly, and follow with water or a treat if allowed.

How do I give my cat liquid medicine?

Use the provided syringe, place the tip into the side of the mouth, give small amounts slowly, and keep the head level. Do not squirt liquid straight down the throat.

Can I give human medications to my cat?

Do not give human medication unless your veterinarian specifically prescribed it for your cat. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, many NSAIDs, and some liquid medications can be dangerous or fatal to cats.