Antibiotic (Tetracycline) · For Cats

Vibramycin dosage reference for cats (Doxycycline)

This page's standard weight-based reference is 5 mg per kg (2.27 mg per lb), with every 12-24 hours recorded as the reference frequency. Use the calculator to see the arithmetic for your cat's weight, then confirm the indication, product, and actual dose with a veterinarian.

Onset: 1-2 hours
Duration: 12-24 hours
Class: Antibiotic (Tetracycline)

Weight-based calculator estimate from the references listed on this page. This page has not been independently DVM-reviewed — see our methodology .

This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult your veterinarian before giving medication to your pet. Do not use this calculator for emergencies, overdoses, pregnancy, very young animals, very old animals, pets with liver/kidney disease, or pets taking multiple medications.

Each medication page lists the references recorded for its data. The calculator math and editorial presentation are maintained by PetDosageChart; a page is independently DVM-reviewed only when a named reviewer byline appears. See our methodology and limitations.

Doxycycline (often known by brand names such as Vibramycin) is an antibiotic (tetracycline) commonly used in veterinary medicine for upper respiratory infections, Mycoplasma, Chlamydophila, Bartonella, and tick-borne diseases. Understanding the correct dosage, administration, and potential side effects of Doxycycline is critical for your cat’s safety and well-being.

A typical Doxycycline dose for cats is around 5 mg/kg every 12-24 hours, within a usual range of 5-10 mg/kg. Available forms include tablet, capsule, and liquid.

Calculator Warning: Use this only as an educational estimate. Your veterinarian may prescribe a different dose based on your pet’s condition, age, weight, other medications, and medical history.

Doxycycline Dosage Calculator for Cats

Enter your cat’s weight below to estimate the Doxycycline dose from the 5 mg/kg guideline. Your veterinarian may adjust it for your cat’s age, condition, and other medications, so treat the result as an educational starting point, not a prescription.

Dosage Calculator · 01

Enter your cat's weight

Quick Dosage Chart

Typical Doxycycline amounts for common cat weights, for quick reference:

Dosage Chart · 02

Vibramycin weight-based reference chart for cats

Scroll sideways to see full table

Weight	Lower Reference	Standard Reference	Upper Reference	Frequency
3 lbs (1.4 kg)	7.0 mg	7.0 mg	14.0 mg	every 12-24 hours
4 lbs (1.8 kg)	9.0 mg	9.0 mg	18.0 mg	every 12-24 hours
5 lbs (2.3 kg)	11.5 mg	11.5 mg	23.0 mg (25mg tablet)	every 12-24 hours
6 lbs (2.7 kg)	13.5 mg	13.5 mg	27.0 mg (25mg tablet)	every 12-24 hours
7 lbs (3.2 kg)	16.0 mg	16.0 mg	32.0 mg	every 12-24 hours
8 lbs (3.6 kg)	18.0 mg	18.0 mg	36.0 mg	every 12-24 hours
9 lbs (4.1 kg)	20.5 mg (25mg tablet)	20.5 mg (25mg tablet)	41.0 mg	every 12-24 hours
10 lbs (4.5 kg)	22.5 mg (25mg tablet)	22.5 mg (25mg tablet)	45.0 mg (2 × 25mg)	every 12-24 hours
12 lbs (5.4 kg)	27.0 mg (25mg tablet)	27.0 mg (25mg tablet)	54.0 mg (2 × 25mg)	every 12-24 hours
14 lbs (6.3 kg)	31.5 mg	31.5 mg	63.0 mg	every 12-24 hours
16 lbs (7.3 kg)	36.5 mg	36.5 mg	73.0 mg (3 × 25mg)	every 12-24 hours
18 lbs (8.2 kg)	41.0 mg	41.0 mg	82.0 mg	every 12-24 hours
20 lbs (9.1 kg)	45.5 mg (2 × 25mg)	45.5 mg (2 × 25mg)	91.0 mg	every 12-24 hours
25 lbs (11.3 kg)	56.5 mg	56.5 mg	113.0 mg	every 12-24 hours

Parenthetical tablet amounts are arithmetic comparisons only. They do not account for scoring, release type, concentration, product labeling, or whether this medication is appropriate for an individual animal.

By Weight

Vibramycin reference by cat weight

Choose a common weight to open its optional reference page. Use the main medication calculator for a different exact weight.

Common-weight pages are convenience views of the same educational reference, not separate medical recommendations.

Embed this calculator on your site

Get a free Doxycycline dosage widget

Get embed code

Free forever. Works in any blog post or article. Adds a small "Powered by petdosagechart.com" credit at the bottom.

Width Theme

How to Give Doxycycline to Your Cat

CRITICAL: Never dry-pill doxycycline to cats. Doxycycline tablets can lodge in the esophagus and cause severe esophageal strictures (narrowing) that require surgery. ALWAYS follow doxycycline with at least 6 ml of water by syringe or give with a large amount of wet food. A liquid compounded formulation is the safest option for cats.

It is generally recommended to give Doxycycline with food to help reduce stomach upset. It may interact with antacids, iron supplements, calcium supplements, sucralfate, and dairy products.

Side Effects and Safety

Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, and esophageal irritation. More serious side effects can occur, such as esophageal stricture, severe esophagitis, liver toxicity, and tooth discoloration (kittens).

Cautions · 12

When Vibramycin should be used with caution or avoided

Some cats should not take Vibramycin, or need a different dose and closer monitoring. Tell your veterinarian about your pet's full health history and every other medication or supplement they take before giving Vibramycin.

kittens under 6 months
pregnancy
known tetracycline allergy
severe liver disease

Interactions · 13

Vibramycin drug interactions

Vibramycin can interact with other drugs. This list is not complete — always give your veterinarian a full list of your cat's medications and supplements.

antacids

iron supplements

calcium supplements

sucralfate

dairy products

Calculator Limits · 14

When not to use this calculator

This calculator gives a general educational estimate for a healthy adult cat at a known weight. Do not rely on it in these situations — talk to your veterinarian instead:

In an emergency, or after accidental ingestion or a suspected overdose
For pregnant or nursing pets
For very young or very old cats
For pets with liver disease, kidney disease, or another chronic illness
For pets taking several medications at once
When you are not sure of your cat's current, accurate weight
For combination products that contain additional active ingredients

Overdose · 15

Suspected overdose: what to do

If you think your cat had too much Vibramycin, or swallowed any medication by accident, act right away. Do not wait for symptoms to appear.

Call your veterinarian or the nearest emergency animal hospital.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661

A consultation fee may apply to the poison hotlines. Have the medication packaging ready, and note how much your pet may have taken and when. Do not try to make your pet vomit unless a veterinarian tells you to.

When to Call the Vet

If your cat experiences any of the following, contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic immediately:

Difficulty swallowing, gagging, or excessive drooling (may indicate esophageal damage)
Refusal to eat (may indicate esophageal pain)
Vomiting after every dose
No improvement after 3-5 days
Regurgitation of food

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked · 07

Questions about this medication

Is doxycycline safe for cats?

Doxycycline is safe and commonly prescribed for cats, BUT it must be given correctly. The critical safety rule is to NEVER give doxycycline as a dry pill — always follow with water (6+ ml) or give with wet food. Dry-pilling can cause esophageal strictures, a serious condition requiring surgery.

Why is doxycycline dangerous to dry-pill in cats?

Doxycycline is highly acidic and can cause severe chemical burns to the esophageal lining if it lodges there. Cats have a relatively narrow esophagus, and pills can easily get stuck. The resulting esophageal stricture can make it permanently difficult for the cat to swallow food.

How much doxycycline do I give my cat?

The standard dose is 5 mg per kilogram of body weight, given once or twice daily. For an average 10 lb (4.5 kg) cat, this is approximately 22-25 mg per dose. Ask your vet about compounded liquid formulations for easier and safer administration.

What does doxycycline treat in cats?

Doxycycline is the first-line treatment for many feline infections including Mycoplasma (a common cause of upper respiratory infections), Chlamydophila (causing conjunctivitis), Bartonella (cat scratch disease), and tick-borne diseases. It is also used for some skin and urinary tract infections.

Use This Guide Safely · 08

What weight alone cannot tell you

The calculator performs one narrow job: it multiplies your cat's weight by the lower, standard, and upper mg/kg values recorded for Vibramycin. It cannot decide whether this drug, indication, formulation, or schedule is appropriate for an individual animal.

Context in this medication record

Commonly listed uses: upper respiratory infections, Mycoplasma, Chlamydophila, Bartonella, tick-borne diseases
Recorded forms: tablet, capsule, liquid
Reference timing: every 12-24 hours; onset 1-2 hours; duration 12-24 hours

Individual checks a calculator cannot perform

Confirm the diagnosis and the reason this medication is being considered.
Match the exact product, concentration, route, and whether a tablet may be split.
Account for age, pregnancy, organ function, genetics, allergies, and prior reactions.
Review every prescription, over-the-counter product, and supplement your pet takes.

Recorded cautions

kittens under 6 months; pregnancy; known tetracycline allergy; severe liver disease.

Recorded interactions

antacids; iron supplements; calcium supplements; sucralfate; dairy products.

These lists reproduce the structured record used by this page and may not be exhaustive. Show your veterinarian the product label and your cat's complete medication list before acting on a number.

Related · 08

Related medications for cats

Sources · 09

Sources & references

The structured medication record behind this page names the references below. The links open the publisher or official resource; they do not turn this page into a prescription for an individual animal.

Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook — listed in this medication's source record.
Merck Veterinary Manual — listed in this medication's source record.
DailyMed label search for Doxycycline — check current product and formulation labels; some veterinary uses may be off-label.

Source names are shown at the record level; passage-level page and label citations are still being added. Read our methodology and limitations.

Transparency · 11

How this page was made

This page's structured medication record includes Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook among its source names. PetDosageChart applies the record's mg/kg values to the entered weight and presents the arithmetic result. A source record is not the same as an individualized prescription or an independent clinical review.

Sources cited: Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
Merck Veterinary Manual
Calculator formula: Doses scale linearly from a standard basis of 5 mg per kg (2.27 mg per lb) of body weight, given every 12-24 hours. The calculator multiplies that basis by your cat's weight and shows an arithmetic comparison with recorded tablet sizes. That comparison does not determine whether a tablet is scored, splittable, or appropriate for your pet.
Editorial owner: Prepared and maintained by the PetDosageChart editorial team, a software-led publisher and not a veterinary practice.
DVM review status: Not independently DVM-reviewed. A named reviewer and review date appear here only after a confirmed review.

More on our methodology and editorial process — how we source, calculate, and review cats dosage data.

Safety · 10

More resources

Pet Medication Safety Hub — What's safe, what's dangerous, and emergency signs
How we calculate dosages — Our sources, math, and review process
Printable emergency checklist — One-page reference for your fridge or first aid kit