Cat Metacam Dosage Calculator | Meloxicam Dosing Tool
Calculate the correct Metacam (meloxicam) dosage for a cat by weight. Get the dose in mg and the volume in ml for the 0.5 mg/ml feline oral suspension.
Cat Metacam Dosage Calculator
Once-daily maintenance dose from day 2 onward: 0.05 mg meloxicam per kg, every 24 hours.
Documentation
What is the Cat Metacam Dosage Calculator
The Cat Metacam Dosage Calculator works out how much Metacam (meloxicam) to give a cat, based on the cat's body weight. Metacam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, used to treat pain and swelling in cats. A veterinarian prescribes it for a few days after surgery or for a short course against acute muscle and joint pain. The calculator turns a weight into a dose in milligrams and a volume in millilitres of the liquid form of the drug.
What is Metacam for cats
Meloxicam blocks an enzyme called cyclooxygenase. That enzyme makes prostaglandins, substances that cause pain and inflammation. By blocking the enzyme, meloxicam reduces pain and swelling. The Canadian label for the feline suspension approves it for pain and inflammation after surgery, such as spaying or neutering, and for acute, mild to moderate muscle and joint disorders in cats. Longer use for chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis is outside that label and is a decision for the prescribing veterinarian.
Metacam for cats comes as a liquid called an oral suspension. The feline product has a strength of 0.5 mg of meloxicam per millilitre, written as 0.5 mg/ml. A separate Metacam product is made for dogs, at a strength of 1.5 mg/ml. The dog product's label warns against giving it to cats: it can cause acute kidney failure and death. Only the 0.5 mg/ml feline suspension is safe for a cat. Always check the concentration printed on the bottle before drawing up a dose.
Metacam is a prescription medicine. A cat should take it only under veterinary supervision.
How to calculate Metacam dosage for cats
Dosing for cats has two stages, each with its own rate of medicine per kilogram of body weight.
- Day 1, the loading dose: 0.1 mg of meloxicam per kg, given once.
- Day 2 onward, the maintenance dose: 0.05 mg of meloxicam per kg, given once every 24 hours.
Both stages use the same 0.5 mg/ml feline suspension. Only the mg-per-kg rate changes between the loading and maintenance stages. The concentration of the liquid does not change.
The label limits the maintenance stage for acute muscle and joint disorders to up to four days, and to up to two days when the suspension follows a Metacam injection given at surgery. It also tells users to give the lowest dose that works for the shortest time. In the United States, the FDA label for Metacam carries a boxed warning that repeated use of meloxicam in cats has been associated with acute kidney failure and death, and that no additional injectable or oral meloxicam should be given to a cat. A treatment course longer than the label allows needs a veterinarian's explicit instruction.
Metacam dosage formula
First, find the dose in milligrams:
Dose (mg) = weight (kg) × rate (mg/kg)
Then convert that dose to a volume of liquid:
Volume (ml) = Dose (mg) ÷ 0.5 mg/ml
A weight given in pounds must first be converted to kilograms:
Weight (kg) = weight (lb) × 0.453592
Example calculation
A 4 kg cat starts maintenance treatment on day 2.
Dose = 4 kg × 0.05 mg/kg = 0.2 mg Volume = 0.2 mg ÷ 0.5 mg/ml = 0.4 ml
The day before, on day 1, the same cat would have received the loading dose instead:
Dose = 4 kg × 0.1 mg/kg = 0.4 mg Volume = 0.4 mg ÷ 0.5 mg/ml = 0.8 ml
The table below shows the maintenance dose for a few sample weights.
| Weight | Dose | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | 0.15 mg | 0.3 ml |
| 4.5 kg | 0.23 mg | 0.45 ml |
| 7 kg | 0.35 mg | 0.7 ml |
| 12 lb (5.44 kg) | 0.27 mg | 0.54 ml |
The calculator covers typical domestic cat weights, up to 15 kg (about 33 lb). For a heavier cat, ask a veterinarian for a dose.
How to use the calculator
- Enter the cat's weight.
- Choose the weight unit, kg or lb.
- Choose the treatment day: Day 1 (loading) or Day 2 onward (maintenance).
- Read the dose in milligrams and the volume in millilitres.
- Copy the result if needed.
A small syringe graphic fills to match the calculated volume, as a visual check on the number.
Giving Metacam to a cat
Metacam bottles come with a marked oral syringe. Measure each dose with that syringe, or with the bottle's drop dispenser as the label directs. The medicine can be mixed with food or given directly into the mouth. Place the syringe between the cheek and the gums rather than pointing it down the throat, and dispense the liquid slowly so the cat has time to swallow. Shake the bottle before drawing up each dose.
Side effects to watch for
Signs of a problem include a lower appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and unusual tiredness. Black or tar-coloured stools can mean bleeding in the gut. Yellowing of the gums or eyes can mean a liver problem. Report any of these signs to a veterinarian without delay. The label says the suspension should not be given to cats with signs of kidney, heart or liver disease, or of stomach or gut bleeding, and that it should be avoided in dehydrated cats because of the higher risk of kidney damage. It should not be combined with other NSAIDs or with steroids.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard Metacam dose for cats?
0.1 mg per kg for the single loading dose on day 1, then 0.05 mg per kg once a day from day 2 onward, for up to four more days under the Canadian label. Both doses use the 0.5 mg/ml feline oral suspension.
Can I use the dog version of Metacam (1.5 mg/ml) for my cat?
No. The dog product is three times as strong as the feline one. Giving it to a cat, or using its concentration in the dosing formula, produces the wrong volume and risks acute kidney failure. Cats need the 0.5 mg/ml feline oral suspension only.
How do I convert my cat's weight from pounds to kilograms?
Multiply the weight in pounds by 0.453592. A 10 lb cat weighs about 4.54 kg.
Can kittens take Metacam?
Very young kittens are not usually given Metacam. Ask a veterinarian for age-appropriate pain relief.
Is Metacam the same as ibuprofen?
No. Both are NSAIDs, but ibuprofen is toxic to cats and should never be given to them.
What should I do if a cat is given too much Metacam?
Call a veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away. Signs of an overdose can include vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, reduced appetite, and increased thirst or urination.
About this calculator
This calculator applies a standard weight-based formula. It does not replace a veterinarian's judgment. A veterinarian may set a different dose based on a cat's health, kidney function, or other medication. A prescription and its instructions always take priority over any calculator result.
References
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Canada, via Health Canada Drug Product Database. Metacam (meloxicam) Oral Suspension for Cats, package insert. Metacam Oral Suspension for Cats label — 0.5 mg/mL strength; 0.1 mg/kg single dose on day 1, then 0.05 mg/kg once daily at 24-hour intervals for up to four days (acute musculoskeletal disorders) or up to two days (after surgery); indications, contraindications and "shake well before use".
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed. Metacam (meloxicam oral suspension) 1.5 mg/mL for dogs. Metacam 1.5 mg/mL label — "Do not use METACAM Oral Suspension in cats"; boxed warning that repeated use of meloxicam in cats has been associated with acute renal failure and death, and that no additional injectable or oral meloxicam should be given to cats.