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Antibiotic Treatments for Cats & Kittens
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Michael Dym, V.M.D.
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Infection in your cat's body can be caused by several types of microorganisms. These include bacterium,
viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Your veterinarian will determine the kind of antibiotic medication used to treat
your cat after diagnosing the infection and understanding which type of organism is the culprit.
The antibiotic used to treat your cat will depend on how the medication works in your cat's body. Your
veterinarian will also discuss potential side effects you should look out for. If you accidentally skip a dose of
antibiotics, give the missed dose as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next regularly
scheduled dose. Do not give your cat two doses unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian.
Bacterial infections
Bacterium can attack your cat's body through open wounds, in something your cat ingests, or just by being
present in your cat's environment. They come in different shapes and sizes, and the physical characteristics
will help your veterinarian determine which bacteria are infecting your cat. These microscopic, one-celled
organisms cause gastroenteritis, pneumonia, skin infections, urinary tract problems, and many other
diseases. If not treated immediately with antibiotics, the bacterium can multiply.
How do antibacterials work?
The goal of anti-bacterial antibiotics is to destroy the bad cells in your cat without damaging the healthy cells.
Depending on the medication, an antibiotic may prevent the bacterium from building cell walls, thereby
inhibiting reproduction. An antibiotic can also starve the bacterium by preventing it from transforming glucose
into energy, which is a major function of all living cells.
Common anti-bacterial medications for cats include:
Enrofloxacin (Baytril) - respiratory, skin, and urinary tract infections
Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid (Clavamox) - wounds, respiratory infections, skin infections
Metronidazole (Flagyl) - gastrointestinal upsets, periodontal disease
Clindamycin (Antirobe) - bacterial, soft tissue, bone, and dental infections
Baytril Taste Tabs
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Clavamox
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Metronidazole
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$0.32
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Clindamycin
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Antirobe
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Viral Infections
Viruses are responsible for feline herpes and the feline calici virus, as well as several other diseases that can
sicken your cat. These parasites are so small they are estimated to be one-hundredth the size of the
average bacterium and can multiply only inside the living cells of other organisms.
How do anti-virals work?
Anti-viral drugs cannot kill the virus, but they work by stopping the virus from growing and reproducing,
thereby letting the virus die on its own. There are no commonly used anti-viral drugs in veterinary medicine,
but most veterinarians opt to treat all of the potential secondary bacterial infections that can occur in order to
decrease your cat's discomfort while the virus leaves the system.
Some anti-viral medications for cats include:
Pradofloxacin (Veraflox) - upper respiratory infections
Cephalexin (Keflex) - skin, urinary tract, and respiratory infections
Ampicillin - gastrointestinal issues
Cephalexin
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Fungal infections
Fungi are microscopic organisms related to yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. They live by ingesting the
building materials of your cat's cells, destroying growth tissue, and feeding on the waste materials of dying
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cells. If your cat has ringworm, skin, or ear yeast infections, or the more serious and deadly blastomycosis,
then a fungus is to blame.
How do anti-fungals work?
The majority of anti-fungal antibiotics for cats work to destroy the fungi's cell walls, which causes the parasite
to die and the surrounding tissue to rejuvenate.
Common anti-fungal antibiotics for cats include:
Griseofulvin (Fulvicin) - ringworm infections
Ketoconazole (Nizoral) - internal and external fungal infections, Cushing's disease
Fluconazole (Diflucan) - skin, yeast, and ringworm infections
Amphotericin B (Fungizone) - histoplasmosis and blastomycosis infections
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Fluconazole
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Protozoal infections
Protozoa are micro-organisms that feed on the nutrients in your cat's body through the food produced by
your cat's digestive system. Protozoa are covered in hair-like structures called "cilia," and constantly move
around your cat's cellular structures to reproduce by feasting on as many nutrients as possible. These
parasites cause major gastrointestinal tract disorders like Coccidiosis and Giardiasis, and the blood disease
Haemobartonellosis, which can be fatal.
How do anti-protozoals work?
Some anti-protozoal antibiotics for cats work to kill the microorganisms in your cat's body by damaging its
DNA, and by inhibiting cell growth and reproduction so that the infection goes away as the protozoa die off.
Other cat antibiotics kill the protozoa directly.
Common antibiotics used to combat protozoal infection in your cat include:
Metronidazole (Flagyl)
Ampicillin
Metronidazole
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Tip
Some antibiotics can be compounded to make them easier to give to your cat.
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