There are not many antibiotics that are specifically made for cats, so many times a vet will have to use a human antibiotic, but at a greatly reduced dosage. According to the University of California in Davis, the cat needs to be diagnosed with an infection before given any medication. Otherwise, the side effects may be worse than the initial infection.
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Types
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"Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" lists 17 separate feline antibiotics. These can be broken down into two types--those that kill bacteria (bacteriostatic) and those that kill fungi (fungistatic).
Time Frame
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Unless the cat develops symptoms of an allergy or bad side effect, it needs to stay on the antibiotic for at least 48 hours.
Allergies
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Individual cats, like individual people, can be allergic to an antibiotic. "Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook" lists allergic reactions as itchy skin, watering eyes, problems breathing and collapse.
Considerations
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According to UC Davis, cats should only be given antibiotics when the infection is in a specific area of the cat. A generalized infection means the cats will be more likely to suffer from severe side effects.
Active Ingredients
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Some common cat safe antibiotics are tetracycline, penicillin G, neomycin, gentamycin, chloramphenical, griseofulvin and the brand name Clavamox, a combination drug.
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