A peripheral catheter having a catheter tip diffuser for reducing an exit velocity of an infusant within the catheter. Pluralities of diffusion side holes are provided on the tip portion of the catheter. Some examples further include pluralities of annularly arranged, staggered diffusion holes provided on the tip portion of an intravenous catheter to streamline infusant issued from the diffusion holes. An inner surface of each diffusion hole is further angled relative to the inner surface of the catheter lumen such that an infusant within the lumen exits the catheter though the diffusion holes at an angle less than 90°.