diff --git a/conn.go b/conn.go
index 18e180c67..8cb48684c 100644
--- a/conn.go
+++ b/conn.go
@@ -1410,12 +1410,12 @@ type inflightPrepare struct {
 }
 
 func (c *Conn) prepareStatement(ctx context.Context, stmt string, tracer Tracer, requestTimeout time.Duration) (*preparedStatment, error) {
-	stmtCacheKey := c.session.stmtsLRU.keyFor(c.host.HostID(), c.currentKeyspace, stmt)
-	flight, ok := c.session.stmtsLRU.execIfMissing(stmtCacheKey, func(lru *lru.Cache) *inflightPrepare {
+	cacheKey := c.session.stmtsLRU.keyFor(c.host.HostID(), c.currentKeyspace, stmt)
+	flight, ok := c.session.stmtsLRU.execIfMissing(cacheKey, func(cache *lru.Cache[stmtCacheKey]) *inflightPrepare {
 		flight := &inflightPrepare{
 			done: make(chan struct{}),
 		}
-		lru.Add(stmtCacheKey, flight)
+		cache.Add(cacheKey, flight)
 		return flight
 	})
 
@@ -1436,14 +1436,14 @@ func (c *Conn) prepareStatement(ctx context.Context, stmt string, tracer Tracer,
 			framer, err := c.exec(c.ctx, prep, tracer, requestTimeout)
 			if err != nil {
 				flight.err = err
-				c.session.stmtsLRU.remove(stmtCacheKey)
+				c.session.stmtsLRU.remove(cacheKey)
 				return
 			}
 
 			frame, err := framer.parseFrame()
 			if err != nil {
 				flight.err = err
-				c.session.stmtsLRU.remove(stmtCacheKey)
+				c.session.stmtsLRU.remove(cacheKey)
 				return
 			}
 
@@ -1471,7 +1471,7 @@ func (c *Conn) prepareStatement(ctx context.Context, stmt string, tracer Tracer,
 			}
 
 			if flight.err != nil {
-				c.session.stmtsLRU.remove(stmtCacheKey)
+				c.session.stmtsLRU.remove(cacheKey)
 			}
 		}()
 	}
@@ -1670,8 +1670,8 @@ func (c *Conn) executeQuery(ctx context.Context, qry *Query) (iter *Iter) {
 		// is not consistent with regards to its schema.
 		return iter
 	case *RequestErrUnprepared:
-		stmtCacheKey := c.session.stmtsLRU.keyFor(c.host.HostID(), c.currentKeyspace, qry.stmt)
-		c.session.stmtsLRU.evictPreparedID(stmtCacheKey, x.StatementId)
+		cacheKey := c.session.stmtsLRU.keyFor(c.host.HostID(), c.currentKeyspace, qry.stmt)
+		c.session.stmtsLRU.evictPreparedID(cacheKey, x.StatementId)
 		return c.executeQuery(ctx, qry)
 	case error:
 		return &Iter{err: x, framer: framer}
diff --git a/internal/lru/lru.go b/internal/lru/lru.go
index 899d778c6..6ddd9c721 100644
--- a/internal/lru/lru.go
+++ b/internal/lru/lru.go
@@ -44,50 +44,50 @@ package lru
 
 import "container/list"
 
-// Cache is an LRU cache. It is not safe for concurrent access.
+// Cache is a generic LRU cache. It is not safe for concurrent access.
 //
-// This cache has been forked from github.com/golang/groupcache/lru, but
-// specialized with string keys to avoid the allocations caused by wrapping them
-// in interface{}.
-type Cache struct {
+// This cache has been forked from github.com/golang/groupcache/lru and
+// generalized with a comparable type parameter to avoid the allocations
+// caused by wrapping keys in interface{}.
+type Cache[K comparable] struct {
 	// OnEvicted optionally specifies a callback function to be
 	// executed when an entry is purged from the cache.
-	OnEvicted func(key string, value interface{})
+	OnEvicted func(key K, value interface{})
 	ll        *list.List
-	cache     map[string]*list.Element
+	cache     map[K]*list.Element
 	// MaxEntries is the maximum number of cache entries before
 	// an item is evicted. Zero means no limit.
 	MaxEntries int
 }
 
-type entry struct {
+type entry[K comparable] struct {
 	value interface{}
-	key   string
+	key   K
 }
 
 // New creates a new Cache.
 // If maxEntries is zero, the cache has no limit and it's assumed
 // that eviction is done by the caller.
-func New(maxEntries int) *Cache {
-	return &Cache{
+func New[K comparable](maxEntries int) *Cache[K] {
+	return &Cache[K]{
 		MaxEntries: maxEntries,
 		ll:         list.New(),
-		cache:      make(map[string]*list.Element),
+		cache:      make(map[K]*list.Element),
 	}
 }
 
 // Add adds a value to the cache.
-func (c *Cache) Add(key string, value interface{}) {
+func (c *Cache[K]) Add(key K, value interface{}) {
 	if c.cache == nil {
-		c.cache = make(map[string]*list.Element)
+		c.cache = make(map[K]*list.Element)
 		c.ll = list.New()
 	}
 	if ee, ok := c.cache[key]; ok {
 		c.ll.MoveToFront(ee)
-		ee.Value.(*entry).value = value
+		ee.Value.(*entry[K]).value = value
 		return
 	}
-	ele := c.ll.PushFront(&entry{key: key, value: value})
+	ele := c.ll.PushFront(&entry[K]{key: key, value: value})
 	c.cache[key] = ele
 	if c.MaxEntries != 0 && c.ll.Len() > c.MaxEntries {
 		c.RemoveOldest()
@@ -95,19 +95,19 @@ func (c *Cache) Add(key string, value interface{}) {
 }
 
 // Get looks up a key's value from the cache.
-func (c *Cache) Get(key string) (value interface{}, ok bool) {
+func (c *Cache[K]) Get(key K) (value interface{}, ok bool) {
 	if c.cache == nil {
 		return
 	}
 	if ele, hit := c.cache[key]; hit {
 		c.ll.MoveToFront(ele)
-		return ele.Value.(*entry).value, true
+		return ele.Value.(*entry[K]).value, true
 	}
 	return
 }
 
 // Remove removes the provided key from the cache.
-func (c *Cache) Remove(key string) bool {
+func (c *Cache[K]) Remove(key K) bool {
 	if c.cache == nil {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func (c *Cache) Remove(key string) bool {
 }
 
 // RemoveOldest removes the oldest item from the cache.
-func (c *Cache) RemoveOldest() {
+func (c *Cache[K]) RemoveOldest() {
 	if c.cache == nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -131,9 +131,9 @@ func (c *Cache) RemoveOldest() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (c *Cache) removeElement(e *list.Element) {
+func (c *Cache[K]) removeElement(e *list.Element) {
 	c.ll.Remove(e)
-	kv := e.Value.(*entry)
+	kv := e.Value.(*entry[K])
 	delete(c.cache, kv.key)
 	if c.OnEvicted != nil {
 		c.OnEvicted(kv.key, kv.value)
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ func (c *Cache) removeElement(e *list.Element) {
 }
 
 // Len returns the number of items in the cache.
-func (c *Cache) Len() int {
+func (c *Cache[K]) Len() int {
 	if c.cache == nil {
 		return 0
 	}
diff --git a/internal/lru/lru_test.go b/internal/lru/lru_test.go
index 8fb64f408..10a1daff3 100644
--- a/internal/lru/lru_test.go
+++ b/internal/lru/lru_test.go
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package lru
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 )
 
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ func TestGet(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	for _, tt := range getTests {
-		lru := New(0)
+		lru := New[string](0)
 		lru.Add(tt.keyToAdd, 1234)
 		val, ok := lru.Get(tt.keyToGet)
 		if ok != tt.expectedOk {
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ func TestGet(t *testing.T) {
 func TestRemove(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
-	lru := New(0)
+	lru := New[string](0)
 	lru.Add("mystring", 1234)
 	if val, ok := lru.Get("mystring"); !ok {
 		t.Fatal("TestRemove returned no match")
@@ -91,3 +92,97 @@ func TestRemove(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("TestRemove returned a removed entry")
 	}
 }
+
+// TestStructKey verifies that struct keys work correctly with the generic cache.
+func TestStructKey(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	type compositeKey struct {
+		A string
+		B string
+	}
+
+	c := New[compositeKey](0)
+	k1 := compositeKey{A: "ab", B: "cd"}
+	k2 := compositeKey{A: "a", B: "bcd"}
+
+	c.Add(k1, "value1")
+	c.Add(k2, "value2")
+
+	if val, ok := c.Get(k1); !ok || val != "value1" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected value1 for k1, got %v (ok=%v)", val, ok)
+	}
+	if val, ok := c.Get(k2); !ok || val != "value2" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected value2 for k2, got %v (ok=%v)", val, ok)
+	}
+
+	// Verify that keys with same concatenation but different field boundaries
+	// are distinct (this was a bug with string concatenation keys).
+	if c.Len() != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 2 entries, got %d", c.Len())
+	}
+}
+
+type stmtKey struct {
+	hostID    string
+	keyspace  string
+	statement string
+}
+
+// BenchmarkStructKeyLookup benchmarks the hot path: looking up a struct key
+// in a populated cache.
+func BenchmarkStructKeyLookup(b *testing.B) {
+	c := New[stmtKey](1000)
+	key := stmtKey{
+		hostID:    "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
+		keyspace:  "my_keyspace",
+		statement: "SELECT id, name, email FROM users WHERE id = ?",
+	}
+	c.Add(key, "prepared-id")
+
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		c.Get(key)
+	}
+}
+
+// BenchmarkStringKeyLookup benchmarks the old approach: looking up a
+// concatenated string key in a populated cache.
+func BenchmarkStringKeyLookup(b *testing.B) {
+	c := New[string](1000)
+	key := "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000" + "my_keyspace" + "SELECT id, name, email FROM users WHERE id = ?"
+	c.Add(key, "prepared-id")
+
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		c.Get(key)
+	}
+}
+
+// BenchmarkStructKeyInsert benchmarks inserting entries with struct keys,
+// including eviction when the cache is full.
+func BenchmarkStructKeyInsert(b *testing.B) {
+	c := New[stmtKey](1000)
+
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		k := stmtKey{
+			hostID:    "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
+			keyspace:  "my_keyspace",
+			statement: fmt.Sprintf("SELECT id FROM users WHERE id = %d", i),
+		}
+		c.Add(k, "prepared-id")
+	}
+}
+
+// BenchmarkStringKeyInsert benchmarks inserting entries with concatenated
+// string keys, including the per-query allocation cost of key construction.
+func BenchmarkStringKeyInsert(b *testing.B) {
+	c := New[string](1000)
+
+	b.ReportAllocs()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		k := fmt.Sprintf("%s%s%s", "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000", "my_keyspace", fmt.Sprintf("SELECT id FROM users WHERE id = %d", i))
+		c.Add(k, "prepared-id")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/prepared_cache.go b/prepared_cache.go
index d63000dd8..95d3de013 100644
--- a/prepared_cache.go
+++ b/prepared_cache.go
@@ -33,9 +33,20 @@ import (
 
 const defaultMaxPreparedStmts = 1000
 
+// stmtCacheKey is a composite key for the prepared statement cache.
+// Using a struct avoids the string concatenation allocation that occurred
+// on every query and fixes the theoretical key collision bug where
+// different (hostID, keyspace, statement) tuples could produce the same
+// concatenated string.
+type stmtCacheKey struct {
+	hostID    string
+	keyspace  string
+	statement string
+}
+
 // preparedLRU is the prepared statement cache
 type preparedLRU struct {
-	lru *lru.Cache
+	lru *lru.Cache[stmtCacheKey]
 	mu  sync.Mutex
 }
 
@@ -48,19 +59,19 @@ func (p *preparedLRU) clear() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (p *preparedLRU) add(key string, val *inflightPrepare) {
+func (p *preparedLRU) add(key stmtCacheKey, val *inflightPrepare) {
 	p.mu.Lock()
 	defer p.mu.Unlock()
 	p.lru.Add(key, val)
 }
 
-func (p *preparedLRU) remove(key string) bool {
+func (p *preparedLRU) remove(key stmtCacheKey) bool {
 	p.mu.Lock()
 	defer p.mu.Unlock()
 	return p.lru.Remove(key)
 }
 
-func (p *preparedLRU) execIfMissing(key string, fn func(lru *lru.Cache) *inflightPrepare) (*inflightPrepare, bool) {
+func (p *preparedLRU) execIfMissing(key stmtCacheKey, fn func(cache *lru.Cache[stmtCacheKey]) *inflightPrepare) (*inflightPrepare, bool) {
 	p.mu.Lock()
 	defer p.mu.Unlock()
 
@@ -72,12 +83,18 @@ func (p *preparedLRU) execIfMissing(key string, fn func(lru *lru.Cache) *infligh
 	return fn(p.lru), false
 }
 
-func (p *preparedLRU) keyFor(hostID, keyspace, statement string) string {
-	// TODO: we should just use a struct for the key in the map
-	return hostID + keyspace + statement
+// keyFor constructs a zero-allocation composite cache key from the given
+// components. The returned struct references the original strings without
+// copying, so no heap allocation occurs.
+func (p *preparedLRU) keyFor(hostID, keyspace, statement string) stmtCacheKey {
+	return stmtCacheKey{
+		hostID:    hostID,
+		keyspace:  keyspace,
+		statement: statement,
+	}
 }
 
-func (p *preparedLRU) evictPreparedID(key string, id []byte) {
+func (p *preparedLRU) evictPreparedID(key stmtCacheKey, id []byte) {
 	p.mu.Lock()
 	defer p.mu.Unlock()
 
@@ -98,5 +115,4 @@ func (p *preparedLRU) evictPreparedID(key string, id []byte) {
 		}
 	default:
 	}
-
 }
diff --git a/session.go b/session.go
index 878f744ec..b26195c8d 100644
--- a/session.go
+++ b/session.go
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func newSessionCommon(cfg ClusterConfig) (*Session, error) {
 		prefetch:          0.25,
 		cfg:               cfg,
 		pageSize:          cfg.PageSize,
-		stmtsLRU:          &preparedLRU{lru: lru.New(cfg.MaxPreparedStmts)},
+		stmtsLRU:          &preparedLRU{lru: lru.New[stmtCacheKey](cfg.MaxPreparedStmts)},
 		connectObserver:   cfg.ConnectObserver,
 		ctx:               ctx,
 		cancel:            cancel,
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ func newSessionCommon(cfg ClusterConfig) (*Session, error) {
 	s.nodeEvents = newEventDebouncer("NodeEvents", s.handleNodeEvent, s.logger)
 	s.schemaEvents = newEventDebouncer("SchemaEvents", s.handleSchemaEvent, s.logger)
 
-	s.routingKeyInfoCache.lru = lru.New(cfg.MaxRoutingKeyInfo)
+	s.routingKeyInfoCache.lru = lru.New[string](cfg.MaxRoutingKeyInfo)
 
 	s.hostSource = &ringDescriber{cfg: &s.cfg, logger: s.logger}
 	s.ringRefresher = debounce.NewRefreshDebouncer(debounce.RingRefreshDebounceTime, func() error {
@@ -2505,7 +2505,7 @@ func (c ColumnInfo) String() string {
 
 // routing key indexes LRU cache
 type routingKeyInfoLRU struct {
-	lru *lru.Cache
+	lru *lru.Cache[string]
 	mu  sync.Mutex
 }