Easy Ways to Check if Your Cat Has a Fever

Oh, the great responsibility of ensuring our feline companion's health falls on the shoulders of the cat parent! Today, let's delve into some basic athome health checks you can perform for your kitty, to keep a vigilant eye on their wellbeing.

How to Determine If Your Cat Has a Fever

It's important to know that the normal body temperature for kittens, typically those from birth to 3 months old, ranges from 38.5 to 39.5 degrees Celsius, while adult cats have a normal temperature of 38.0 to 39.0 degrees Celsius. In summary, kittens tend to have slightly higher temperatures than adult cats.

When your cat is running a fever, they often prefer to stay in cool, damp areas and may appear listless. At this point, the cat parent can gently touch their cat's ears. If they feel warm, it's a strong indication of a fever.

However, some cats may not exhibit a warm ear even when they have a fever. In such cases, to get a more accurate reading, you may need to use a mercury thermometer to measure their rectal temperature. Before inserting the thermometer, apply a small amount of Vaseline to the tip. Gently insert it about 5 centimeters into your cat's rectum, being careful not to force it in too hard or to rotate it too much, as this could injure the intestinal wall.

It's not uncommon for cats to be quite resistant to having their temperature taken this way. If your cat is uncooperative, it's best not to force it, as this could lead to stress and a false elevation in temperature. Instead, you can measure the temperature on the inner thigh, though this method is less accurate than rectal temperature measurement, it still provides some valuable information.

Conditions that can cause a fever include severe internal inflammation or infection, blood parasites, feline AIDS, feline infectious peritonitis, heatstroke, and pyometra, among others.

Emergency Measures for a Coughing Cat

1. First and foremost, move your cat to a wellventilated, cool, and shaded area.

2. You can use alcohol to wipe down your cat's paw pads, as their cooling mechanism relies on these areas. If alcohol isn't available, a damp cloth can be used instead, but be gentle, as your cat's paw pads are quite delicate.

3. Dampen a towel with cold water, wring it out, and place it on your cat's body. Repeat this process to help cool them down physically.

4. While cooling your cat, continue to monitor their temperature. Be cautious not to let them become too cold! Remember, while these measures can address the symptoms, a thorough examination by a veterinarian is necessary to identify the underlying cause and provide proper treatment for your cat's recovery.