Where to Feel for a Fever in Cats: Quick Guide

Cat's Heat Dissipation Area and Grooming Inspection

It's important to understand that cats do not dissipate heat through their fur and skin surface. Instead, they primarily cool down through their paw pads and nose. Therefore, if you notice your cat showing signs of fever, it's a good idea to gently touch its nose and paw pads. If the cat's nose feels dry and warm, and its paw pads are moist and warm, these could be indicators that your pet might be running a fever. Additionally, you can check the temperature of your cat's ears and the tip of its tail. When a cat's body is heated up, these areas tend to be particularly warm, which can also serve as a reasonable basis for suspecting a fever.

Inspection of Other Parts of the Cat's Body

Use your fingers to gently press on different areas of your cat's body to look for signs of fractures, swollen lymph nodes, abscesses, wounds with infections, or tumors. These conditions can all lead to fever in cats. While it may be challenging to determine a fracture, you can look for swelling or bruising at the site of potential injury. If your cat reacts to the pressure with pain, it might indicate a fracture. Also, check the lymph nodes under the chin and around the shoulders, as well as for swelling behind the legs or in the inguinal area.

While a physical touch can serve as a preliminary indicator of fever in cats, a definitive diagnosis requires a temperature reading. To accurately assess whether your cat has a fever, it's crucial to know what temperature constitutes a fever in cats.