What to do if your cat has a fever?

What to do if a cat has a temperature above normal - this question worries many people if their pet is sick. The temperature of healthy cats is significantly higher than that of humans. However, its increase signals a disease or disorder in the body.

If nothing is done, the cat may die; it is necessary to provide him with timely assistance. To do this, it is worth knowing what tablets should be given to your pet and how to alleviate his condition.

Normal indicators

If a person's temperature is considered normal at 35.9 to 37.2 °C, then in a cat they are always higher - 38-39 degrees. There is an opinion that the normal temperature for representatives of hairless breeds is 42 °C.

In fact, for sphinxes it is the same as for long-haired cats. It's just that your pet's skin always feels hot when touched. It is not surprising, because there is no fur on it.

A slight increase in temperature in cats is always observed during the hot season. Indicators may vary throughout the day. So, during sleep and in the morning after waking up they are lower, but after physical activity, eating and in the late afternoon, on the contrary, they are increased. There's nothing wrong with that.

A temperature jump of 1 degree upward during estrus, pregnancy, childbirth, and also after sterilization or vaccination should not cause concern.

It should be noted that in kittens the mechanism of thermoregulation is formed gradually. In newborns, the readings are considered normal: 35.5 to 36.5 ℃; in babies 1-2 months old, they range from 38.5 to 39.5 degrees. Once the kittens reach 7 months of age, the indicators stabilize.

Additional symptoms

Fever in pets is often accompanied by apathy, lack of activity and decreased appetite. The animal may even refuse water and spend most of its time lying on its side. At the same time, the cat often hides from its owner in a secluded place where no one will disturb it:

• If your pet additionally has diarrhea and vomiting, this may indicate food poisoning or acute gastrointestinal diseases: ulcers, pancreatitis and liver damage. In this case, tachycardia may also occur, the animal’s fur loses its shine and falls off.

  
  When the temperature rises, the pet often experiences apathy and lack of appetite.

• If the pet does not allow you to touch its belly and reacts to any attempt with a plaintive meow or aggression, then this behavior indicates pathologies of the abdominal cavity.
• When the temperature rises, you need to examine your pet’s skin. In the presence of sores, wounds and rashes, tick-borne encephalitis, lichen or severe allergic reactions can be suspected.

Causes of hyperthermia in cats

An increase in body temperature in a pet can be caused by a variety of reasons. The most common of them is ordinary overheating. If the cat has been in the sun or in a stuffy room for a long time, the readings can jump up to 41 degrees.

To stabilize the temperature, it is enough to place the animal in a cool room and give it water to drink. As a rule, after a couple of hours thermoregulation returns to normal.

Temperature can also rise significantly due to stress. Cats are emotional, and the appearance of another pet in the house, moving to a new place of residence, changing or losing an owner, even a banal trip by car to the veterinary clinic causes them great anxiety.

The animal's condition will stabilize as soon as it feels that it is not in danger and its loving owner is still nearby.

Hyperthermia can be triggered by infections. In such cases, the pet experiences symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, urinary retention, lack of appetite, and weight loss. Infectious diseases are very dangerous and require immediate attention to a veterinarian.

If a cat's fever is accompanied by sneezing, mucous discharge from the nose, and lacrimation, we are most likely talking about infection of the body with a virus. In such cases, it is also necessary to visit a veterinary hospital.

A high temperature can be caused by an inflammatory process occurring in the body, such as mastitis. There are often cases when impaired thermoregulation is a sign of cancer.

How to determine malaise?

The first signs of illness:

• Digestion is disturbed, there is a lack of appetite and vomiting;
• temperature rises;
• pulse and breathing increase;
• the animal becomes lethargic, inactive and sleeps a lot;
• The cat also has difficulty urinating and goes to the toilet frequently.

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If these symptoms occur, it is recommended to take your cat to the veterinarian for examination and treatment. Often, owners may mistakenly mistake the onset of a serious illness for ordinary overheating.

To be sure that a cat has a normal body temperature, you should not rely only on general external signs. It is best to measure this indicator using appropriate devices. To do this, you can use a veterinary or medical thermometer. Any owner must be able to properly handle the device to most accurately determine temperature readings .

The end is lubricated with Vaseline or vegetable oil, then carefully inserted into the rectum, no deeper than 1.5 cm. The thermometer is held for about 5 minutes. Many owners prefer electronic thermometers, which need to be held for no more than a couple of seconds.

How to measure a cat's temperature correctly

The four-legged pet's temperature should be measured rectally with a thermometer. There is no point in measuring under the foot, as the result will be incorrect.

Many owners prefer to use an electronic thermometer as it is the safest. A regular mercury thermometer will also work, but it is very fragile and therefore unsafe. Therefore, it is advisable for cat lovers without experience to resort to the first option.

It is rare that a cat will not resist when trying to measure its temperature, so it is advisable to carry out the procedure, which is painless but slightly unpleasant, together. One person will hold the animal, the second will perform the manipulation.

Measuring a cat's temperature:

1. Place your pet on a hard, horizontal surface, tummy down.
2. Lubricate the tip of the thermometer with Vaseline oil.
3. Lift the cat's tail, carefully, twisting, insert the thermometer into the anus about 1 cm (for kittens - 0.5 cm).
4. For accurate measurements, hold the thermometer for at least 5 minutes, regardless of whether it is mercury or electronic.
5. After the procedure, wipe the thermometer with alcohol.

You can take your cat's temperature with an infrared ear thermometer. The procedure is absolutely safe and painless, in addition, the device will show the result in a maximum of 10 seconds. However, if an animal has an inflammatory process in its ear, the results will be unreliable.

Inexperienced pet owners prefer to determine the cat's temperature by looking at the nose: if it is wet and cool, then everything is in order with the pet's health. But if the nose is dry, then this indicates poor health, including a possible increase in temperature.

You should not rely on this method, because a cat that has just woken up from sleep will always have a dry earlobe. But you can touch the ears. If the cat's temperature is above 41 degrees, then they will be hot.

HOW TO HELP A CAT WITH A HIGH TEMPERATURE?

The health of a pet largely depends on its care and the conditions created for it. But no one is immune from the disease. Therefore, even with proper care and ideal conditions, a cat’s body temperature may rise, putting the animal into a depressed state.

Raising or lowering the animal's body temperature is to balance the formation of heat transfer. The circulation of heat transfer can be disrupted under the influence of internal and external factors: when the body overheats, when infectious agents enter the cat’s body, or even as a reaction to a stressful situation.

It is known that the normal temperature in cats is determined by the range from 37.5 to 39 degrees. In this case, in animals of one breed a certain body temperature will be considered normal, while in cats of another breed the same temperature will signal pathology. Kittens, as a rule, normally have a slightly higher body temperature than an adult cat. Any significant deviation from the norm in temperature indicators confirms that there are problems with the pet’s health.

Symptoms of fever in a cat

A change in body temperature, as is known, is a kind of reaction to pathological processes occurring in the body. There are external indirect signs by which one can determine that a cat is unhealthy and this is “signaled” by a rise in temperature.

Since the body is cooled through the animal's nasal passages, the animal's nose is normally slightly moist. The exception is the condition of the cat after waking up from sleep, when the nose remains dry. But in a healthy cat, after a few minutes, the nose becomes wet again. If your pet has a hot and dry nose while awake, this may be a sign that his body temperature has increased. A dry nose can also be observed in aging cats due to deterioration in the functioning of the glands, which is not a pathology and a cause for concern.

Sometimes an increase in temperature in a cat is accompanied by general weakness, rapid heavy breathing, and loss of appetite. Very high temperatures can cause your pet to shiver. Such symptoms, as a rule, indicate the infectious nature of hyperthermia, for which special treatment cannot be avoided.

Causes of fever in a pet

The dynamics of indicators that characterize a cat’s temperature is one of the most important signs of the presence or absence of any disease.

• An increase in temperature can be infectious in nature and can be caused by both pathogenic microbes and viruses, and parasites.
• Changes in thermoregulation are possible as a result of intoxication of the body.
• The cause of hyperthermia can be necrotic processes occurring in the cat’s body.
• A slight increase in temperature in cats may occur after prolonged exercise or during pregnancy.

Temperature measurement procedure

Some owners of furry pets, when they detect a high temperature based on external signs, panic because they have no idea how to measure it correctly. In principle, measuring the temperature of cats is not particularly difficult, since it is carried out with well-known medical devices, in particular a thermometer.

Ideally, you need to have an individual device for your pet, which is best stored in a special “cat first aid kit.” For measurements, you can use either a regular mercury thermometer or a more advanced type - an electronic thermometer.

Of course, an electronic device has a number of advantages. With its help, it is much more convenient and faster to perform the procedure, and the result indicators are highly accurate. However, in the absence of a universal device, a regular mercury thermometer is quite suitable. Before the procedure, it is important to treat it with any disinfectant solution. The same should be done after measuring the temperature.

You can accurately measure a cat's body temperature in the rectum, while securing the pet with a towel. This is done so that the animal does not move during the procedure, since the accuracy of the measurements is guaranteed only if the animal behaves calmly.

Before the procedure, the tip of the thermometer is lubricated with baby or any other fatty cream. Carefully lifting the pet's tail, lightly insert the tip of the thermometer into the anus to a depth of one or two centimeters. In just two or three minutes you can take out the device and see the result.

The easiest way to measure the temperature is if the cat is in a standing position. But it is possible to carry out this procedure even in the case of a lying position, when the animal is very weak due to illness. The cat is greatly influenced by the emotional state of the owner, so this procedure must be performed without unnecessary fuss.

How to help a cat with a high temperature?

Treatment methods for a cat with a high fever depend on the diagnosis and the extent of the disease. Since a high temperature can be a sign of a disease, the main treatment is aimed at eliminating the inflammatory focus in the body. Most often, when antibiotics are prescribed, the body temperature returns to normal.

In general, high temperature in itself is not dangerous. After all, with its help, the animal’s body tries to fight the virus on its own. Reducing the temperature with the help of antipyretic drugs is necessary in case of very high temperatures, which can provoke convulsions in the animal.

If the temperature is not very high, then you can try to bring it down at home. To do this, you need to moisten a towel or gauze with cold water and wrap the animal for about ten minutes. As the fabric dries, the cat's body temperature will noticeably decrease. Such manipulations are very effective in increasing body temperature from overheating of a pet outside in hot weather.

The same quick effect can be achieved by using ice from the refrigerator. Wrap the pieces of ice in gauze and place them on the cat's neck and inner thighs. In this case, you should give her something to drink more often. To prevent dehydration, it is recommended to give your pet pharmaceutical rehydron.

Only a specialist can prescribe comprehensive treatment for a cat after a thorough examination. If the temperature does not decrease even after taking antibiotics, the doctor will prescribe an additional study to identify the causes of hyperthermia.

It should be noted that a low temperature in an animal also indicates an existing pathology in the body. The cause of low temperature may be blood loss or hypothermia. Sometimes this temperature is observed in cats with chronic diseases of the kidneys and endocrine system. Help in these cases is to warm the pet using a warm heating pad. If your cat's body temperature persists for a long time, you should consult a specialist.

Since high temperature is a consequence of a disease, preventive measures are aimed at avoiding them by observing hygiene standards, rational nutrition and proper care of the animal.

If you think your pet is sick, contact a veterinary clinic in your city. You can find a list of clinics and doctors’ contact information in the “Veterinary Clinics” section.

What the owner should always remember

If a cat’s temperature exceeds 40, this condition is already considered dangerous:

• The temperature has risen to 40.5 degrees - dehydration begins and heart failure may develop.
• If a cat has a temperature of 41 degrees, almost all body systems are affected: the heart rhythm is disturbed, shortness of breath begins, and wheezing appears in the chest. With such a high rate, intestinal bleeding is possible. The cat begins to have diarrhea and vomit with an unpleasant smell of vomit. Brain swelling develops.

In such a critical condition, you need to try to relieve the fever and immediately transport the animal to the clinic.

How to lower a cat's temperature at home

When trying to lower your cat’s temperature at home, you should remember that overheating is the body’s reaction to something. And first you need to try to find the reason, but it’s better with a doctor.

What you can do on your own if your cat has a fever:

• It is advisable to make sure that the room is not hot (18-20 degrees): ventilate it, turn on the air conditioning. The main thing is that the cat is not in a draft.
• Wrap your pet in a towel soaked in cool water.
• Wrap a piece of ice in a cloth and apply it to the neck and inner thighs.
• Give the cat water. If he doesn’t drink on his own, you need to force him to drink from a syringe.

What not to do at home:

• Give your cat human antipyretic medications for fever. They have too many side effects on humans, let alone cats. The most common consequences of such “treatment” are stomach bleeding, vomiting, confusion, and problems with the kidneys and liver. And such a common drug as paracetamol can be fatal.
• There is no need to force feed your pet to gain strength. With overheating and fever, digestion does not work well. Increased nutrition threatens constipation or diarrhea, fermentation in the stomach.

Once the temperature has been reduced to a safe level, you should take your cat to the veterinarian for examination. You will need to take a blood and urine test. An ultrasound and x-ray may be prescribed. And depending on the identified cause, appropriate medications are prescribed. These can be antibiotics, antiviral, anthelmintic, immunomodulators, vitamins.

About the benefits and harms of elevated temperature

An increase in temperature is the body’s protective reaction to the penetration of bacteria and viruses. Due to the increase, metabolic processes in cells are enhanced, antibodies are produced faster, and unfavorable conditions are created for microorganisms - they cannot reproduce normally.

However, a high fever in a cat that lasts for a long time causes harm to the animal:

• Depresses the nervous system, disrupting brain nutrition. The cat becomes lethargic and overwhelmed.
• The heart works at increased speed, since plus 1 degree can give an additional 10-15 heart beats per minute.
• The tongue and oral cavity dry out. Less bile and gastric juice are produced. As a result, the digestive system does not work properly, which leads to bloating, rot in the intestines, and constipation. The pet is losing weight.
• The body loses more fluid due to increased urine production and open mouth breathing. There is a risk of dehydration, which in turn negatively affects the brain and heart function.

Signs of a fever in cats

The danger of an increase in temperature is as follows: serious metabolic and water-salt imbalances occur in the pet’s body, the brain does not receive enough oxygen, blood circulation is impaired, the animal may become dehydrated and have convulsive seizures.

Therefore, it is so important to detect a rise in your pet’s temperature in time in order to provide him with help. The following symptoms indicate this:

• loss of appetite or complete refusal of food. Cats even refuse their favorite treats;
• tachycardia and rapid breathing;
• chills;
• vomiting or diarrhea;
• apathy and lethargy;
• the animal hides in secluded corners, refuses to play with the owner;
• dry and very hot nose. A cat's nose may only be warm and dry when it wakes up, but it quickly becomes cool and moist.

All these are indirect signs indicating a possible increase in temperature. Without a thermometer, you still won’t be able to determine whether your cat has a fever.

What to do?

What to do if a cat has a fever and what measures should be taken first?

To begin, place the animal in the most comfortable place for it and do the following:

1. Ventilate the room; the air in the room where the animal is located should be cool. Open the windows or turn on the air conditioner or fan.
2. Give your cat a drink of Regidron solution if dehydration occurs.
3. Cover your pet with a damp, cool towel.
4. Offer your cat low-fat chicken broth.
5. Do not wet your pet's fur - this creates a dense, impenetrable layer that interferes with normal thermoregulation.
6. Provide your pet with peace.

Attention: the animal should not be forced to drink or eat. Forced drinking is only possible if the pet is dehydrated.

The difference between hyperthermia and fever

Hyperthermia is an increase in body temperature when the cat itself cannot regulate it and maintain it at a normal level. The most common example is that an animal spends a long time in a hot room, under the scorching sun, or in a car. Cats are more likely to experience heat damage than sun damage, as they are more cautious than, for example, dogs, and try to hide in the shade.

Fever is also an increase in temperature, independent of environmental conditions. The reason is a violation of metabolism and vital processes. A condition when the body itself raises its temperature to fight infection and ongoing inflammation.

It can be difficult for a non-specialist to distinguish one condition from another.

Symptoms of fever in a cat

Certain cat behaviors may accompany a fever. Therefore, the following signs can “hint” the owner that the pet has a fever:

• The cat is sad and lethargic. Not interested in the game at all. This is due to muscle weakness, which often occurs with fever.
• He doesn't eat and hardly drinks.
• Constantly sleeps, inactive.
• Takes less care of himself.

At high temperatures, trembling, rapid pulse, and diarrhea or vomiting may occur. With prolonged fever, dehydration develops. You can tell if a cat is dehydrated by the condition of its skin. You need to lift the skin on the back of your head and let it fall. If the skin quickly does not return to its normal position, but puffs up, the body is probably dehydrated.

You should never rely on the condition of your cat's nose. Moisture in the nose will not tell you anything about your pet's condition.

The most reliable way to find out if a kitten or cat has a temperature is to measure it with a thermometer. Without this procedure, it is impossible to determine further measures of assistance.