Fever in Cats - Causes and Symptoms

Content

• What are the causes of fever
• Fever symptoms in cats
• How to measure my cat's temperature
• Measures to lower my cat's fever
• Prevention, the best treatment

THE normal cat body temperature it must be between 38 and 39.5°C, when it increases, the feline is considered to have a fever and, therefore, its health is being harmed. Regardless of the cause causing it, fever is always a sign that the animal is suffering some kind of disease or health problem, so identifying it as soon as possible is essential to detect the focus and start the best treatment quickly.

Bear in mind that the causes can range from mild problems to more serious illnesses that can even end your cat's life. That's why knowing how to recognize the symptoms and take the feline to the vet is essential. To help you, in this PeritoAnimal article we explain everything about fever in cats, causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention.

What are the causes of fever

In general, both in dogs and cats, fever occurs when the animal's immune system is activated due to the presence of some specific anomaly in the body. Since not all health problems cause it, next we'll show you the most common causes who usually develop fever in cats:

• Tumors, which tend to affect older cats more than young ones
• Viral or bacterial diseases such as distemper or leukemia
• Mild viral, bacterial or fungal infections
• Flu and common cold
• pancreatitis
• Lupus
• Drug intake as a side effect

Although these are the most common reasons that usually develop fever, keep in mind that this is not the only symptom they have, so it is essential that you pay attention to your cat's general behavior for identify the cause and start the best treatment. Especially if it is a tumor, distemper or leukemia, you should act quickly, as these diseases have a very high mortality rate.

Fever symptoms in cats

To answer one of the most frequently asked questions from cat owners, how to tell if a cat has a fever, it is essential to verify all the details of their behavior. A cat with a fever will have a variety of all of the following symptoms:

• dry nose. Although this fact may not be conclusive or definitive, it can be a clue if we observe that our cat has other symptoms besides this one. Like dogs, cats tend to have a wet nose all the time, when they develop a fever, it usually dries up.
• loss of appetite. The bad general condition that your body is going through leads you to not want to eat as usual.
• Decrease in water consumption. Cats are not usually animals that drink large amounts of water, so reducing them can have serious consequences.
• Apathy, lack of energy. Especially if your feline is a very busy and energetic animal, seeing it unwilling to play, run or jump is a clear indication that something is up.
• On the contrary, and depending on the disease that causes the fever, the cat can show itself restless and anguished.
• lack of personal hygiene. Cats are very clean animals, neglecting their hygiene is not their own and tells us that their health is not in perfect condition.
• In the most serious cases, the cat can suffer from chills, tremors or a fast breathing.

Most illnesses or health problems that cause feline fever usually develop other symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, sneezing and coughing.

How to measure my cat's temperature

If we observe that our feline has some or all of the above symptoms, it's time to measure body temperature, as this is the only way to confirm that you really have a fever. For this, you must gather all the necessary utensils:

• Digital rectal thermometer that you can buy at any veterinary clinic.
• Vaseline or any other lubricant.
• A clean cloth or towel.

When everything is ready, follow these steps to measure your cat's temperature:

1. Thoroughly clean the thermometer and cover the tip with a little Vaseline or another lubricant.
2. If you can, have someone else grab the cat by the back paws, so it will be easier for you to continue.
3. Carefully lift your cat's tail and insert the tip of the thermometer into its rectum.
4. When you see the digital thermometer stop, remove it and check the indicated temperature. Don't forget to reward your pet for good behavior. Clean the thermometer.

As mentioned at the beginning, the normal temperature should range between 38 and 39ºC, in adult cats, and 39.5ºC in kittens. If your feline exceeds these values, we consider that you have a fever and you should try to reduce it as soon as possible. In case it exceeds 41ºC, it should consult the veterinarian quickly so that he can examine it and determine the cause.

Read our full article on how to tell if my cat has a fever.

Measures to lower my cat's fever

The treatment for fever in cats is directly related to the cause that causes it. If, for example, it appears as a side effect to the consumption of a certain drug, you should consult your veterinarian to find out what to do, but you should never decide for yourself to stop a medical treatment. If the cause is a serious disease, such as distemper, leukemia or cancer, the specialist will start the best treatment to end this condition. For minor bacterial or viral infections, your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics. Remember that you must not self-medicate your cat, some medicines for human consumption are toxic for him and will only worsen his condition.

In milder cases, such as a common cold, you can take some measures and home remedies to reduce your feline's fever:

• As one of the symptoms of fever is low water, the first thing you should do is moisturize your cat. If you don't want to drink, take a syringe and give yourself the amount of liquid you need, always carefully and slowly, we don't want you to choke. The water must be cool.
• the same with The feeding. To avoid malnutrition, you should encourage your feline to eat by providing it with food that meets its nutritional needs and is, in turn, appetizing. For this, choose a wet diet, once recovered you can combine it with dry food. If the fever is accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea, it is best to consult the veterinarian to find out what kind of food to provide.
• Find a warm, damp-free place in your home to put your cat's bed. Your cat should feel as comfortable as possible to help her recovery.
• At wet compresses are your great allies to reduce your cat's fever. You will have to moisten them with cold water, place them on your forehead and let them act for a few minutes. Then remove them and apply them over your paws and the abdomen and groin area in the same way. Dry wet areas thoroughly and repeat this process twice a day.

If after 48 hours the fever does not go down, you should go with your cat to the veterinarian quickly. It is possible that he has not been aware of other symptoms and is developing some serious illness that needs medical treatment. Remember that a specialist must always examine your pet, diagnose the cause and prescribe the best treatment.

Prevention, the best treatment

As we've seen throughout the article, fever is a symptom of another condition that can be severe or mild. Therefore, the best treatment is always prevention. To prevent the onset of diseases, infections and other health problems, it is essential follow the mandatory vaccination schedule, carry out routine veterinary appointments and provide our cat with all the basic care it needs, such as proper nutrition, toys to release accumulated energy, scratchers, brushing its fur to prevent the creation of fur balls, a bed comfortable to sleep and a sandbox to do all your needs.

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.