How To Tell If My Cat Has a Fever

Fever is a defense response of the cat's body against disease and can help activate the immune system, but a persistent high fever may indicate a serious infection or other health problem in the body. If your cat shows signs of fever, it should be taken to the veterinarian for an examination to determine the exact cause of the fever and appropriate treatment. While waiting for the veterinarian's diagnosis, some measures can be taken to help the cat cool down, such as gently wiping the cat's body surface with a wet towel, keeping the environment comfortable, and making sure the cat has adequate water intake. 

Which of the Common Infectious Diseases in Cats Cause Fever?

Among the common infectious diseases in cats, the following will cause fever.

Feline distemper

Caused by the feline distemper virus, the infected cat will have a high fever, vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms. 

Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Caused by feline coronavirus, the infection may cause fever and other symptoms in cats. 

Feline Leukemia

Caused by feline leukemia virus, in addition to symptoms such as anemia and lethargy, cats may also have fever. 

Feline Nasal Branch

A respiratory disease caused by the feline herpes virus, the infection may cause fever, sneezing and runny nose in cats. 

Feline Cupripox Virus Infection

The main symptom is oral lesions, but cats may also have a fever. 

Feline Transmissible Abdomen

Disease caused by feline coronavirus, after infection, cats may show symptoms such as poor spirits, loss of appetite, reduced activity, and a sudden onset of fever. 

Feline Calicivirus Infection

can cause fever, face and paw edema, and ulcers in infected cats. 
All of these infections are potential threats to your cat's health, and if your cat develops a fever or other unusual symptoms, you should take him or her to the doctor for examination and treatment.

How To Tell If My Cat Has a Fever?

1.Observe Behavioral Changes

• Elevated body temperature above the normal range (38-39°C), usually above 39.5°C abnormal body temperature is noticeable in cats.
• Decreased or abolished appetite, the cat may be reluctant to eat or eat only a very small amount.
• Mental depression, the cat may appear tired, sluggish and reluctant to move around.
• Behavioral changes, such as lethargy, hiding or reluctance to interact with people.
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, the cat may appear to be breathing faster.

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• Dry and hot nose, ears and foot pads may feel warmer.
• Abnormal discharge from the eyes or nose, such as tears or purulent discharge.
• Vomiting or diarrhea, which may occur with a fever.
• Sweating of the paw pads, which is an uncommon symptom of fever in cats. 

2. Check for Physical Symptoms

• Warm Ears and Paws: Feel your cat’s ears and paws. If they seem warmer than usual, it might indicate a fever, though this is not always reliable.
• Nose Temperature: A cat's nose can sometimes feel warm and dry when they have a fever, but this can also vary due to other factors like the environment.
• Dehydration: Gently pinch the skin between your cat's shoulder blades. If the skin doesn’t snap back quickly, your cat might be dehydrated, which can be a sign of fever.

If your cat is experiencing one or more of these symptoms, you should immediately measure his or her temperature with a thermometer and take appropriate cooling measures after confirming the fever, as well as contact your veterinarian for further examination and treatment as soon as possible. 

How to Properly Use a Thermometer for Cats?

The correct way to use the cat thermometer to measure ear and anal temperature is as follows:

Ear temperature measurement

• Use a cat infrared ear thermometer for measurement. According to research, the difference between ear temperature (TMT) and anal temperature (RT) is small and ear temperature measurement is more acceptable in cats.
• Before taking the measurement, make sure there are no foreign bodies or secretions in the ear canal to avoid affecting the results.
• Aim the probe of the thermometer at the ear canal and gently push the probe into the ear canal until you hear a “click”, indicating that the probe has been correctly placed.
• Ensure that the cat is in a quiet state, and avoid measuring when the cat is nervous or upset to minimize measurement errors.

Anal Temperature Measurement

• Use a digital anal thermometer for measurement. According to research, the difference between anal temperature and ear temperature is small and anal temperature measurement is more common in cats.
• Before measurement, make sure the anal area is clean and avoid using lubricants as this may affect the results.
• Gently spread the cat's hind legs and insert the probe of the anal thermometer into the anus, making sure that the probe is completely inside the anus.
• Ensure that the cat remains still and avoid moving during the measurement to ensure an accurate temperature reading.

Precautions

• Before taking any temperature measurements, ensure that the thermometer has been calibrated to ensure accurate results.
• Measurements should be performed by an experienced veterinarian or assistant to ensure proper operation and reduce stress on the cat.
• Choose the appropriate measurement method according to the cat's weight and health condition. For example, for normal weight or light weight cats, the ear temperature may be closer to the anal temperature.

What are the Emergency Treatment Measures for Cat Fever?

Emergency treatment measures for cat fever mainly include the following aspects.

• Keep Warm

Cats may have impaired thermoregulation when they have a fever, so they need to be kept warm. It should be noted that excessive heating may cause the cat's body temperature to rise further, so moderation is required.

• Observe the symptoms

Closely observe the cat's other symptoms, such as loss of appetite, mental state, and difficulty breathing, which may be other complications caused by the fever.

• Physical cooling

1. Use rubbing alcohol on the pads of your cat's feet and groin, where there is less hair, to help dissipate the heat.
2. A wet towel can be used to gently wipe the cat's body to help cool it down.
3. Place ice cubes on the cat's body to physically cool it down, measure the temperature every two to three hours and adjust accordingly

• Avoid human fever-reducing medications

Common commercially available fever-reducing medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be toxic to cats, so they should not be given to cats. If medication is needed, consult your veterinarian for the appropriate medication and dosage for your cat.

• Maintain cleanliness and hygiene

Keep your cat's living environment clean and clean the litter box regularly to minimize the spread of bacteria and viruses. At the same time, maintain your cat's personal hygiene and groom regularly to reduce the risk of skin diseases.

• Provide sufficient water

Cats may become dehydrated when they have a fever, so you need to make sure they have adequate water intake. You can appropriately increase the amount of water the cat drinks, or add some of the cat's favorite flavorings to the water to increase its interest in drinking.

• Prompt medical attention

If the cat's fever persists or is accompanied by other serious symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea and breathing difficulties, the cat should be taken to the veterinarian immediately for examination and treatment. The veterinarian may conduct appropriate examination and treatment according to the cat's specific condition.

How Should I Adjust My Cat's Diet Following a Fever?

Adjusting your cat's diet is very important when he or she has a fever, as a fever depletes your cat's energy and may affect his or her appetite and digestion. Here are some suggestions for dietary adjustments.

• Provide easily digestible food

Cats with fever should choose light and easily digestible food, such as boiled chicken, fish or white rice porridge, to reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract. 

• Increase water intake

Fever may lead to dehydration, so make sure your cat has adequate water intake. This can be done by providing warm water or increasing hydration through food, such as broth or fish soup. 

• Smaller, more frequent meals

Cats may have a loss of appetite due to fever and can be offered food in small, frequent meals to avoid overfeeding at one time. 

• Avoid greasy and stimulating foods

Greasy, spicy or indigestible foods should be avoided as they may aggravate your cat's discomfort. 

• Consider using nutritional supplements

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If your cat is reluctant to eat for a long period of time, consider using nutritional creams or other pet-specific nutritional supplements to maintain its basic nutritional needs. 

How Should I Hydrate My Cat to Avoid Dehydration When She Has a Fever?

When your cat has a fever, it is very important to hydrate to avoid dehydration. You can take the following steps to help keep your cat hydrated.

Provide fresh water

Ensure that your cat's water bowl always has fresh water in it and that it is placed within easy reach of your cat.

Use a syringe to feed water

If your cat is reluctant to voluntarily drink water, you can use a clean syringe (without a needle) to gently inject water into your cat's mouth.

Provide electrolyte solution

A pet-specific electrolyte solution can be offered to your cat to help replace the water and electrolytes lost due to fever. 

Moistening food

Try offering your cat moist food, such as canned cat food, which can help increase water intake.

Encouraging water intake

Cats can be enticed to drink by toys or streams of water, or by gently wiping their gums with a damp cloth to stimulate them to drink.

Summary

Behavioral changes, physical symptoms, and taking your cat's temperature are key steps in determining if your cat has a fever. If your cat’s temperature is above the normal range, or if you're unsure, seeking veterinary care is the best course of action to ensure your cat's health and well-being.

Also Read:  How Do You Bring Down A Cat's Fever