What Sets Off Fever in Cats
Feb 14,2025 | puaintapets
Fever is defined as a body temperature above a cat’s normal range. A normal body temperature for a cat is between 101°F and 102.5°F (38.3°C to 39.2°C). If a cat’s temperature exceeds 103°F (39.4°C), it is considered a fever. Fever is a symptom, not a disease itself, and it can occur due to various underlying causes.
When a cat has a fever, it’s usually an indication that their body is fighting off an infection, inflammation, or another health issue. The body naturally increases its temperature as a defense mechanism to make it harder for bacteria and viruses to thrive.
What Causes Fever in Cats?
Fever in cats is an abnormal elevation of the body temperature above the normal range, which is typically between 100.5°F and 102.5°F (38.0°C - 39.2°C). It is a sign that the cat's body is fighting off an underlying problem. There are numerous factors that can cause fever in cats.
1.Infections
- Viral Infections
Feline herpesvirus - 1 (FHV - 1) and feline calicivirus (FCV) are common viral infections in cats. These viruses can cause upper respiratory tract infections, which often lead to fever. Kittens are especially vulnerable to these viruses. Infected cats may also show symptoms such as sneezing, nasal discharge, and conjunctivitis in addition to fever.
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) are more serious viral infections. FIV attacks the cat's immune system, making it more susceptible to other infections, which can result in fever. FeLV can cause various health problems, including anemia and lymphoma, and fever is often one of the early symptoms.
Related: Cat Herpes: FVR and FHV-1 Symptoms and Treatments
- Bacterial Infections
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are quite common in cats, especially in female cats. Bacteria such as Escherichia coli can infect the urinary tract, leading to inflammation and fever. Symptoms may include frequent urination, painful urination, and blood in the urine.
Bacterial pneumonia can occur when bacteria infect the lungs. This can be caused by aspiration of foreign material, weakened immune system, or exposure to infectious agents. Cats with bacterial pneumonia may have a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
- Fungal Infections
Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection that can affect cats, especially those that are immunocompromised. The fungus Cryptococcus neoformans can infect the respiratory system, central nervous system, or skin. Fever is one of the symptoms, along with nasal discharge, neurological signs if the central nervous system is affected, and skin lesions in some cases.
2.Parasitic Infections
- Internal Parasites
Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Cats can become infected by eating infected prey or through contact with contaminated soil. Infected cats may have a fever, along with other symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, and diarrhea.
Heartworm disease is caused by the parasite Dirofilaria immitis. Although more common in dogs, cats can also be infected. The presence of heartworms in the cat's body can cause an inflammatory response, leading to fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing in some cases.
- External Parasites
Flea infestations can cause a condition known as flea - allergy dermatitis in cats. The cat's immune system overreacts to flea saliva, resulting in skin inflammation. In severe cases, this can lead to a secondary bacterial infection and fever.
Tick - borne diseases such as Lyme disease (although less common in cats compared to dogs) can cause fever, lameness, and other systemic symptoms in cats if they are bitten by an infected tick.
Also Read: Understanding Lyme disease in cats: What You Should Know
3.Immune - Related Causes
- Autoimmune Disorders
In autoimmune diseases, the cat's immune system mistakenly attacks its own body tissues. For example, in autoimmune hemolytic anemia, the immune system attacks red blood cells. This can lead to a variety of symptoms, including fever, weakness, and pale gums.
- Allergic Reactions
Severe allergic reactions to certain substances, such as food, medications, or environmental allergens, can cause an inflammatory response in the cat's body, which may include fever. For example, if a cat has a severe food allergy and ingests the offending food, it may develop symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.
4.Environmental and Other Factors
- Heat Stress
Cats are sensitive to high temperatures. If a cat is exposed to excessive heat for a prolonged period, it may develop heat stress, which can cause a fever - like elevation in body temperature. This is especially dangerous for long - haired cats or those without access to cool, shaded areas.
- Tissue Injury
Severe trauma or injury to the cat's body, such as a broken bone or deep laceration, can cause an inflammatory response that may lead to a fever. This is the body's way of trying to protect the injured area and initiate the healing process.
How to Tell if Your Cat Really Has a Fever?
To determine whether your cat has a fever, you can start from the following aspects:
I. Observe the behavioral manifestations
- Mental state
Cats with fever are usually depressed and lethargic, respond less to the surrounding environment and the owner's interactions, like to find a shady place to lie down, are less active, and groom themselves less.
- Appetite changes
Cats with a fever often experience a loss of appetite, a marked decrease in interest in food, and may even refuse to eat.
- Water intake
May drink frequently to replace water lost due to fever.
- Breathing
Breathing may become rapid, nose dry and hot, ears hot.
II. Temperature measurement
- Anal temperature measurement
This is the most accurate method. Dip the front end of the mercury thermometer or electronic thermometer in lubricant and then gently insert it into the cat's anus 2-3 centimeters, keep it at a certain angle, wait for 3-5 minutes and then take it out for reading. Normal cat's body temperature is usually between 38-39.5 degrees Celsius, over 39.5 degrees Celsius can be judged as fever.
- Skin temperature measurement
Place the thermometer on the inner root of the cat's hind limb, clamp the cat and leave it for 5 minutes for reading. The skin temperature will be about 0.5 degree Celsius lower than the anal temperature, and you need to add the corresponding degree.
- Ear temperature measurement
Use the ear thermometer to measure the temperature inside the cat's ear, and take the average of several measurements, which can be used as a reference, but the accuracy is slightly lower than that of the anal temperature measurement.
III. Observe other symptoms
- Vomiting and diarrhea
Fever may be accompanied by digestive symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, so you need to observe the cat's vomit and feces.
- Coughing and sneezing
If the cat has respiratory symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and nasal and mouth discharge, the fever may be caused by an infectious disease.
- Eye symptoms
Observe whether the cat's eyes are red, swollen, have increased secretions and other abnormalities, which may be related to the cause of the fever.
If the cat is found to have any of the above abnormalities, the temperature should be measured and the symptoms recorded, and if necessary, the cat should be taken to the veterinary hospital for further examination and diagnosis, so that the cause can be determined and appropriate treatment can be carried out.
What to Do If Cat Has a Fever?
1. Measurement of body temperature
- Rectal measurement
This is the most accurate method. Sterilize the thermometer and shake it below 35 degrees Celsius, apply a lubricant such as petroleum jelly or erythromycin ointment on the thermometer, gently lift up the cat's tail and insert the thermometer slowly into the anus for about 2-3 centimeters, wait for 3-5 minutes and then take out the reading. Normal cat's body temperature is usually between 38-39.5 degrees Celsius, more than 39.5 degrees Celsius may be a fever.
- Measurement at the root of the hind leg
Shake the thermometer to below 35 degrees Celsius, place it on the root of the cat's thigh, press it against the skin and wait for 3-5 minutes before taking out the reading. The temperature measured by this method is about 0.5 degrees Celsius lower than the anal temperature, so 0.5 degrees Celsius should be added to the reading to be the cat's real body temperature.
- Ear Temperature Measurement Method
Use an ear thermometer to measure the cat's ear temperature, but be careful to place the thermometer correctly to ensure that the temperature is measured at the tympanic membrane, otherwise it may not be accurate.
Also Read: Exploring Body Temperature in Cats: Understanding the Feline Thermoregulation System
2. Cooling measures
- Physical cooling
If the cat's temperature does not exceed 39.5 degrees Celsius, physical cooling can be used. Wet a towel with alcohol or warm water and gently wipe the cat's foot pads, groin, belly and other parts of the body to take away the heat through water evaporation. You can also place your cat in a cool, ventilated place to let it dissipate heat naturally. You can also use a fan or air conditioner to lower the indoor temperature, but be careful to avoid letting the cat blow directly into the cold air to prevent excessive lowering of body temperature.
- Hydration
Fever can cause cats to lose water faster and become easily dehydrated, so make sure your cat has plenty of clean water to drink at all times. If the cat is not willing to drink water voluntarily, you can use a syringe or dropper to slowly drop water into the cat's mouth, or you can give the cat some pet-specific electrolyte solution to replenish the lost electrolytes.
3. Dietary adjustment
- Provide easily digestible food
Cats are weak when they have a fever and may not be able to eat too hard food. You can provide some soft food, such as chicken porridge, fish porridge, canned food, etc., which is easy to digest and absorb and can provide energy for cats.
- Increase nutritional intake
You can add some vitamin B complex and energy supplements, such as chewable multivitamin tablets, to your cat's food to improve its appetite, supplement nutrition and enhance the body's immunity.
4. Timely medical treatment
- Observe the change of symptoms
While taking the above measures, closely observe the changes in the cat's symptoms. If the cat's temperature continues to rise, its mental state deteriorates further, it develops severe symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, etc., or if the fever remains unrelieved for more than 24 hours, the cat should be taken to the veterinary hospital immediately.
- Follow the veterinarian's recommendations
The veterinarian will conduct a thorough examination of the cat to determine the cause of the fever and treat it accordingly. If the fever is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics may be used; if it is a viral infection, anti-viral drugs may be used, etc. In the course of treatment, the cat should be given medication in strict accordance with the veterinarian's recommendations, and should not increase or decrease the dosage or stop the medication on its own.
How to Prevent Fever in Cats?
1. Daily care
Keep the environment clean: clean the cat's living environment regularly, including the kennel, litter box and eating utensils, to prevent bacteria and viruses from breeding.
Pay attention to warmth and cooling: provide the cat with a suitable temperature environment according to seasonal changes. In winter, pay attention to warmth to avoid the cat catching cold; in summer, to prevent the cat from heatstroke, use air conditioners and fans to regulate the room temperature.
Moderate exercise: Let the cat have a moderate amount of exercise to enhance physical fitness. You can prepare some cat toys, such as cat teasers and small balls, to interact and play with your cat.
Regular routine: Keep the cat's routine regular and avoid overwork or stress.
2. Diet management
Provide nutritionally balanced food: Choose high-quality cat food to ensure that the cat gets enough protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. You can also feed your cat some fresh meat, fish and vegetables in moderation.
Ensure sufficient water intake: provide clean, fresh drinking water for the cat at all times and encourage the cat to drink more water to prevent diseases caused by dehydration.
3. Disease prevention
Regular vaccination: follow the veterinarian's recommendation to regularly vaccinate your cat against common infectious diseases such as feline distemper and feline nasal branch.
Regular deworming: Regularly deworm your cat internally and externally to prevent diseases caused by parasitic infections.
Avoid contact with the source of disease: try to avoid your cat coming into contact with sick animals to prevent infection. If there are multiple pets at home and you find a pet is sick, isolate it for treatment in time.
When to Take Your Cat to the Veterinarian
If your cat’s fever is persistent (lasting more than 24 hours) or is above 103°F (39.4°C), it’s time to visit the veterinarian. Additionally, if your cat exhibits other concerning symptoms such as difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, or severe lethargy, it’s important to seek professional help right away.
The vet will perform a thorough examination and may conduct blood tests, urine tests, or imaging to diagnose the underlying cause of the fever.
FAQs
Can a cat's fever go away on its own?
In some cases, if the cause is a mild viral infection, the cat's immune system may be able to fight it off and the fever may subside on its own. However, it is always best to have a veterinarian evaluate the cat to rule out more serious causes.
How long does it take for a cat with a fever to recover?
It depends on the underlying cause. Fever caused by viral infections such as feline nasal branch, feline distemper, etc. usually takes about 1-2 weeks to recover. In the early stage of the disease, if it can be detected in time and effective treatment measures can be taken, such as the use of antiviral drugs, symptomatic treatment, etc., the cat may be able to reduce the fever and gradually recover in about 1 week. However, if the condition is more serious, it may take 2 weeks or even longer.
For fever caused by bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, skin infections, etc., with the use of sensitive antibiotic treatment, the fever can usually subside in about 3-7 days, and the cat will recover basically in about 1-2 weeks. However, if the infection is more serious or complications arise, the recovery time may be prolonged.
Can a cat have a low-grade fever?
Cats can develop a low-grade fever. Generally speaking, a cat with a temperature between 39.3°C and 39.5°C is considered to be in a low fever state . When a cat has a low fever, it may show symptoms such as depressed spirit, loss of appetite, dry nose, burning ears, etc. It may also be more lethargic and inactive than usual.
If you find that your cat has a low fever, you can first take some physical cooling measures, such as using a wet towel to wipe the cat's foot pads, groin and other parts of the body, or placing the cat in a cool, ventilated place to allow it to naturally dissipate heat. At the same time, make sure the cat has sufficient water intake to prevent dehydration. If the cat's symptoms persist or worsen, or other abnormal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, etc., it should be taken to the veterinary hospital to determine the cause of the fever and treated accordingly.
Conclusion
Fever in cats is a sign that something is wrong, and it can indicate a wide range of conditions, from simple infections to more serious diseases like cancer or autoimmune disorders. Understanding the causes, recognizing the symptoms, and seeking timely veterinary care are essential for managing your cat’s health. Always consult your vet if you suspect your cat has a fever, as prompt treatment can make all the difference in their recovery.
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