Cat’s ears are a very important element of the body of this animal, because in addition to smell, it also has a fairly developed ear, the abilities of which are much higher than those of humans, allowing it to hear prey from very far.
The cat’s ear is indeed capable of hearing sounds with a frequency of 100,000 Hz, compared to only 20,000 Hz in humans. It is with the sense of smell that is far superior to ours because of its usefulness during the hunt and for its survival. It is also for this reason that he can ruffle his ears without us perceiving any noise.
In addition to its functionality, regardless of its aesthetic appearance, whether rounded or triangular, the cat’s ears can change in temperature in certain situations.
If you have a cat with cold ears, I will explain why and above all, what solutions should be put in place.
Cat with cold ears: The temperature of cats
The cat has a body temperature that fluctuates between 38°C and 39°C , above which it is sick. This temperature, which for us turns out to be hot, is perceived in cats above the ears.
In fact, healthy cat ears are warm to the touch and as long as they are, there is nothing to worry about.
But it is necessary to pay attention to the state of health of the animal, when the cat has cold ears, an anal thermometer will allow you to give you an overview of its temperature and if you can, take an ear thermometer, easier to get your cat to accept.
I present to you immediately the causes and the solutions to put in place if your cat has cold ears.
Hypothermia
It is not uncommon for a cat that has the opportunity to go out even in winter, to be unable to return home or for a stray cat to be unable to take refuge from the harsh winter temperatures.
These are the main reasons why the cat goes into a state of hypothermia.
In case of hypothermia, it is possible to notice that the cat has cold ears and not only this part of the body, the paws, tail and mouth are also cold.
In this case, if your cat seems to be very affected by the cold, it is necessary to immediately contact a veterinarian, but at the same time, it is advisable to immediately warm the cat by wrapping it in a blanket and a hot water bottle that does not is not in direct contact with the skin.
Then, make sure he doesn’t relapse and come out when it’s too cold, and also make sure he doesn’t spend the night outside in winter. Finally, a cat shelter can be a good idea so that it does not get too cold during the winter.
Thermoregulation
The cat is a homeothermic animal, also called “warm-blooded”. This means that it has a body capable of maintaining a certain thermal stability, despite the internal temperature fluctuations of the surrounding medium.
In fact, when the cat is cold, it tries to reduce blood circulation to conserve heat in vital internal organs and is able to use its ears to regulate body temperature. This process is also called thermoregulation in cats and is perfectly normal when moving from a cold to a warm environment.
Frozen ears
They occur when the feline has spent too much time outside in cold weather or even in the case of newborn kittens with little shelter from the cold.
Under these conditions, there is a situation of frostbite of the peripheral parts of the body, such as the tips of the ears, which will not only be cold but also show other symptoms.
Warm it up and go see the vet if the cold still persists in the ears.
Serious illness
Of course, if the cat’s ears are cold to the touch, but the animal has no other symptoms, it can be assumed that the condition is due to the environment.
Otherwise, if the animal shows physical discomfort and symptoms such as apathy, vomiting in the cat or breathing difficulties, it will be necessary to contact the veterinarian as soon as possible to assess the appearance of possible serious diseases in the cat.
Cat with cold ears: The final word
If your cat has cold ears, warm him up and make sure he doesn’t get so cold afterwards. If you suspect a pathology because they remain cold over time, it is absolutely necessary to consult a veterinarian.