Cats often have common diseases with us, fever is one of them, because if the cat has a natural body temperature of 38 degrees Celsius, this can rise to more than 40 degrees in case of fever.
But since a cat’s temperature is naturally higher than that of humans, it’s hard to tell if it’s sick or if it’s its normal body temperature. So how do I know if my cat has a fever? I tell you everything in this article.
How do I know if my cat has a fever without a thermometer? The different symptoms
There are many ways to tell if your cat has a fever, if more than one of these are present, then your cat is most likely suffering from this condition. Here are the ways to tell if your cat has a fever.
He doesn’t eat anymore
Sick cats will tend to fast, and sometimes stop drinking either. If this does not continue for more than 48 hours, there is nothing to worry about but beyond that, be sure to feed him well by ensuring a moist, easy to chew, lukewarm food that he loves. Feeding should be made as easy as possible. For water, a little tuna oil and lukewarm water will help him drink.
For more details, I refer you to this article , it is important that he can drink and strengthen a little, but do not force him at all costs, sometimes a young short is useful, but beyond 2 days, it he needs to eat, especially if he has no fat reserves.
He breathes fast
Cats sometimes have rapid breathing because less air passes due to mucus in the airways. Make sure he is warm and can rest. Try cleaning his nose with salt water and try to make it easier to breathe with fresh air and smells to clear the airways . However, any respiratory problem should lead to the vet as soon as possible, because it cannot breathe through the mouth, especially in cats with flat noses like Persians.
He is very tired
Your cat will always be tired when he is sick and the fever will make him listless, he will spend most of his day lying around, eyes closed, waiting for the fever to pass. The things he usually likes won’t affect him.
He isolates himself
A sick cat will always isolate itself, it does not want to be disturbed and will be aggressive if you try to pet it. Fever is very unpleasant for him and he will probably isolate himself in a warm place to reduce his comfort. Generally his cat tree or the sofa will serve him to pass the time during the day, the time to recover. He will also seek absolute calm while he recovers from his fever.
He coughs and/or vomits
A coughing cat is probably sick and feverish, but be careful, as the cat’s coughing can reveal a more serious illness, so it is vital to always take him to the vet if he has a long or severe cough and also pay close attention to that he can always have fresh air and easy-to-eat food (hot + moist).
Sometimes cats will also vomit, which is more common in those who continue to eat as they will reject their food, but play cats may vomit bile .
He is shaking
If your cat is shaking , the fever is probably the cause, but to rule out any serious risk that could be linked to another pathology, go to the veterinarian as soon as possible. And in the meantime, pay attention that it can have a sufficiently warm temperature to avoid more frequent tremors in the cold.
He has a dry nose
Cats usually have wet noses, if dry the fever is probably the cause of the dryness. You can touch it with your finger to see the condition of its nose and also look inside to check how dry it is.
He is dirty
Cats are extremely clean because they hate dirt. A cat that is dirty is probably sick and feverish because in its normal state, it will probably refuse to be a slut.
He is hurt
If your cat is injured, his body may be warmer and therefore feverish, check your cat’s body to see if there is a wound and act accordingly by protecting his affected part with a bandage or dedicated protection. The wound can also be internal but will be recognized if your cat limps.
He has parasites
Finally, parasites can cause fever in your cat and are recognizable by small white dots in the hair or stool and you will need to ensure that it is well dewormed to prevent the situation from getting worse, sometimes up to to death if the parasites feed on all its nutrients.
He breathes and beats his heart fast
If your cat is breathing fast, he may have a fever because the high temperature is often a cause of faster breathing and his heart rate will also increase.
How to measure cat fever?
The first thing to predict is your cat’s aggressiveness when you try to touch it. Be prepared for his aggressiveness. You can use calming pheromones to successfully calm him down in the first place.
Then lift his cock and insert a digital thermometer with the tip lubricated into his anus. Remember that the cat should have a maximum temperature of 39 degrees Celsius, and any higher temperature is a sign of cat fever. Do not tuck it in more than 2 cm and use petroleum jelly to avoid attacking it.
There are models that can take the temperature in the armpits but are unreliable and should therefore be avoided.
Conversely, a thermometer that takes the temperature in the ear will easily take the temperature and with high reliability, even if the thermometer will necessarily be more expensive.
Even better, forehead thermometers combine ease of use and efficiency although a little more expensive, and they can also be used on humans, allowing easy and accurate multi-use.
What can I do myself?
If you want to lower the fever yourself or at least ease it while waiting for a visit to the veterinarian, you can facilitate his food and water intake as I explained to you above. This will allow him to gain strength and heal better.
Make sure he also has the healthiest environment possible, whether it’s in terms of room temperature or air quality. Imagine when you have a fever what could help you and put it in place (apart from medication). Only the veterinarian can prescribe medication, which will sometimes be necessary.
Finally, do not disturb him, petting him is useless and he probably does not want to be disturbed. You can just provide him with a blanket so he can snuggle up warm.
When to go to the vet?
If your cat has a fever, go to the vet if he has the following symptoms:
- He is old: Old cats are at risk because their organism is very weak and even a simple illness can put their life in danger. Do not delay to avoid any risk of rapid degeneration and the risks associated with it.
- He is young: Again, the body of a kitten is not as strong as that of an adult cat and it can suffer serious consequences.
- He is obese: An obese cat is much weaker than a standard weight cat. His whole immune system is weaker. Make sure that he can return to a normal weight to avoid heart problems and diabetes, among others, which can put his life in danger.
- He has a high fever: Any fever above 40 degrees is dangerous for the life of your cat and you must also consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.
- The fever is long-lasting: A fever that lasts for several days may hide a potentially serious underlying pathology.
What will the vet do?
The vet will start by asking you questions, such as abnormal behaviors of the cat, since when they started…. He will then continue with auscultation to establish a more precise diagnosis and may possibly use more advanced tools if a chronic pathology is suspected.
As for the treatment, it will vary according to the diagnosis but generally consists of antibiotics for cats, you should never give human medicines to a cat because his organism is very different.
How to know if my cat has a fever: The final word
Any feverish state of the cat can be recognized by symptoms similar to ours. If your cat is very feverish or has significant symptoms, then take him to the vet because his condition could worsen, especially if he is very young or very old.