Preventing Problems With Your Cat During Readings
If you are having trouble with getting an accurate read, a second set of hands can be helpful. If one person can hold the cat, the other can usually handle the thermometer. A temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit is a dangerous level and your cat should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. If it’s higher than 103 degrees Fahrenheit, you should call your veterinarian for advice.
How To Take A Cats Temperature At Home
How To Check Your Cat S Vital Signs At Home
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Can Dog Toys Go In The Dryer
Another affirmative! Once the wash cycle is finished, squeeze the toy gently in order to wring excess water out of it. When drying, make sure to use either the low heat cycle or, preferably, hang it in the sun to dry. Again, high heat could damage or even melt a plastic squeaker or other filling. Once the toy is dry, test out the squeaker. If theres still any water inside, it may not function. In that case, try another low heat cycle or line dry!
In the cases of most high quality toys, drying should be no problem at all. Even the squeaker should survive its trip in the washer and dryer.
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Diagnosis Of Low Body Temperature In Cats
Low body temperature in cats can be easily diagnosed through the use of a rectal thermometer, which will give the veterinarian an estimate of your cats core temperature. A physical examination of the feline is also a very helpful diagnostic tool for the veterinarian as symptoms such as shivering, blue mucous membranes, and a weak appearance are clear warning signs of hypothermia. During this time, the veterinarian will ask you to talk about your cats current medications, behavior at home, and the chance of accidental ingestion of a poisonous substance.
What Are Normal Vital Signs For Cats
Checking your cat’s vital signs at home is a great way to gauge their health, particularly if you feel they’ve been acting a bit off. The baseline vitals, or what’s considered “normal” for cats, are as follows:
- Body temperature: Between 99 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit
- Respiratory rate: An average of 20 to 30 breaths per minute
- Heart rate: About 160 to 180 beats per minute
- Blood pressure: Between 120 and 130 mmHg
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What To Do If Your Cat Has A Fever
Never give your cat human medications without the explicit advice of a veterinarian! Many human medications, such as acetaminophen, can be extremely toxic to cats.
Make sure your kitty stays hydrated by ensuring that they have easy access to fresh clean water and make sure they have a comfortable place to relax.
If your cat’s fever lasts longer than 24 hours or goes above 106º F contact your vet to book an urgent appointment or visit your local emergency animal hospital.
Your vet will do a full examination of your cat to determine the cause of your pet’s fever, and prescribe the best treatment to help restore your cat’s good health. In some cases, even after an extensive veterinary examination, the cause may not be evident and your cat could be diagnosed with a fever of unknown origin . If your cat has moderate or severe dehydration, intravenous fluids may be used to help your cat feel better and fight off illness.
Note:The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding people or pets. Always follow your doctor’s advice regarding asthma or other allergy symptoms.
Normal Heart Rate Respiratory Rate And Temperature For Cats
Cats’ normal heart and respiratory rates and temperatures are different from humans’. Here is what you need to know:
- Normal heart rate for cats: 140-220 beats per minute
- Normal feline respiratory rate: 15-30 breaths per minute
- Normal temperature for cats: 100.5F-102.5F
If you are evaluating your cat’s condition based on normal human values, you may panic when there’s no need.
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How Do I Know If My Cat Has A Fever
Your cat’s normal body temperature should be within 100.4º to 102.5º Fahrenheit. A fever in cats is characterized by a temperature of more than 102.5º F. If your cat’s fever goes higher than 106º F your kitty is at serious risk of damage to their vital organs.
With the right tools, it’s easy to check your pet’s temperature. Simply use a digital thermometer in your cats ear or a pediatric rectal thermometer. Be sure not to use an older style mercury thermometer on your cat, if the thermometer breaks it can be very harmful to your kitty’s health.
A rectal thermometer is the best way to determine whether your kitty has a fever. Leave the thermometer in place for at least two minutes in order to get an accurate reading.
Apply petroleum jelly to the thermometer to lubricate it, and gently insert it being careful not to go too far as it could damage your cat’s rectal tissue. You may need the assistance of another person to restrain your cat while you insert the thermometer.
If you believe that your cat may have a fever but feel uncomfortable checking their temperature, contact your veterinarian to book an appointment. Your vet will be able to assess your kitty’s temperature and overall health quickly and accurately.
Instructions For Ear Temperatures
The normal ear temperature in cats is between 100.0 degrees and 103.0 degrees Fahrenheit . The ear thermometer works by measuring infrared heat waves that come from the ear drum area. The ear drum is considered to be a good indicator of body temperature as it measures brain blood temperature. It is important to place the thermometer deep into the horizontal ear canal to obtain an accurate reading. An ear thermometer such as the Pet-Temp® designed for cats and dogs works best due to a longer arm that allows for the probe to be placed deeper into the ear canal. The first few times you use it, take both an ear and rectal temperature and compare. The results should be very close if you are using the proper ear technique.
If your cat has a body temperature less than 99 degrees or over 104 degrees, contact your veterinarian or local emergency facility immediately. A high temperature could mean your cat has an infection. A temperature below normal can be just as serious, indicating other problems like shock.
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Other Information From The Thermometer
Its worth noting the appearance of the tip of the thermometer after removal from the rectum. There should be just a fine coating of feces, which you should wipe off with moist tissue or cotton.
Check for an increased level of wetness, which could indicate diarrhea, or any sign of blood or blackness , or excessive mucus, any of which could indicate some type of digestive disorder.
Causes Of High Temperature In Cats
There are two causes of high temperature in cats, fever and hyperthermia .
Fever : The most common cause of a fever in cats is a viral infection, other causes include
- Certain medications
- Vascular disorders
- Fever of unknown origin
Heatstroke : Hyperthermia occurs when the external temperature is higher than your cats body temperature and he is unable to bring the temperature down by thermoregulation. For example, a cat locked in a car on a warm day is at great risk of developing hyperthermia. This is a life-threatening condition and requires urgent veterinary attention.
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Why Does My Cat Have A Fever
Fevers in cats are typically the result of the immune system being activated by conditions such as:
- Fungal infections
- Injury from Trauma
Haemobartonellosis, ehrlichiosis, bartonellosis, and toxoplasmosis are infectious diseases that are common in cats and can lead to fever. Outdoor cats that frequently come in contact with other animals are at the highest risk for exposure to these highly contagious diseases.
After an extensive medical investigation into your cat’s fever, if the cause cannot be identified your kitty could be diagnosed with FUO .
Instructions For Rectal Temperatures
Some cats will allow you to take their temperature, but others dont like it at all. It might be easier if you get another person to assist by holding your cat firmly in a standing position. You can place her head in the crook of the arm and face her outward. If necessary, wrap your pet in a towel with the tail area exposed. Then do the following:
- If using a mercury thermometer, remember to shake it with a quick flick of the wrist until the mercury is below 94 degrees. Then lubricate the thermometer with petroleum jelly, KY jelly or other water-based lubricant.
- Have your helper gently grab the skin at the base of the neck to scruff the cat while holding the front legs still.
- Lift your cats tail and insert the thermometer slowly and carefully into the rectum, located just below the base of the tail. Insert the thermometer about 1 inch and hold in place â two minutes for mercury thermometers or until the digital thermometer beeps.
- Remove the thermometer and read the temperature.
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Causes Of A Fever In Cats
An increase in body temperature above normal is called hyperthermia. Abnormal or unregulated hyperthermia in cats may result from being in a very warm environment or having increased muscle activity, for example. However, a fever is a specific, regulated type of hyperthermia. It develops when the set point is increased in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that acts as the bodyâs thermostat. A fever usually results when the immune system is activated by conditions such as:
Your cat may also display other specific signs of illness, such as sneezing, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Recording Other Vital Signs
If the body temperature is too high or too low, its worth also assessing other aspects of your cats vital signs
- Count your cats respiratory rate .
- Measure your cats heart rate .
You can then report all of your pets vital signs to your veterinarian: temperature, heart rate and breathing rate.
If your cats body temperature is too high or low, visit your veterinarian for further treatment.
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Ideal Ambient Temperature For Cats
Although cats and humans have different body temperatures, they should feel comfortable in similar ambient room temperatures. As we may do, cats will look for warmer places to stay in the home during cold seasons. This is why accessories like cat hammocks have grown in popularity because you can suspend them over radiators.
We need to keep ambient temperature and heat sources in mind. If a cat has been resting near a fire or radiator, it is possible their reading will be higher than 39.2 ºC/102.5 ºF. This doesnt mean they have a fever, but have simply been warmed up by the radiated heat.
In warmer seasons when temperatures rise, cat temperature readings can be affected also. The cat may suffer from heat stroke if they are unable to stay in cool or shady places. On very warm days, you may see them laying on tiled floors or even in bathtubs to cool down. If a cat is breathing with their mouth open, then they are overheated. You will need to take them to a veterinarian as heat exhaustion can be fatal.
How To Take Your Cat’s Temperature
The only way to know for sure whether your cat has a fever is to take its temperature. The whole process should only take a few minutes, provided the cat isn’t resisting you. The normal temperature for most cats is between 100.5 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Higher temperatures may require a visit to the veterinarian, depending on other symptoms.
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How To Take Your Cats Temperature
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When your cat is ill, you may have to determine whether or not he has a fever. Learning how to take your cats temperature properly can help determine if immediate veterinary care is needed.
Your cats normal rectal temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Higher temperatures may necessitate a trip to your veterinarian, depending on other symptoms. Feeling the ears, nose or head is not considered a reliable method you have to determine your cats internal temperature to find out for certain. This is done rectally, using a rectal or oral thermometer, either digital or mercury. Ear thermometers can also be used in cats. They are generally fast and easy but it is essential to use a proper technique to obtain an accurate temperature reading.
How Do You Put A Thermometer In A Cat
Insert the thermometer. Lift your cats tail and insert the thermometer about one inch into the cats rectum. Do not force the thermometer. Wait the appropriate amount of time. A digital thermometer will beep when its ready. If you are instead using a mercury thermometer, then you should leave the thermometer inserted for two minutes.
The normal temperature for most cats is between 100.5 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. 1 Higher temperatures may require a visit to the veterinarian, depending on other symptoms.
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How To Take A Cat’s Temperature
You will need a digital thermometer with a flexible tip to take your cat’s temperature at home. Here is how to measure a cat’s temperature:
- Have someone hold your cat on her side. One of your helper’s hands should hold the cat’s scruff firmly but gently, and the other hand should hold the kitty’s back feet.
- Place a probe cover over the thermometer probe.
- Place petroleum jelly liberally on the thermometer.
- Gently insert the thermometer into the cat’s rectum to just past the thermometer tip.
- Wait for thermometer to signal that it’s done, and read the results.
How To Check Your Cats Temperature
Because theres such a wide range for a healthy cat temperature, Dr. Choczynski says its good to establish your kittys baseline. To do this, simply take it at the same time every day for a couple of days. After that, you only need to do it every once in a while or if something seems off.
There are two ways to take your cats temperature: through their ears or their backside. Dr. Choczynski strongly suggests using a rectal thermometer, as she doesnt feel that the aural ones are as reliable.
Give the pet a treat while youre doing it, she suggests. Sometimes, its a two-person job. Take the temperature, and make sure it reads within the normal range.
Dr. Choczynski also recommends using some lube to make it more comfortable on the kitty and labeling the thermometer.
You dont want to accidentally use it on your kid or yourself, she laughs.
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Temperature Is An Indicator Of A Cat’s Health
Ever notice that a cat is particularly nice to cuddle up to on a chilly night? That’s because the average body temperature for a cat is 100 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 to 39 degrees Celsius. Disease or prolonged exposure to heat or cold can send a cat’s temperature above or below the normal range.
Usually, a mild fever is a normal part of a cat’s natural disease-fighting system. But extremely high or persistent fever can do serious or even fatal damage, and calls for professional help. You can’t really rely on touching your cat to tell if he’s running a fever, and you can’t get him to hold a thermometer under his tongue. Unfortunately, the most accurate and reliable way to take your cat’s temperature is the way he’s going to like least rectally. Of course, your cat isn’t going to like this, especially if he or she is already not feeling well. If your cat is already showing signs of being ill, it may be worth trying. If you can manage to take your cat’s temperature, it can help to let the vet know that he or she is running a fever before you get to the office.
Now you know how to examine your cat inside and out, and hopefully, we’ve given you a better idea of when it’s necessary to take him or her to the vet. If you do decide it’s time for a visit, you can tell your vet exactly what you’ve observed, and your cat will be soon be on the road to recovery.
Originally Published: Jun 1, 2011