Do you need to measure your cat’s fever and don’t know where to start? With this guide you will find out how to do it step by step, easily and safely.
Just as it happens for people, even in cats, fever is a symptom of health problems and that is why learning to measure the temperature of your four-legged friend is very important: as happens in the measurement of a dog’s fever, for the cat. it is possible to use the thermometer rectally or by measuring the fever in his ear.
In this article we will find out what are the symptoms of fever in cats, what are the normal values of its temperature and when there is danger, how to measure a cat’s fever in a few, simple steps.
Measuring your cat’s fever: the easy and safe guide
The body temperature of cats
On average, the normal body temperature of cats is around 38 ° which becomes 39 ° in the case of kittens who are still puppies. When this threshold is exceeded, the cat is in a feverish state and this is a symptom of a more or less serious health problem.
Depending on the temperature measured, fever in cats is a sign of various pathologies:
– Less than 38 °> if the cat has a state of hypothermia, it is signaling a state of general weakness that must be investigated with the help of the veterinarian.
– Fever at 40 °> the cat could have a viral disease, or a health problem in the lungs or nerve centers.
– Over 41 °> in this case it is necessary to urgently take the cat to the vet, because it is at risk of complications that can affect the internal organs.
Symptoms of fever in cats
The first sign to understand that the cat has a fever comes from its nose: if it is hot and dry it means that the temperature is not normal. In addition, there are other symptoms of fever in our feline friends that must be monitored: loss of appetite and thirst, fatigue, poor grooming , rapid breathing, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heart rate.
How to measure a cat’s fever? Methods and steps to follow
Rectal temperature measurement
To measure your cat’s fever you need to get a digital thermometer, preferably a pediatric one.
1. Lubricate the thermometer with petroleum jelly or water-based gel
2. Position the cat by holding it under the arm, with the tail pointing towards the front of the body. It is best to choose a solid surface (such as a table) and get help from another person to hold the cat still.
3. Insert the thermometer into the rectum for about 2.5 centimeters, holding it at 90 ° and inserting it slowly and gently.
4. Keep the thermometer still until it emits the acoustic signal that the measurement has taken place: it will take a maximum of 2 minutes.
5. Read the result and contact your veterinarian if the temperature is too low or too high, according to the values indicated in the previous paragraph.
Measure cat ear fever
If you want to measure your cat’s temperature by choosing a digital ear thermometer, be sure to purchase a specific one at a pet store. The measurement in the ear is less accurate than the rectal one, but can sometimes be easier if the cat does not want to cooperate.
1. Hold the cat still, making sure it keeps its paws on the surface and holding its head firmly under the arm. The ideal is to place it on the floor and get help from another person to keep it still.
2. Insert the thermometer into the cat’s ear canal, calmly and gently.
3. Hold the thermometer still until you hear the beep: this will take a couple of minutes.
4. Read the measurement result and if the temperature is abnormal call the veterinarian.
Useful tips
– For both rectal and ear measurement, please make sure to clean the thermometer thoroughly after each use.
– Do not try to resort to do-it -yourself remedies such as cold sponging, or to administer antipyretics to your cat without first consulting your vet.
– If the cat has a fever, offer him a bowl of fresh water and some ice cubes. He warms his bed by inserting a wool blanket inside.
– When you have finished measuring the cat’s fever, reward him with a treat (only if he has not vomited).
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