Have you noticed that your cat always has a dry nose? How to understand if it is a symptom of a health problem and how to intervene.
The cat that is not well does not necessarily complain: even some ‘tacit’ signs can express a bad state of health. That’s why all the signs that his body sends us are fundamental: one of them is a dry nose. If we have noticed that the cat often has a dry nose then, before we get alarmed, we must consider a number of factors that could have bothered him (and not necessarily a health problem). Let’s see what it is.
The cat has a dry nose: is it worrying?
The ideal answer would be: ‘Not necessarily’. In fact, if a feline shows a dry nose it is not always a sign of something wrong with his body. It is true that sometimes a cat may have a fever and therefore the nose can dry up, but it is not necessarily a sign of an ongoing flu. Some even claim, and erroneously, that a cat’s body temperature can be measured using its nose as a ‘thermometer’. But that is absolutely not true, as a number of factors, such as those listed above, should be considered. As we will see shortly, the reasons can also be external and related to the condition in which the cat lives.
Dry nose in cats: the causes
Indeed, it could be a health problem but, as should always be done, it should not be based only on the single symptom. The feline that is not well has not only a dry nose: we would see him dejected, tired and maybe he could even show inappetence or episodes of vomiting and diarrhea. In short, let’s see what are the causes that can dry the snout of our beloved four-legged friend.
Sun : we know how much our cats like to lie in the sun on the first hot days! It does not need to be a sultry day or that the cat is on the beach: even from behind the glass of a window the cat’s nose could overheat and dry out.
Humidity : When the cat lives in a house where the humidity value is quite high, it will tend to have a dry nose. However, it is a form of dehydration in cats, which we should take care of.
Fireplace or heat source : on cold winter days who doesn’t light a fire or heater in the house? Here the cat has the opportunity to fully enjoy it, so it will sit as much as possible next to a fireplace or near (if not on top) the radiator. The result? Dry nose and throat.
Poor health : it could be both fever and rhinotracheitis. In the first case, the only thing that can dispel any doubts is to measure its temperature with a thermometer and, if you don’t know how, here are some tips here: How to recognize and treat cat fever: all practical advice . In the case of rhinotracheitis, or a viral infection, the feline has respiratory problems.
What an unhealthy nose looks like
Can we understand that the nose has some problem with its appearance? Absolutely yes. The nose, and in particular the nose, would present ‘oddities’. First of all it would not be smooth and shiny, it would have small incrustations on the surface and maybe even some bloody lesions. So, in addition to being cracked, the nose may also be covered with hard, dark scabs. The color of the nose itself could also be an indication. It is usually pink but may turn white.
What can we do if the cat has a dry nose
Have we noticed that the cat’s nose has one or more symptoms than those listed above? The best thing is to schedule a check-up at the vet: let us also indicate the symptoms we have noticed in addition to the dry nose and if the ‘disorder’ lasts and has persisted for days.
