Cat's temperature: norms and deviations, how to measure and reduce fever at home

A caring owner always notices deviations in the cat’s behavior and well-being. The first alarming symptoms of the disease are often hyperthermia and hypothermia (increased and decreased t).

To promptly identify these signs, we will learn how to correctly measure body temperature in cats. Indeed, in some cases it is necessary to provide assistance to the pet even before the veterinarian arrives.

Normal body temperature in cats

A cat’s normal temperature is 38-39 degrees, and the indicators depend on many factors and can change during the day. For example, a cat that is sleeping or has just woken up will have lower levels because the animal does not expend energy while sleeping.

During active games, the temperature rises. The same thing happens to an animal’s body as to a person during physical activity. There is no need to worry about your pet; as soon as he calms down, the t readings will return to normal.

The kitten's body temperature will always be higher than normal. The little ones learn about the world, experience a lot of emotions, are extremely active, and this is the reason for the mild and harmless fever.

During the period of estrus, pregnancy, childbirth, after sterilization surgery and vaccinations, cats usually experience a sharp jump in body temperature. But you should worry if the thermometer shows more than 40 °C for 3-4 days.

Important! The thermoregulation mechanism in kittens develops over time, so a slight increase in indicators is considered normal. The situation stabilizes by the age of 6-7 months.

Thus, the normal temperature for a cat is 39 degrees. The skin of Sphynx cats seems hotter, but only due to the lack of a fur layer. A healthy hairless cat should not have a body temperature higher than 39.5.

Electrochemical glucometers

Their action is based on the amperometric method of analysis. The test strips here are also lubricated with a reagent, but when they come into contact with blood, coloring does not occur. During the reaction, electric current is released. Its strength depends on the sugar level.

Electrochemical devices eliminate a number of disadvantages of photometric devices:

• increased strength;
• the accuracy of measurements has been increased (current strength is a specific value, as opposed to color);
• the required amount of blood for analysis has been reduced.

A child, an elderly person or simply a person with a low pain threshold will definitely prefer this type of sugar meter. The depth of the puncture depends on the required volume of blood. If less is required, the procedure is less painful.

Alarming symptoms: when to measure your pet's temperature

Just like people, animals can suffer from fever and chills. In medicine, an increase in t values ​​is called hyperthermia, a decrease is called hypothermia. Both conditions are equally dangerous and can be signs of illness.

All signs require immediate temperature measurement. Fever or chills cannot be determined by the condition of the nose.

Important! A dry and warm nose is a normal condition in healthy animals during sleep, rest, and in older cats.

How to choose the right glucometer

You can see many models on the market. Equally high-quality devices differ in the degree of convenience for a particular user. You can understand which glucometer is best to buy for your home by answering a few questions:

• Which type of device is most convenient for you?
• Does the required blood volume matter? For the elderly, children and especially sensitive people, the depth of the puncture is important.
• Is measurement time important? Faster ones cost more, but not everyone needs them.
• What test strips are available in pharmacies near you?
• Is additional plasma calibration required? In simpler devices it is carried out through capillary blood.
• How much memory is needed? This determines how many last measurements can be recorded.

It is important to decide whether additional features are needed. Modern sugar meters can have a lot of them. But their presence is not necessary.

How to measure a cat's temperature correctly

A regular thermometer is suitable for measuring the temperature of kittens and cats. But there must be a separate one for pets, and the owners choose which one.

Mercury - gives accurate parameters, but it must be held for at least 5 minutes. Plus - it is inexpensive, minus - it can break, and mercury vapor is harmful to people and animals.

Digital Thermometer. Pros: can be used for rectal and oral measurements, quickly determines indicators. The downside is that the hard plastic tip can cause pain and discomfort to the animal.

A contact infrared thermometer is inserted into the ear canal and removed after a signal. Plus – ease of use, minus – not used for otitis.

Non-contact infrared device. The device is called a pyrometer and is used to measure temperature without touching the body. The device takes into account infrared rays, but often shows an error within 0.1-1 °. This device is not suitable for accurate measurements.

Rectal electronic thermometer. The best option for cats. It is maximally adapted to the characteristics of the animal’s body, equipped with a flexible rubber tip and produces results within 1 minute.

Rules for measuring body temperature in cats:

• it is preferable to use the rectal method, as it is the most accurate and safe for the animal;
• Before measuring the temperature, you need to calm the pet, if possible, wrap it in a large towel;
• lift the tail, insert the device into the anus in a circular motion;
• insert the tip carefully so as not to damage the animal’s internal organs and do not insert the thermometer more than 10 mm into an adult cat or 0.5 cm into a kitten;
• if necessary, lightly lubricate the tip and anus with medical Vaseline;
• calm your pet with strokes and prevent him from struggling during the measurement process;
• wait for the signal and carefully remove the device.

After the procedure, the animal must be calmed down, the readings must be recorded, and if the cat’s body temperature is critical, call the veterinarian immediately.

Important! It is permissible to measure the temperature of 2-3 cats with one device, but only after thoroughly disinfecting the tip and the entire thermometer with an alcohol solution.

Rules for using a glucometer

Anyone can use this device at home. The main thing is to have consumables (test strips) in stock if the measurement is carried out using an invasive method. It is important to monitor their expiration date: damaged products will not provide the required accuracy.

Using a glucometer comes down to a few simple steps:

• thorough hand washing;
• disinfection of the puncture site;
• pricking the fingertip with a lancet;
• applying blood to the test strip;
• inserting the strip into the device.

The sequence of the last two steps depends on the type of device. The photometric strip is inserted with blood already applied. It is placed clean in the electrochemical one.

There is no need to insert express strips anywhere. Just wait for the color to change. With non-invasive it is even easier. It is only necessary to ensure contact with the skin (the area depends on the type of device).

Possible causes of hyperthermia

If, after active games, a cat’s temperature is 40°C, this is not a reason to worry; as soon as the pet rests, the temperature will return to normal. But when an animal in a calm state shows obvious signs of illness, measures need to be taken.

The causes of hyperthermia can be:

1. Viral diseases. The animal's body reacts to viruses with heat. This is manifested by a high body temperature in the cat, at which microorganisms die.
2. Inflammatory processes. Particularly pugnacious cats and female cats are “lucky” for cuts, lacerations, and bites—bacteria enter the wounds and inflammation begins. Also, the process often occurs after operations, when the cat’s care is not of sufficient quality.
3. Long exposure to the sun. Overheating in a stuffy room, a closed car, or outside in direct sunlight produces intense heat. Most often, older animals and kittens suffer from elevated temperatures due to overheating.
4. Severe stress or prolonged irritating emotions. For example, a fight with a strong opponent or severe fright can cause hyperthermia in a cat.
5. Vaccination, sterilization. If the fever does not subside within 24 hours, the animal must be taken to the veterinarian.

Attention! The cat's temperature should not be higher than 39.5 degrees. Hyperthermia is defined when the thermometer shows 40 degrees or higher. Indicators of 41 degrees are considered critical.

Is it possible to take blood from something other than a finger?

Traditionally, blood for testing is taken from a finger or from a vein. In the case of assessing sugar levels, venous is not very preferable. It contains more glucose than capillary, and there is a high risk of incorrect interpretation of the analysis. Therefore, blood for sugar is taken from a finger.

But there are many nerve endings in the fingertip. For many people, piercing is too painful. Therefore, there are high-quality glucometers that include the ability to analyze blood from:

• shoulder;
• forearms;
• shins;
• hips.

It's not that painful to pierce them. However, blood circulation in these parts of the body is slower than in the fingers. Therefore, changes in glucose levels do not always appear in a timely manner according to analyzes from alternative sites.

How to reduce a cat's fever at home

If the cat has a high temperature, you should not wet the cat’s fur or wrap the animal in a damp towel, use folk remedies, or independently reduce the fever with medications intended for treating humans.

And now about how to help and what you can give your cat when a fever appears:

1. Place your pet in a cool room. The optimal air temperature should be about +20 °C. If an animal is overheated in the sun, it is strictly unacceptable to immediately bring it into a cold room. It is best to place the cat in a chair or on a bedding, gradually lowering the air temperature to +18 degrees. Windows and doors should be closed - a draft will provoke a cold.
2. Give plenty of warm fluids in doses of no more than 1 tsp. with a frequency of 1 time every 20-30 minutes. It should be clean, cool (but not cold) water. Water should be given to cats with a syringe without a needle - bring the nose of the syringe to the mouth, lightly press with your fingers on the corners of the jaws so that the pet opens its mouth. Some owners give water with a pear, but in this case there is a risk of giving the cat water with air.
3. Take care of a light diet. Remove dry cat food and natural food, but leave light chicken (warm) broth - this food will help the cat regain strength.

Important! Symptoms of dehydration: vomiting, diarrhea, severe fever, tremors, lack of urination.

If dangerous symptoms are observed and the body temperature cannot be reduced, the animal should be shown to a veterinarian. It is strictly unacceptable to treat your pet on your own.

Coulometric glucometers

This is a type of electrochemical meters. The principle of determining glucose concentration is similar to amperometric. Only in this case, it is not the current strength that is assessed, but the electric charge. The required volume of blood for analysis is minimal compared to all other devices.

Amperometric instruments are more often used in laboratory practice, while coulometric instruments are usually used for home use.

The two subtypes differ in the price of consumables. Patients with type 1 diabetes need to measure their glucose more often. Therefore, it is more profitable for them to acquire an amperometric device with cheaper test strips. Coulometric tests are recommended for the control of type 2 diabetes.

Signs of fever

Cat body temperature: what is considered optimal and critical

In case of an infectious disease, severe cutting pain, as well as overheating, the animal’s body temperature increases by several degrees. This is evidenced by:

• lethargy of the pet. If the animal is accustomed to periodically running from one room to another, actively pouncing on tasty treats and coming to its owner to be petted, then the opposite behavior should alert the owner;
• rapid pulse. An adult healthy cat has a pulse in the range of 100-160 beats/min. Moreover, in large individuals this indicator is slightly lower than in their small counterparts, and in females it is slightly higher than in males. In kittens up to 4 months of age, the pulse ranges from 160 to 185 beats/min, and in older cats it can range from 75 to 100 beats/min. If your pet's heart is beating faster, this may be a symptom of hyperthermia, which should be investigated immediately;
• dehydration. It occurs if the cat consumes less fluid than it loses. It is also a sign of many ailments, for example, viral infection, diabetes, indigestion, etc. Lack of fluid in the body can seriously affect the health of the tailed animal and cause irreparable damage to the functioning of internal organs, especially the kidneys. You can tell if a moustached animal is dehydrated by the animal’s dry gums.

Dehydration is one of the symptoms of dangerous diseases

Important! If hyperthermia (over 40 °C) is detected in a cat, you should immediately take it to a veterinary clinic. In this case, in no case should you lower the temperature yourself with the help of medications. To alleviate the condition of your four-legged friend, you need to put something cool under his neck and paws, and constantly monitor his mustachioed fluid intake.

Why measure your sugar level?

Self-monitoring of glucose will allow you to:

• determine the effectiveness of medications at night, after meals and between meals;
• calculate the optimal dose of insulin and dosage of medications;
• adjust nutrition and physical activity;
• assess the dynamics of the disease;
• ensure driving safety;
• prevent the development of diabetic crisis, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.

It should be noted that self-monitoring cannot replace laboratory diagnostics. Therefore, you should visit the clinic every month for a blood test.

Additional functions of the meter

Typically, the device only measures the blood glucose concentration using a preset method. The kit includes the device itself, a set of test strips for the first time and a lancet for piercing the skin.

More expensive models come with statistical options, including separating measurements taken before and after meals. This is convenient for those who forget to fill out self-monitoring diaries.

A glucometer for an elderly or visually impaired person may have a voice assistant or a backlit display. The additional expense in this case is justified. You can also invest in an option with an auto-lancer, because not everyone has the fortitude to do it manually.

Options such as the ability to communicate with a computer or smartphone, the presence of extra control buttons and a timer are unimportant. Some sugar meters also analyze cholesterol levels.