Can Cats Get a Fever?

1 How to Tell If Your Cat Has a Fever

How to tell if your cat has a fever:

1. From the cat’s behavior

A feverish cat is listless and warm, prefers cool floors, and drinks often. A healthy cat has a cool, damp nose, pink and slightly cool ears, and since the tail tip is exposed to air, usually a cool tail tip. A feverish cat’s nose turns dry and hot, the ears and tail tip warm up, the paw pads sweat, and appetite drops clearly.

2. From the thermometer reading

Behavior alone rarely settles it, but a thermometer tells you for sure. The reliable method is a rectal reading: lubricate the tip, insert it about two centimeters into the rectum at a slight angle against the wall, wait two to three minutes, then withdraw and read.

3. From the cat’s symptoms and illness

Look for other complications, familiar cat diseases like panleukopenia, feline rhinotracheitis, coronavirus, gastroenteritis, and respiratory illness can all cause fever. These usually come with typical signs that help you judge whether a fever is present.

Combining these three approaches, any owner can tell whether their cat has a fever.

There are also other signs worth knowing, learning the full set of fever indicators helps you catch illness early.