Symptoms of Fever in Kittens

1 Kitten Fever

As an animal, it is normal for a cat to have a fever. How to tell if a cat has a fever? It is not hard – like people, a feverish cat’s temperature changes and it may have a runny nose.

Many people ask what to do if a cat has a fever, and whether they can give fever medicine. Don’t panic – it is not a severe or hard-to-treat disease. Usually, with the right method and symptomatic treatment, the cat recovers quickly. Symptoms: temperature over 40°C; the normally cool tail tip and ears feel hot; the cat lies exhausted on the cool floor.

What are the symptoms of fever in kittens?

Just as people seek to lower their temperature when feverish, cats do the same: a cat that normally loves the sofa or bed may suddenly prefer the floor, or a dim, cool spot, with a dry, hot nose – then it’s time to suspect fever and take its temperature.

A cat’s normal temperature is a bit higher than a human’s, generally 38-39°C. The standard way to measure is rectally; at home you can use the rear leg root. If the reading exceeds 40°C, go to the hospital at once.

A feverish cat needs cooling; physical cooling is common – use a special ice pack or towel on the feverish areas, usually the abdomen, paw pads, and armpits. You can also wipe the paw pads with medical alcohol, but if your cat scratches, take care to avoid alcohol poisoning: after wiping, make sure the alcohol is dry and the cat can’t reach it before cleaning up.

For mild kitten fever, wipe the paw pads, belly, and ears with alcohol or apply an ice pack, and encourage drinking; for severe fever, take the kitten to the vet to find the cause, then treat per the vet’s guidance. Never give human fever medicine, or the kitten may be poisoned and die.