"If you took a cat's temperature every two hours, you would find a slight fluctuation," said Joanna Guglielmino, DVM, the Cat Doctor
Veterinary Center, Federal Way, Washington. "The high temperature in a cat is 102.5. The high point is called the set point or the thermo-regulatory set point. The normal range is 100.5 and 102.5."Pyrogens like
bacteria, viruses, fungus, parasites, antigen antibody complexes, tissue damage, and certain drugs can reset the thermostat. These organisms stimulate white blood cells. Additionally, these organisms increase production of
prostaglaneion, oxygenated unsaturated cyclic fatty acids that perform a variety of hormone-like actions similar to controlling blood pressure.
When the temperature is out of the normal range a cat's metabolism attempts to
correct it. Left in a car for a short time on a warm day, a cat becomes overheated, starts to pant, blood vessels dilate to expose more surfaces in order to cool the cat's body down.
Fever Indications and Precautions:
Since cats are unable to tell us when and where it hurts, cat owners must be observant. If Mr. Kitty is listless, withdrawn, comes uninterested in food, has muscle aches or pains and a rapid breathing rate, there may be fever
involved.
However, the above signs may be an indication of other disorders. "We don't want to assume it's only a fever," said Dr. Guglielmino. "Since fever stimulates the body's immune response by activating white
blood cells, it's not appropriate to try to lower the fever."
Human Medicine-Dangerous or Not:
"We rarely use aspirin for fever," said Dr. Guglielmino. "Aspirin can be used with close veterinarian
supervision but we use it for chronic arthritis pain and heart disease to help prevent blood clots."
Aspirin is typically metabolized slowly in a cats system; therefore, it's used in low doses. In addition, a cat dosage is a
small fraction of the human dosage. According to Guglielmino, most veterinarians do not try to lower fever with anti-pyretic medication (Aspirin) but instead try to identify the cause of the fever and specifically treat the cause
instead of treating the symptom.
"Cats do not have elucuronyl transferas, a liver enzymes needed to break down human medications and can't convert acetaminophen to non-toxic byproducts," stated Guglielmino.
"Acetaminophen is Tylenol – never use on a cat, it will kill them. Cats cannot tolerate other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen."
When to Call the Veterinarian:
"I would be concerned
if the temperature is 106.5," Guglielmino said. "There is a danger of seizures here if the temperature is extremely elevated."
Some procedures Dr. Guglielmino practices in treating a fever include intravenous
fluids, wetting down the pads of the feet and tail, and continuing to look for the source of the fever. In cases where this treatment didn't bring the desired results, "I would consider an anti-pyretic [medication]."
"I'm quick to want to see the cat," said Dr. Guglielmino." The day shouldn't pass before we set up an appointment. Cats can become dehydrated quickly."
Cats can go without food for 48 hours but will show
dehydration. Kittens and senior cats are more susceptible to fever because they are more fragile with less excess body weight are prone to dehydration.
Early evaluation is extremely important for your cat's well-being and for
your piece of mind.
Sidebar: How to take a cat's temperature
Knowledge of your pet's temperature is a useful and basic health parameter that pet owners can monitor. However, similar to people, different cat
personalities can respond differently to potential stresses.
Define cat stress: his owner coming toward him with a foreign object in your hand. What you might consider minor probably is upsetting to your favorite feline.
"It should only be attempted by a skilled and trained owner, depending on the cat's attitude," says Dr. Guglelmino. "It is a two-person job that is part of the physical exam cats tolerate poorly."
Rely on your
powers of observation and familiarity with your cat to know if you should attempt to take his temperature. A good sign of outcome is how did he react at the last veterinarian appointment? Some cats recoil when the doctor lifts
their tail to insert the thermometer and some cats will not allow their temperature to be taken at all. If Mr. Kitty is one of them, you may want to think twice.
1. Assemble supplies including: human rectal thermometer,
lubricant like Vaseline, watch with a second hand and towel.
2. Shake thermometer down to 96 degrees and lubricate thermometer with Vaseline.
3. One person holds the cat, the other person lift the tail and insert the
thermometer into the rectum to one inch.
4. Watch the second hand on the watch and allow thermometer to stay in rectum for 1 ½ to 2 minutes. Important: never let go of the thermometer.
5. Take thermometer out of rectum, wipe with cotton swab and read thermometer.
According to Dr. Guglelmino, the ear thermometer is not as accurate for cats. She does not use them at her clinic because each cat has a different
shape to its ear canal.
Note: Both the Cornish rex and the Devon rex cats have a temperature that is normally one degree higher than that of other breeds.
