Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Taking a cat's temperature with a special veterinary ear thermometer. It may be annoying, but
it doesn't hurt.
What You Should Do if Your Cat Has a Fever?
If you suspect that your cat has a fever, be sure he is someplace cool.
Do not give any over-the-counter medications made for humans to reduce a cat's
fever.
If the cat is alert and acting normal, check his temperature again
in an hour.You can hose a cat down with cold water to bring down his
temperature, but this rather radical treatment should be reserved for
cases when the temperature is above 105°F.You can also apply rubbing
alcohol to the cat's footpads to cool him, but if the cat then licks his
feet, he will drool a bit.
Whenever a cat has a fever, it is best to have the cat examined by a
veterinarian as soon as possible.The doctor will try to determine what
triggered the fever and then offer options for treatment. Cold fluids can
be injected into a cat to cool him down. If a fever persists for more than
24 hours, more extensive nursing care and diagnostic testing are prob-
ably warranted.
