A happy pet is a healthy pet. This fact does not require any evidence. That is why responsible people pay due attention to the health of their pet. A caring owner sooner or later wonders what a healthy cat should have. Dry nose causes anxiety and concern about the physical condition of the animal. However, is it worth it to immediately sound the alarm in the presence of a similar symptom?
Humidity and temperature
Today we are analyzing what a healthy cat’s nose should be like. Naturally, in this vein, you should first of all pay attention to the temperature and humidity of the cat’s nose, because it is this organ that can demonstrate the slightest disturbances in the thermoregulation of the cat’s body.
Traditionally, talking about what a healthy cat’s nose should be like, they mention a well-known fact: it should be wet and cold. Indeed, in most cases, the nose of a healthy pet is moist and cool, with the exception of a few cases, which will be discussed below. However, it should neither be too cold (which would indicate the presence of diseases of a certain group), nor excessively wet (which would probably indicate the presence of nasal discharge).
A dry nose, as a rule, indicates the development of a disease in a cat's body. While hot helps to understand that the pet may have a fever.
Any long-term changes in the humidity or temperature of the cat's nose are a clear indication for going to the veterinary clinic, where doctors can identify the causes of this symptom and provide the necessary assistance.
When there is no cause for alarm
Speaking about what a healthy cat’s nose should be, it should be noted that situational changes in its temperature and humidity are far from always a direct sign of the presence or development of any disease in the animal. So, the nose of kittens is often hotter than the nose of an adult animal. Also, any kind of stress, increased physical activity and even ordinary sleep make it dry and hot, which, however, does not affect the pet’s health.
Nasal discharge
A clear sign of the disease is discharge from the nose of any nature, whether it is mucus, blood, or liquid discharge. They can indicate the presence of a variety of infections (bacterial, fungal, upper respiratory tract infections), foreign objects in the nasal passages of the animal, allergies, mechanical injuries to the animal’s head, as well as serious diseases such as pneumonia and swelling of the nasal cavity. Sudden problems with teeth also often cause a variety of discharge from the nasal passages. Therefore, the appearance of any discharge from the cat’s nose should be a signal to immediately show it to a competent veterinarian who can correctly assess the situation and prescribe an effective treatment for the animal.
Examination and cleaning of the nose
It is important to remember that in no case should you penetrate any cat-shaped objects not intended for examination, including cotton swabs. If there is a need to explore the nasal passages from the inside, they use a specialized device - an endoscope, which is a thin tube equipped with a backlight and a camera. This procedure should be carried out by a specialist, always under general anesthesia, since the procedure is unpleasant and the animal will not tolerate it.
The need to clean the cat’s nose arises only if it cannot do it on its own, for example, due to an illness. In this situation, the outer surface of the nose should be carefully cleaned with a cotton swab, removing all crusts and litter, making movements from the inner edge of the nose to the outer.
Pay attention to color
It is important to note that what a healthy cat should have is determined not only by its temperature and dryness, but also by its shade. The color of the nose largely depends on the color of the animal itself, however, a caring owner will certainly notice that its shade has changed and looks unnatural. So, the too pale color of a cat's nose indicates hypothermia or intoxication. At the same time, a too dark cyanotic nose can indicate a problem with the cardiovascular system or a state of hypoxia (prolonged oxygen starvation) in a pet.
Summary
So, what should a healthy cat's nose be: dry or wet? As you can see, it all depends on the specific situation. In a cat that has just woken up, got scared or has finished an active game, the nose can be dry and warm, which is the result of natural processes in the animal’s body and does not appear to be a sign of any pathological process. However, this condition passes rather quickly, and therefore, long-term changes of this kind cannot be ignored. Indeed, otherwise delay can lead to complications of the disease and other unpleasant consequences for the animal itself and for its owners. In the presence of any adverse changes, you should immediately contact the veterinarians in order to obtain specialist advice, find out the diagnosis and proceed with the proper treatment of the animal.
However, it is also necessary to control other behavioral characteristics of the cat. For example, changes in the level of its activity, appetite, sleep habits. Any negative dynamics in this regard, as a rule, is a reliable signal informing that your pet is unwell. It is necessary to pay attention to such changes and fix them in time.
So what should a healthy cat's nose be like? Remember that the norm is a cool and wet nose, and any extremes in this regard, lasting a long time, can be considered as a danger signal, which must be paid attention to.