Almost any owner can panic when a cat has a hot nose. For most owners, their furry friends have long ceased to be just ordinary pets.
Many owners treat cats and cats as full members of the family, and sometimes as small children. Pet disease for such people can be a real tragedy. But even those who treat their pets are not as fanatical as responsible owners always try to notice the poor health of their cats.
Prevailing stereotype
People say that if the cat has a hot nose and ears, this is the first and sure sign of temperature. In this article we will try to understand how this statement is true. Also, it will be useful for all owners to know whether it is really worth worrying every time the cat has a hot nose.
Features of thermoregulation
First of all, never forget that, according to the idea of ​​nature, the temperature of a cat’s body is normally almost 2 ° higher than that of humans. Sometimes this becomes the reason that the owner thinks that the pet’s nose is slightly tepid, while the cat itself can feel great. You also need to remember that all the mechanisms of thermoregulation in cats work very clearly. The temperature on individual parts of the body can vary throughout the day, and this is normal. If the cat has a hot wet nose, and after 30-40 minutes it becomes absolutely normal (warm or cool), this means that there is no reason to worry. Most likely, the warming of the nose was triggered by non-fatal factors for the cat's life, which increased the general temperature. At the same time, the mechanisms of thermoregulation independently coped with this problem.
Should I worry?
In fact, cats are so vulnerable and delicate creatures that many domestic factors can provoke a short-term increase in temperature or make their nose warm. Answers to the question “why does the cat have a hot nose?” there may be several:
- the pet is sleeping or just woke up, and after he warmed himself in his sleep, his temperature was slightly elevated;
- the cat experienced stress (the appearance of another pet in the house, moving to a new place, someone shouted loudly at him);
- the animal was frightened of something (loud noise, barking dogs, vacuum cleaner, etc.);
- furry friend showed an excessive amount of activity, played, jumped, etc.
The cat has a hot nose: what to do?
First of all, of course, do not panic. If the pet has normal ears, he behaves in the usual way, eats and drinks water, maintains activity and mobility, then the animal simply needs to be carefully watched over the next few hours. Most likely, this symptom will go away on its own.
If the owners noticed a cat’s hot nose, they should worry and get to the veterinarian as soon as possible when at least one of the following symptoms is added to this:
- the animal does not drink water for a long time;
- the cat refuses food ;
- avoids the owners, hides, does not want to play, does not go into the arms;
- shows aggression, runs, rushes around the apartment, behaves irritably;
- the animal, on the contrary, becomes apathetic, falls into melancholy;
- there are signs of a cold: sneezes, red eyes;
- fluid flows from the nose, discharge appears.
How to measure the temperature of your pet
Do not postpone a visit to the doctor in those cases when the cat has a hot nose for a long time and at the same time he has a lack of appetite and apathy. But in order to understand whether a hot nose actually signals us about the temperature and whether it is worth putting the cat under stress by taking him to an unnecessary examination at the clinic, you can measure the temperature at home, on your own.
In cats, this is done basally (that is, through the anus). Few cats will take this mastery idea with enthusiasm, and you need to be prepared for the fact that the animal will resist and will not sit quietly for 5 minutes with a thermometer in the pope. Therefore, it is desirable that the procedure was performed by 2 people, one of whom could keep the fluffy patient well all the time. In this case, it is desirable that the case of the thermometer be plastic, and not glass.
It must be remembered that the body temperature of our tailed friends is several degrees higher than that of a person. So indicators in the region of 38 ° -39 ° for cats are acceptable. But the temperature above 39 ° should be a signal that it is time to show the pet to the veterinarian.
Hot and red ears
One of the symptoms of real cat health problems can be both dry and hot nose, as well as red hot, “flaming” ears. This condition may indicate infection with an ear tick. Also a bad signal is a dry nose, red ears and a specific, unpleasant odor from the auricle. This may be a sign of a simple or already purulent otitis media. In such a situation, do not waste time. Take the cat to the doctor for examination as soon as possible.
Advice to caring owners
Many of us, madly in love with our cats, noticing their hot nose, immediately run to the computer and begin to search on various forums for tips on what to do. Having read the advice of various "expert breeders", the owners only risk aggravating the condition of their furry friend. You can read absolutely ridiculous tips on the Internet, for example: pour a teaspoon of vodka into your cat’s mouth, pick some grass on the road, mix an Aspirin or Paracetamol tablet in the food.
Similar methods, especially with the use of alcohol, can undermine the health of even an absolutely healthy animal.
No matter how great the temptation to “save” your sick tailed friend on your own, remember that for an animal, just like a person, only a doctor should prescribe any drug. If the cat has symptoms of a real illness, find the money, time and show it to the veterinarian, because the most important thing is not to harm the animal with your care.