11 Cat Fever Symptoms & Signs

Cat fever! No, we don’t mean it in the sense that you have cat fever and are yearning to get another cat. We mean it in the health sense.

For instance, do you know how to tell if your cat has a fever? Do you know what your cat’s temperature is under normal circumstances? As your cat’s caretaker, it is important for you to be armed with this knowledge so you can be your cat’s best advocate and make sure they are living their best and healthiest life.

While you might feel out of your depth when it comes to health issues and your cat, the good news is your cat’s temperature is actually quite easy to monitor yourself at home and you should be able to easily determine if your cat has a fever.

Can My Cat Get a Fever?

Have you ever wondered, “Can my cat get a fever?” The answer is yes. The average cat body temperature ranges from 99-102.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and anything above 102.5 is considered to be cat fever temperature.

Knowing YOUR cat’s average body temperature is important though so you have a baseline for comparison. For example, if you know your cat’s average temperature is usually around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, but then they register a temperature of 102, you know your cat has a fever even though 102 is technically within the “normal range.”

Regularly checking and logging your cat’s temperature will give you the insight you need to figure out what a normal temperature is for your individual cat.

11 Cat Fever Symptoms

Contrary to popular belief, a warm and dry nose is not a symptom of a cat fever. If you suspect your cat is running a temperature, there are several cat fever symptoms you can look out for though, aside from an elevated temperature.

Lethargy / Lack of Energy

It’s true, cats do a lot of napping under normal circumstances, but if you notice your cat is less active than normal, is not interested in play, and generally seems to be low in energy, it could be a sign of a fever. 

Loss of Appetite

Loss of interest in food, eating less than normal, or not eating at all are common cat fever symptoms.

Shivering

Just like in humans, the chills sometimes accompany a fever. If your cat is shivering for no apparent reason, they likely have an elevated temperature.

Rapid Breathing

If you notice your cat breathing more rapidly than normal, it is a sign of a possible fever.  

Dark or Bright Red Gums

A cat’s gums should normally be a pink color – not too light or not too dark. If your cat’s gums are bright or dark red, a fever could be the cause.

Decreased Drinking

If your cat stops drinking water or you notice they are drinking less than usual, this can be cause for concern. Less water consumption is a symptom of fever.

Hiding

Cats do appreciate their hidey holes, but if your cat is hiding more than usual and not coming out for food or play, it’s a sign of possible illness and fever.

Decreased Grooming

Cats are naturally pretty clean animals and like to keep their coat well-maintained. If your cat’s fur looks unkempt and they aren’t grooming themselves, a fever could be to blame.

Rapid Heart Rate

If your cat’s heart rate is higher than usual, there could be many causes. A fever is one of them.

Stomach Upset – Vomiting or Diarrhea

Another symptom of a fever is an upset stomach, which can present itself by your cat throwing up or experiencing diarrhea.

Sneezing

While not direct symptoms of a fever necessarily, sneezing is a sign of illness, which can also be accompanied by a fever.

While all of the above are common symptoms of a fever, the only true way to know if your cat’s temperature is elevated is to take it. Thankfully it is easy to take your cat’s temperature at home so you can confirm your suspicions.

Cat Fever Treatment & Care

If you’ve established your cat does indeed have a fever, there are a few at-home cat fever treatments you can provide until you are able to get your cat seen by a veterinarian. That being said, you should never give your cat human medications without the explicit instructions of your veterinarian. Many human medications are toxic to cats.

Way to treat a cat’s fever at home:

•       Make sure your cat stays hydrated. Provide them with fresh, clean water from a cat water fountain if possible (cats are more attracted to running water).
•       Provide your cat with a quiet and comfortable place to rest.
•       Regularly monitor your cat’s temperature to make sure it doesn’t reach temperatures above 106 degrees Fahrenheit. A fever above 106 degrees can damage organs, so you need to get your cat to a veterinarian immediately if their temperature reaches that high.

If your cat’s temperature is only slightly elevated by a degree or two and they otherwise seem okay, they may be able to fight off whatever infection is going on themselves. That’s what a fever is for, after all.

However, if your cat’s fever is accompanied by any other concerning symptoms, if the fever doesn’t subside in a day or so, or if it continues to climb, you should take your cat to the vet for further diagnosis and treatment.

Your cat’s temperature is one of the five vital stats that we encourage you to monitor. Join us in our Pet Health 5 movement, and together we can start tracking our pet’s health. All it takes is 5 minutes of your time, and we’ll even send you a reminder on the 5th of each month with a checklist of what to do and how to do it.

Start today by checking and logging your cat’s temperature and signing up for Pet Health 5.

Have you ever noticed if your cat has had a fever? What did you do?

About the Author: Emily is “mom” to seven cats, one dog, and two sugar gliders. She has been writing in the pet industry for over 8 years, with a focus on cats, rescue, and adventuring. When she isn’t writing, playing music, crocheting, or working on her own entrepreneurial pursuits, Emily and her husband enjoy hiking, road-tripping, camping, and canoeing with their three cat adventurers. Follow her on her blog, KittyCatGo.