Mary Allen
A body temperature that is too low can be deadly for cats. Read here about the causes of hypothermia in cats and how you can help.
Hypothermia in cats is more common than you might think. The dense fur protects the cat from the cold to a certain extent, but there are situations in which it fails. For example, a wet coat, whether from an involuntary bath or heavy rain, cannot protect against the cold, especially if the cat is immobile or in shock. A cat should therefore always be covered up after an accident.
There is also a risk of hypothermia during and after operations. In this case, warm up your cat before and after the operation with suitable blankets or heat mats and keep an eye on the cat. Also, baby kittens are prone to hypothermia.
Symptoms of Hypothermia in Cats
The normal body temperature of the cat is between 38.5 and 39 °C. Things get critical at temperatures below 37.5 °C. To measure the temperature, lubricate the tip of a special thermometer for cats* (e.g. with Vaseline or lubricating gel) and insert it into the cat’s anus.
In addition to the most obvious symptom, body temperature, shivering can also be a sign that the cat is freezing. If the cat also has breathing problems or an unusually strong or weak pulse, you should urgently consult a veterinarian!
Measures for Hypothermia in Cats
Various measures are helpful to warm up the cat again. The most important thing is to slowly warm up the cat. Warming up too quickly causes a large part of the blood to flow into the skin and vital organs are no longer adequately supplied with blood. In addition, these measures help:
- Hot-water bottles can help, but must not be too hot. This causes burns!
- Adult cats should be dried well and wrapped in a blanket.
- Infrared lamps work well with small kittens, but you need to check the temperature under the lamp regularly to avoid overheating the kittens.
- Lukewarm water for drinking warms the cat from the inside.
- Watch the cat carefully and do not leave it alone.
In addition to these first aid measures, it is also advisable to go to the vet and have the cat checked out thoroughly. If the cat shows other symptoms, is in shock, the countermeasures are of no use or it is severely hypothermic, a visit to the vet is urgently and urgently needed.
Prevention of Hypothermia in Cats
The nest of newborn kittens should be checked regularly. If the kittens become restless or whine, this can indicate both too little milk and too little heat.