Sterilization of cats is an operation aimed at extinguishing sexual functions and hunting in females. It is especially important to monitor the cat in the first three days after surgery, to monitor all indicators general condition, measure the cat’s temperature after sterilization.
Important! In the first three days, the temperature of a sterilized cat will be unstable and may be slightly increased.
An increase in temperature of 1-2 degrees within 24-76 hours after surgery is acceptable, but only if the cat has completely recovered from anesthesia and is gradually returning to its normal life. The value of this indicator depends on age, the level of sensitivity and reactivity of the body to tissue damage, anesthesia, and stress.
If temperature readings do not return to normal on the third day, you need to urgently contact your veterinarian, since such a condition may indicate:
Hyperthermia can occur due to developing peritonitis, suppuration of sutures, and infection penetration into wounds.
In addition to the high temperature, the cat is lethargic, reluctant to make contact, hides in secluded places, and refuses to eat. The nose and earlobes are hot. Thirst increased. Maybe nausea, unstable stool.
If the temperature rises above 39.5-40 degrees, does not subside on the third day or occurs later, this is a critical condition for the body. Take the cat to the clinic, call the veterinarian home. To avoid development serious complications, it is necessary to provide qualified, and in some cases, emergency assistance as soon as possible.
If your cat has a fever after surgery, move the animal to a cool place, but just make sure there are no drafts. Dry your cat with a damp towel. Place a bowl of cool water.
Read also: Cat behavior after sterilization: what to expect from your pet
If your cat's temperature is high, you should absolutely not give your pet human medications to relieve fever.
Important! Analgin, aspirin, paracetamol, other drugs that include acetylsalicylic acid, can cause poisoning and intoxication.
Moreover, it is very difficult to guess correct dosage antipyretic drugs. The doctor will prescribe the necessary medications after an examination and depending on the underlying cause.
If a cat has developed inflammation, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory drugs, and immunomodulators are used in therapy. In case of infection of the sutures, antiseptic solutions, lotions. In some cases, a course of antibiotic therapy is required.
As already noted, an increase in temperature in sterilized cats is allowed only for three days after surgery. If the indicators do not return to normal, there are signs of deterioration in the condition, contact a veterinarian and take the animal to the clinic. Do not self-medicate, as incorrect actions will cause serious complications.
After sterilization, a cat’s temperature may drop below normal by 0.5-1.5 degrees in the first 12-24 hours, which is considered the physiological norm.
Postoperative hypothermia is caused by severe stress, general anesthesia, slowing metabolism, metabolic processes in the body, painful shock. This condition is caused by severe blood loss.
Low temperature may be caused unfavorable conditions microclimate, hypothermia, severe weakening of the body, endocrine pathologies, other chronic diseases or systemic failures in the body of a mustachioed pet.
The following signs indicate the development of hypothermia:
Update: October 2017
Body temperature is important clinical sign health status of any warm-blooded animal. Cats are no exception. Every owner must not only be able to measure domestic cat temperature, but also know what its indicators should be normal.
Which normal temperature in mustachioed pets? Normal indicators Body temperatures in cats are highly variable.
In hairless breeds of cats, the body temperature is absolutely the same as in thick-haired ones, but purely tactilely it is felt as higher, due to its manifestation on bare skin.
Measuring temperature will not be difficult if you know the intricacies of the procedure. The process itself takes place using the same measuring instruments as for humans. It's better if pet will have its own personal instrument, which will then not be used by any other person.
To carry out thermometry use:
It is worth noting the advantages of electronic devices for the speed of obtaining results, which allows less time to cause discomfort to the pet.
The temperature is measured in the animal's rectum. The procedure is unpleasant, so it involves restraining the cat to avoid injury from claws and teeth. Better procedure carried out by two people - one holds, the other carries out the procedure. If the cat is especially aggressive, it may be necessary to involve someone else.
After fixation, the tip of the thermometer is smeared with Vaseline or some other greasy cream (for example, baby cream) and inserted into the cat’s rectum to a depth of 2 cm for large cats and up to 1 cm for kittens. Electronic measuring instruments are held until a sound signal, classic mercury thermometers - 3-5 minutes.
After removal, the result is assessed and the tip is necessarily wiped with a swab moistened with alcohol or any other disinfectant solution. It should be noted that if during the procedure the cat behaves too actively and violently breaks out, then the result may be inaccurate as the indicator increases. This is due to the increased release of internal energy and heat.
To measure temperature using a more gentle method, you can use thermometers:
The principle of operation of the first is to determine the temperature that actively flows to the brain. Those. it picks up heat impulses from auricle. The cat does not feel any discomfort during the procedure. Two disadvantages: 1) cost; 2) incorrect result for ear disease.
When measured with a non-contact device, the cat does not feel anything at all. The device is aimed at the cat’s body (ideally hairless areas) and results are immediately obtained. It has errors in measurements within 0.2-0.3°C compared to the classic mercury “brother”. There is only one drawback - the cost of the device itself.
Important: the state of nasal moisture is not an informative indicator of normal or high body temperature!
Any changes in Murka’s body temperature are always a sign of ill health. The thermometry results can either rise or fall below normal - in any case, you need to find out the reason, what is wrong with the animal.
Infectious causes:
Non-infectious causes:
Physiological reasons:
If, after measuring the temperature, it is revealed that it has dropped below normal (hypothermia) or, conversely, has increased, then you need to immediately take the cat to the veterinarian. If this is not possible, then you can alleviate the pet’s condition yourself.
Usually, when a cat warms up, it falls asleep, and when it wakes up, it feels much better. But it is recommended not to postpone your visit to the doctor, because... the reason for this condition must be identified.
If there is a jump in body temperature, the cat should not be given any medicines, especially intended for people.
Important: a well-known antipyretic from the human first aid kit called paracetamol, for a cat it is a poison that causes serious poisoning with a fatal outcome!
After the temperature has been reduced slightly (not necessarily immediately before normal level, most importantly, until it’s safe), you need to arrange for the cat to be taken to the veterinarian. Most often, an increase in body temperature is caused by viral or bacterial infections, therefore antiviral and antibacterial therapy effectively normalize the pet's condition.
Owners must be aware that the conditions described below can lead to the death of their pet:
If the question is whether to take the cat to a veterinary hospital or call a veterinarian at home, the answer should be in favor of the clinic. It is possible that the temperature will continue to rise, and the pet will need a resuscitation procedure, which will be difficult to carry out at home.
When taking a cat to a veterinarian, the specialist tries to find out the reason for the increase/decrease in body temperature in order to prescribe adequate and correct treatment.
To do this:
After making a diagnosis and determining the exact cause of temperature fluctuations, treatment is prescribed, which may include:
Antipyretics are prescribed at the earliest extreme case when there is a threat to the life of the animal. But usually, timely, appropriate therapy for the situation brings down the rising (or falling) temperature within 24 hours.
Be attentive to your pets, monitor for any changes in their health, including fluctuations in body temperature.
Normal temperature in cats ranges from 38°C to 39°C. Specific indicators are individual, depending on the age and congenital characteristics of the animal, so it is important to know the normal, natural temperature of your pet. For a cat whose normal temperature is 39.0°C, 39.1°C will be a slight increase, but for an animal with normal temperature 38.0°C will be a warning sign. Typically, the body temperature of kittens is higher than that of older animals, but the opinion that it is higher in cats of hairless breeds than in woolly breeds is erroneous.
The normal temperature of cats is higher than that of humans. The temperature of the animals is measured rectally by inserting the tip of a thermometer, lubricated with Vaseline, into the anal hole. It is worth considering that for some animals any manipulation, and especially a trip to the veterinary clinic, is stressful, which entails slight increase temperature.
An elevated temperature in a cat may indicate a bacterial or viral disease or about some kind of inflammatory process. The most common cat infections are:
Panleukopenia
Rhinotracheitis
Calcivirosis
Coronavirus
The best way to protect against the first three groups of viruses is timely vaccination with a polyvalent vaccine. There is currently no generally accepted vaccine against coronavirus, although development is underway.
Except viral infections, an increase in a cat's body temperature may indicate various inflammatory processes, for example, in case of trauma, sepsis. It is very important to monitor the postoperative condition of the operated cats, especially if they are not vaccinated and their origin and life path unknown. Anesthesia causes a decrease in immunity and an increase in the body's susceptibility to various types of infections. But it should be taken into account that the first two days the indicators may be incorrect: anesthesia and blood loss affect the temperature.
Your first aid kit should contain good antibiotics and antipyretics, and if necessary, call a veterinarian.
The cat’s low body temperature should also cause no less concern. In small kittens, it may indicate immunosuppression - pathological decrease immunity against the background of a viral disease, and in older animals - about diseases of the kidneys, liver, and heart.
Hypothermia is observed during hypothermia and severe blood loss, after prolonged antibiotic therapy and serious (lasting more than 3 hours) surgical interventions. In case of hypothermia, it is necessary to warm the pet's body externally using heating pads and blankets and intravenously by administering warm solutions. If the temperature drops below 36.5°C and remains at this level for more than 2 days, the animal’s life is at risk.
Prolonged and severe hypothermia is fraught with serious complications - metabolic disorders, development cardiovascular failure. The life and health of your pet depends on the promptness of providing qualified assistance.
In cats, like in other animals, with any ailment, the temperature rises or falls. This is the first signal that your pet needs immediate assistance. The cat tolerates any temperature deviation from the norm very poorly. As a rule, the animal does not eat or drink anything and lies quietly in a secluded place. What to do if your cat’s temperature rises or falls, and why can this happen? Let's talk about this now.
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The normal temperature for a cat is considered to be 38-39.2 degrees Celsius. An increase in this indicator by a degree or more already indicates that the pet is unwell. The first symptom of the onset of the disease can be called lethargy and when the pet does not eat anything long time. Also, the cat may constantly lie down and refuse any communication. Although, there are cases when the symptoms are the opposite - the pet, on the contrary, is overly active, has increased thirst and eats constantly.
High fever in cats can also provoke symptoms such as vomiting, dilated pupils, constipation, irregular pulse and breathing. There may also be discharge from the ears, eyes and nose. In most cases elevated temperature It only causes a couple of symptoms in a cat. A sick animal's fur often becomes dull and bristles in different directions.
When signs of fever appear in a cat, it is necessary to carry out an examination in order to quickly understand its cause. It’s worth starting with the fur and seeing if there is any discharge from the animal’s nose. You also need to look at oral cavity. U healthy cat it is pale pink, there is no stomatitis or ulcers. Feeling the abdomen will help determine the condition of the gastrointestinal tract. After all, it is precisely because of such diseases that a sick pet does not eat anything.
A cat's fever can be measured using a rectal thermometer. If this is not the case, you can use the usual one. It will be more convenient if the animal is standing, but you can measure the heat of a sitting or lying cat. Next, you need to lubricate the tip of the thermometer with Vaseline or ordinary oil. Then lift the furry tail and carefully insert it into the rectum about three centimeters. For more information on this procedure, see the video below.
In a couple of minutes you can get exact numbers. The kitten's temperature is 40 degrees, what should I do? Try to find out what the reason is, although in any case you will have to take him to a specialist. When a cat’s fever rises to 40 degrees, postponing a trip to the veterinarian is dangerous. So, high performance temperatures negatively affect the pet’s health, causing problems such as dehydration or cerebral edema.
You should not try to reduce a fever of 40 degrees or higher at home with antipyretic drugs intended for humans. Only in the most extreme cases, if the veterinarian arrives not soon, but high temperature in cats the temperature rises above 40 degrees, the pet is given Analgin. However in the best possible way Physical methods will help bring down the fever, for example, putting ice on the inner thighs or on the neck. Alternatively, you can wrap your pet in wet gauze.
The most the right decision if the cat's temperature rises, there is only one thing to do - urgently take the pet to the veterinary clinic.
Why is it better not to call a veterinarian at home, but to immediately take a pet who has a fever to the clinic? The fact is that the animal’s high body temperature could be caused by a variety of viruses. They can only be identified by passing the necessary tests. This way, you can gain valuable time to save your pet’s life.
Hypothermia in a pet is also not a good thing. In most cases, this process occurs if the cat’s body feels weak when viral disease, this is how immunosuppression manifests itself. Also low temperature can be observed in pets who suffer from diseases of the kidneys, heart, endocrine and nervous system. With hypothermia, the pet feels weak, depressed, does not eat or drink, and trembles. Pallor of the mucous membrane and skin are also signs of illness.
First aid for your beloved pet should be aimed at raising the temperature. To do this, it is necessary to cover the patient with hot water bottles. If this method does not help, you should take your pet to a veterinary clinic. Since your cat eats little or not at all during illness, give him something to drink.
People aren't the only ones who sneeze when they're sick. If you are interested in learning how cats sneeze, we recommend watching the following video.
We know very little about the time of the appearance of the first domestic animals; there is practically no confirmed information about them. There are no legends or chronicles preserved about that period of human life when we were able to tame wild animals. It is believed that already in the Stone Age, ancient people had domesticated animals, the ancestors of today's domestic animals. The time when man received modern domestic animals remains unknown to science, and the formation of today's domestic animals as a species is also unknown.
Scientists assume that every domestic animal has its wild ancestor. Proof of this is archaeological excavations carried out on the ruins of ancient human settlements. During excavations, bones belonging to domestic animals were found ancient world. So it can be argued that even in such a distant era of human life, domesticated animals accompanied us. Today there are species of domestic animals that are no longer found in the wild.
Many of today's wild animals are feral animals caused by humans. For example, let's take America or Australia as clear evidence of this theory. Almost all domestic animals were brought to these continents from Europe. These animals have found fertile soil for life and development. An example of this is hares or rabbits in Australia. Due to the fact that there are no natural predators dangerous for this species on this continent, they multiplied in huge quantities and went wild. Since all rabbits were domesticated and brought by Europeans for their needs. Therefore, we can say with confidence that more than half of wild domesticated animals are former domestic animals. For example, wild city cats and dogs.
Be that as it may, the question of the origin of domestic animals should be considered open. As for our pets. The first confirmations in chronicles and legends we meet are a dog and a cat. In Egypt, the cat was a sacred animal, and dogs were actively used by humanity in the ancient era. There is plenty of evidence for this. In Europe, the cat appeared in its mass after crusade, but firmly and quickly occupied a niche pet and a mouse hunter. Before them, Europeans used various animals to catch mice, such as weasels or genets.
Domestic animals are divided into two unequal species.
The first type of domestic animal is farm animals that directly benefit humans. Meat, wool, fur and many other useful things, goods, and are also used by us for food. But they do not live directly in the same room with a person.
The second type is pet animals (companions), which we see every day in our houses or apartments. They brighten up our leisure time, entertain us and give us pleasure. And most of them are almost useless for practical purposes. modern world, for example, hamsters, guinea pigs, parrots and many others.
Animals of the same species can often belong to both species, both farm animals and pets. A prime example of this is that rabbits and ferrets are kept at home as pets, but are also bred for their meat and fur. Also, some waste from pets can be used, for example, the hair of cats and dogs for knitting various items or as insulation. For example, belts made of dog hair.
Many doctors note the positive impact of pets on human health and well-being. We can notice that many families who keep animals at home note that these animals create comfort, calm, and relieve stress.
This encyclopedia was created by us to help pet lovers. We hope that our encyclopedia will help you in choosing a pet and caring for it.
If you have interesting observations of your pet’s behavior or would like to share information about some pet. Or do you have a nursery near your house? veterinary clinic, or a hotel for animals, write to us about them at the address so that we can add this information to the database on our website.