How do I know if my cat has a fever?

If you notice that your cat is acting sluggish and refuses his food, you may want to check if he has a fever. The only way to determine this for sure is to check with a thermometer. Make sure someone restrains the cat while you take the animal’s rectal temperature.

Your cat’s normal resting temperature should be between one-hundred-point-five and one-hundred-two-point-five degrees. So if the mercury rises up to about one-hundred-three-degrees or more, call your veterinarian immediately. Your precious pet may have some kind of infection or inflammation. To determine the problem, your veterinarian will give your pet a thorough examination.

– Dr. Larry McDaniel, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series

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