Hypothermia in cats consists of a drop in body temperature below normal values, which are around 38 and 39ºC. The symptomatology shows tremors, muscular rigidity and alteration of vital signs. Feline hypothermia is due to different causes and requires urgent treatment. It is important to highlight that the arrival of winter brings with it the need to take care of our cats from the low temperatures and climate changes. Exposure to cold, wind, rain and snow can severely threaten the he alth of our faithful companions.
On this occasion, from our site we invite you to learn more about hypothermia in cats, its causes, symptoms and treatment so that you can quickly recognize and apply the best care for your feline.
What is hypothermia in cats?
Hypothermia is considered a complex symptom picture caused by the drop in body temperature The ideal temperature for he althy adult cats should be around 38 and 39ºC [1] However, when the temperature drops below 36ºC, we will begin to observe tremors and other characteristic symptoms of hypothermia. In this way, when we find a low temperature in cats, we must consider the possibility that the animal is suffering from feline hypothermia.
Causes of hypothermia in cats
In most domestic felines, hypothermic symptoms appear after exposure to cold and other severe weather conditions. Some of the causes of hypothermia in cats can be:
- Pathologies: they can also hinder the natural regulation of body temperature in felines, as is often the case with hypothyroidism.
- Alterations in the immune system: make the animal much more vulnerable to suffering the symptoms of hypothermia.
- Immune system underdeveloped: baby cats are especially vulnerable to hypothermia as they cannot yet regulate their body temperature on their own, and their immune systems are still forming.
- Changes and adverse weather conditions: it is essential to prevent our little felines from adverse conditions and weather changes during the winter and urgently go to the specialist if our feline is a puppy cat.
Symptoms of hypothermia in cats
How to know if a cat has hypothermia? There are various symptoms of hypothermia in cats, but the most frequent to know if it is a case or not, are the following. Even so, if you have any doubts, it is always essential to seek the opinion of a professional and go to your trusted veterinarian.
- Tremors
- Muscular stiffness
- Collapse
- Depression
- Lethargy
- Weakness and lack of energy
- Isolation
- Loss of appetite
- Stare and dilated pupils
- Disorientation
- Difficulty breathing
- Decreased heart rate and decreased respiratory rate
- Stupor
- Coma
Treatment of hypothermia in cats
If you are wondering what to do in case of hypothermia in cats, it is essential to point out that hypothermia in cats requires immediate attention, especially if we are talking about a newborn or baby cat. The radical drop in the body temperature of an animal can cause sudden death or cause irreversible damage to he alth.
How to raise a cat's temperature?
A number of steps can be taken at the veterinary facility to treat the hypothermic cat in question:
- If the animal is wet, proceed to dry it with a towel.
- The cat will be moved to a slightly warm and controlled environment.
- External heating will be carried out.
- It may be necessary to use an enema or fluid therapy.
- The cat will be kept under observation until discharged by the veterinarian.
You must never
- Rub the animal's body.
- Bathe him in hot water.
- Apply warm water directly.
- Use thermal blankets
These remedies can burn the feline's skin, even when using minimal power. In the face of a low body temperature in cats, it is essential to go to the vet, since it must be determined if there is any pathology that is causing the drop in temperature or if This picture could have caused serious damage to the animal's body.
Even so, on our site we are going to offer you some first aid tips that you can follow if you find yourself in an emergency and the vet is at a considerable distance. The objective will be to try to prevent further drop in temperature and keep the cat alive:
First aid for a hypothermic cat
As we have mentioned before, the main thing is to go to a veterinarian with your feline, but below we are going to expose some of the first aid depending on the situation in which we find the cat with hypothermia.
What if a cat gets wet?
Cats that are used to walking alone outside their home can get wet, either from snow, humidity or rain. If you notice that your feline has gotten wet for any reason, don't hesitate to dry him immediately The humidity in his body, combined with low external temperatures, favors the appearance of the symptoms of hypothermia. You should simply use dry towels to dry him and provide warmth to his body.
Providing warmth to the cat's body
If we identify the drop in body temperature in our cat before the onset of symptoms, or when these signs are still mild, we can choose to keep our feline warm, wrapping him in a dry towel or putting a cat coat on him.
We can also use our own body temperature to transmit heat to it. For example, carry it wrapped in the towel in our arms. This generates a very positive feeling of well-being and also helps keep our feline safe and calm
However, if our feline has already developed symptoms such as tremors, lack of appetite or lethargy, we must opt for an external heating source. We can place the cat in a cardboard box or in a carrier and, next to it, bottles with warm water, never hot. Then you should go to the vet.
Balance glucose levels
The body of the cat, as well as that of all mammals, adopts certain mechanisms to temporarily compensate for the drop in body temperature and thus avoid drastic effects on the body. In an attempt to keep its internal temperature stable, the body begins to burn its energy stores
As a consequence, the animal suffers a rapid hypoglycaemia, that is, the drop in sugar levels in its bloodstream. This can cause a severe lethargic state, which progressively leads to a coma. To avoid this degenerative process and quickly stabilize glucose levels, we can offer 1 teaspoon of honey to our cat.
Check your body for possible frostbite
If your cat has been exposed to very low temperatures or suffered from prolonged cold, it is likely that it will develop some wounds or burnscharacteristics from freezing. To identify them, you should check their entire body, paying special attention to the regions with the lowest concentration of hair, such as ears, legs, tail and anus If you findlesions or reddened areas , do not hesitate to mention them to your veterinarian.
Veterinary Emergencies
Even if you have followed these steps and your cat shows a notable improvement, it will be essential to go to the vet to rule out that hypothermia has affected your cat's he alth. However, in the more serious cases, when the animal already shows loss of consciousness and even a coma, it will be essential to wrap the cat in a towel and go quickly to a veterinary center.
In a serious case that puts the animal's life at risk, more complex techniques must be used, such as the use of enemas, intravenous therapy, use of electrolytes, fluid therapy and even oxygen therapy.
Is it possible to prevent hypothermia in cats?
Preventing hypothermia in cats and dogs is not only possible, it is recommended and necessary If we manage to keep the body temperature of our furry friends with the arrival of the coldest season of the year, we avoid unnecessary damage to their he alth.
- Measure body temperature daily in winter: This is a very efficient preventive measure for cats that have access to the outside, as it allows us to verify the decrease in body temperature before the appearance of any symptoms of hypothermia.
- Condition the home: With the arrival of winter, we must also prepare our home to provide warmth and well-being to our animals. The heating will be our best ally to maintain the room temperature between 24ºC and 26ºC.
- Indispensable accessories: It will also be essential to offer our cat a nest or bed, with a blanket inside and we can even put a coat on our companion, in this way will be warm and sheltered. These tips should be especially taken into account if we have a hairless cat.
