It doesn't matter if this happens to you or your cat, having a fever isn't always a bad thing. Fever is a normal immune response to help the body recover from illness by killing heat-sensitive bacteria. The heat generated by the fever will also increase blood flow to the injured tissue to help repair it. However, in certain cases fever can be something dangerous. If your cat is sick and has a fever, you can help relieve it so that the cat can recover quickly. You can also try some medications. Make your cat feel comfortable so that the fever goes away and his condition returns to normal.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Relieve Fever at Home
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms of fever in cats
A normal cat's rectal temperature range is from 38.1°C to 39.4°C. If you are having trouble taking your cat's temperature, pay attention to the following symptoms that indicate a fever:
- Bad appetite
- Sluggish
- Lazy to work
- Weak
- Lots of hair falling out
- Don't want to join other cats
- Breathing fast and short
- Shaky
- Not much self-care
- Since most fevers are due to an underlying condition, watch out for other symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, sneezing, coughing, or swollen skin. This can be used as an indication that your cat is sick.
Step 2. Take your cat's temperature
The appearance of symptoms is a good sign that you know that your cat has a fever. However, the only way to know for sure is to take the temperature with a thermometer. You can take your cat's temperature through the anus or ear.
- Prepare the equipment you need. You will need a thermometer, lubricant (such as petroleum jelly or K-Y), alcohol and tissue, and cat food.
- If you are using a glass thermometer, shake the thermometer until the mercury is below the 35°C line. Better you use a digital thermometer. Use a thermometer specifically designed for pets to measure temperature by ear.
- Lubricate the thermometer if you take your cat's temperature through the rectum.
- Hold your cat with one arm, or have someone else hold it. Lift the tail.
- Insert the thermometer into the cat's rectum to a depth of about 2.5 cm. Leave the glass thermometer there for about 2 minutes. Unplug the digital thermometer when it beeps.
- Clean the thermometer with alcohol and a tissue.
- Give your cat food to cheer him up.
- Take him to the vet immediately if your cat has a fever over 39°C. A high fever can damage the cat's organs.
Step 3. Examine the cat's body
Gently press the cat's body with your fingers and gently stroke (this is called palpation). Feel for injuries such as fractures, swelling in the lymph nodes, wound infection, abscess, or tumor. Anything can give your cat a fever.
- You may or may not feel the cat's fracture. Fractures can cause bruising or swelling in the area of the fracture. If you press on the area, your cat will react by feeling the pain. Gently examine your cat.
- You can feel the swollen lymph nodes under the cat's jaw and around the shoulders. Swelling may also appear on the back of the leg or near the groin.
- Take your cat to the vet immediately if you notice these symptoms. This condition requires immediate medical attention.
- Fever in cats is probably just a normal immune response if these symptoms are not present. Follow the steps in this article unless your cat's fever doesn't improve after 24 hours.
- If your cat has a fever for more than 24 hours, go to the vet immediately for advice and treatment.
Step 4. Cool down the cat
The heat in the cat's body can be reduced through sweat glands in the paws or through breathing. Help reduce the fever in the cat so that his body temperature drops. Take your cat to a cool, dark room, preferably one with stone or tile floors so the cat can lie there and transfer its body heat to the floor. Some things you can do to help your cat cool off include:
- Place a fan on the floor to circulate cool air throughout the cat.
- Wet the fur with water if your cat can accept it. You can use a damp cloth or spray bottle to wet the fur. The evaporation can help cool the cat's body.
Step 5. Give plenty of water
Fever can occur due to dehydration, and can also cause dehydration. It is important to provide your cat with fresh water at all times. If your cat has difficulty drinking, give it water using a syringe (without a needle). Fever can be reduced if the cat regains lost fluids (this is why cats are given IV fluids at the vet clinic).
- A cat with a fever will be lazy to get up and walk around, so place water nearby. You can wipe the gums using warm water.
- In addition to water, you can also give Gatorade or an electrolyte solution to kittens with a fever. This can help restore electrolyte balance in your cat, especially if your cat has diarrhea or vomiting. Use a syringe to give your cat Gatorade.
- If you can't get your cat liquid with a syringe, try freezing Gatorade or water in a box. Perhaps the cat will be more interested in licking the ice cubes than drinking (and the coldness of the ice cubes will help cool her body temperature).
- Never give milk to cats because these animals are very sensitive to lactose. Milk can make your cat sick and cause diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.
Step 6. Make sure your cat eats
Fever drains a lot of energy and can make a cat very weak. It's possible that your cat doesn't have the will to eat solid food. You can supplement his diet by giving soft foods. Some good choices include scrambled eggs or tuna fish mashed in a food processor.
- If your cat refuses to eat solid or soft foods, use a syringe to give the cat a milk substitute (available at pet stores). This is a food designed to be given to a sick cat or kitten that has lost its mother. Use a syringe (without a needle) that has a capacity of 5 cc to 10 cc.
- Place the tip of the syringe in the inner corner of the cat's mouth, near the cheek. Dogs and cats will reflexively swallow anything that passes through this area in their mouths.
- If your cat can't eat, ask your doctor for a high-calorie liquid supplement. Cats can take these supplements until they are healthy enough to eat solid food again.
Step 7. Give your cat B vitamins and energy supplements
Give your cat good nutrition to increase appetite. You can meet it by giving B-complex vitamins and energy supplements.
- Vitamins and energy supplements such as Nutri-Plus Gel (with a dose of 5ml a day for 5 days) can be given to overcome fatigue and lack of nutrition.
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An excellent example of a B-complex vitamin is Coforta. This product contains high concentrations of cyanocobalamin(3), which is required for energy metabolism. This product is injected at a dose of 0.5 ml to 2.5 ml for one cat once a day for 5 days which is carried out under the skin (SQ / Subcutaneously) or in the muscle (IM / Intramuscularly):
- For small cats weighing 1 kg or less, give as much as 0.5ml
- For cats weighing 2 to 6 kg, give 1ml
- For large cats weighing 7 to 9 kg, give as much as 2.5 ml
- For cats in the above weight range, give this product at a mid-dose or follow the veterinarian's instructions, at a lower dose.
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Never give your cat food supplements that contain the following ingredients, as they can be toxic to cats:
- Onion or garlic
- Calcium
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin C
Method 2 of 2: Relieve Fever with Medicine
Step 1. Take your cat to the vet
If your cat's condition doesn't improve after being treated at home within 24 hours, take your cat to the vet. A high fever that lasts longer can be a sign of a more serious health problem. Your vet can examine and test your cat to help determine what's causing the fever.
- Tell your vet about your cat's medical history. The type of information that must be provided can be in the form of travel history, any contact with other animals, vaccinations or other treatments carried out, allergies, and anything you think could be causing the cat's fever.
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Some things that can cause fever include:
- Viral, bacterial, or fungal infections
- Physical trauma
- Autoimmune disease
- Necrotic tissue
- Cancer or tumor
- Treatment will be based on the cause of the fever. Your vet should run tests to determine the cause of your cat's fever. Tests performed are usually blood tests and urine tests.
Step 2. Use antibiotics if recommended by your veterinarian
If your cat's fever is due to a bacterial infection, you'll need to treat the underlying infection. Antibiotics are usually enough to relieve fever. While antibiotics are usually safe for cats with a fever, don't try to treat them yourself. Always make sure that your vet has checked and prescribed antibiotics for your cat. Antibiotics are often given specifically to treat one type of bacteria and may not be effective against other types of bacteria. Your vet can provide the best treatment for your cat. Some of the safest and most commonly prescribed antibiotics by veterinarians include:
- Amoxicillin and ampicillin (20 mg/kg body weight). Both of these drugs can be obtained in the form of a suspension and can be purchased at pharmacies that sell drugs for "humans".
- Marbofloxacin (2 mg/kg body weight) can be obtained in tablet form. However, you may find it difficult to divide this medication according to dosage because the tablet size is small.
- Doxycycline (5 mg/kg body weight) can be obtained in the form of a paste, and drugs that have been prepared specifically for pets can be purchased with a prescription from a veterinarian. This particular drug is called Vibravet, which is sold in the form of a plastic syringe at the right dose so that it can be given to cats properly.
- The duration of administration of antibiotics should always be within one week (7 days). Always give antibiotics until they run out, even if your cat looks healthy. Shortening the duration can make your cat re-infected and develop resistance to antibiotics.
Step 3. Ask your vet to give you Meloxicam
The drug, also known as Metacam, is used as an anti-fever drug similar to Tolfedine. Many countries have approved the use of this drug. However, several studies have not agreed whether this drug is safe for cats or not. Except as directed by a doctor, this drug should not be used. The recommended dosage of Meloxicam for maintenance is 0.05mg/kg body weight, with or after meals. Cats weighing 5kg need 0.5ml Metacam.
- Keep in mind that meloxicam is produced in two different strengths: for cats (0.5mg/ml) and for dogs (1.5mg/ml). This must be considered so that you can give the cat the right medicine so that it doesn't overdose.
- Meloxicam should only be given to cats that are not dehydrated. Cats who are dehydrated may have impaired kidney function. Decreased blood supply to the kidneys can cause a cat to experience kidney failure.
Step 4. Only use aspirin as directed by your veterinarian. Aspirin is not the anti-fever drug of choice for cats. This drug can cause vomiting, dehydration, and other severe symptoms. If recommended by a veterinarian, aspirin can be used on cats with extreme caution. Only give according to the recommended dose.
- The recommended dose of aspirin for cats is 2.5 mg/kg body weight every 48 to 72 hours. Choose aspirin for children, which is usually available in 50mg or 75mg tablets. This makes it easier for you to divide it into smaller doses.
- Give aspirin at the same time as food and water. Giving aspirin to a cat on an empty stomach can make him sick.
- After being absorbed throughout the stomach lining, aspirin is broken down into salicylic acid. However, cats don't have enough enzymes to break down salicylic acid. The level of salicylic acid in the cat's body will remain high for a long time. Cats can be poisoned if given a high dose or the dose is increased. Therefore, always monitor the dose of the drug you are giving.
Step 5. Understand that certain medications cannot be given to cats
Due to physiological factors, the handling of fever in cats is not the same as other animals. Cats don't have much of an enzyme in their liver called glucoronyl transferase. This means that cats cannot break down many drugs that are considered safe for humans. In most cases, drugs that are safe for dogs are not safe for cats. Do not give any medicine intended for humans unless on prescription from a veterinarian. If you keep giving it, it can be dangerous or even kill your cat.
Tips
- Take it to the vet if your cat won't drink or eat. This is a sign that the cat needs medical help.
- Avoid giving your cat aspirin unless your vet has given you the correct dose. Cats are very sensitive to aspirin. Cats will get sicker if you give the wrong dose.
Warning
- Consult a veterinarian if your cat's temperature is over 39ºC, or if the fever doesn't go away in more than 24 hours.
- Be careful not to do anything that harms the cat instead of healing it. Administer human medicines to cats with extreme caution, as most of these medicines are highly toxic to cats. Give the dose as directed by the veterinarian.
- If you are in doubt whether the medication to be given is safe for cats or not, choose a more careful attitude! Talk to your vet about which medications are safe for cats.
