Is My Cat's Temperature Normal?
Enter a thermometer reading to see whether it's normal, a fever, or an emergency, and what to do next.
Enter the temperature
A rectal reading is the most accurate. Not sure how? See the steps below the checker.
Is your cat's temperature normal?
Enter a reading to see whether it's normal and what to do next. A normal temperature for cats is about 100.0 to 102.5°F (37.8 to 39.2°C).
What is a normal temperature for a cat?
A normal temperature for a cat is about 100.0 to 102.5°F (37.8 to 39.2°C), according to VCA Animal Hospitals. That's warmer than a person, so a cat who feels warm to you may be perfectly normal. The Merck Veterinary Manual gives a normal range of 100.5 to 102.5°F (38.1 to 39.2°C).
VCA advises taking your cat to the vet if the temperature rises above 104°F (40°C) or falls below 99°F (37.2°C). At 106°F (41.1°C) or above, organs can be damaged, so that is an emergency.
A warm or dry nose, or warm ears, can't tell you whether your cat has a fever. A thermometer is the only reliable way to know.
How to take your cat's temperature
A digital rectal thermometer gives the most accurate reading. Keep one just for your pet.
- Ask a helper to hold your cat gently. Lying on one side works well, because a standing pet may sit down.
- Coat the tip of the thermometer with petroleum jelly.
- Lift the tail and gently slide the tip in until the metal part is fully inside. Don't force it.
- Wait for the beep, then remove it, read it, and clean it.
Pet ear thermometers are quicker and easier but less precise, because ear canals vary in shape and can hold hair and wax. Don't use one if your cat has a sore ear. Forehead and human ear thermometers are not reliable on pets.
If your cat has a fever
Fever is the body fighting something, usually an infection or inflammation. Signs include tiredness, hiding, shivering, not eating, and a warm body. Call your vet if your cat's temperature stays above 103°F (39.4°C), and go now if it reaches 104°F (40°C).
Never give human fever or pain medicine. Ibuprofen, naproxen, Tylenol (acetaminophen), and aspirin can cause stomach bleeding, kidney failure, or liver damage in pets, and a single Tylenol tablet can kill a cat. Read why dogs and cats can't have ibuprofen or Tylenol.
A high temperature after time in the heat, a hot car, or hard exercise is different: that's heat stroke, and it needs cooling and a vet straight away. Use cool water, not ice, and a fan on the way.
If your cat's temperature is low
A temperature below 99°F (37.2°C) can come from cold, shock, or serious illness. Wrap your cat in a warm blanket and see your vet. Newborn kittens run cooler than adults for their first few weeks, so ask your vet what's normal for them.
Other normal vital signs for cats
| Temperature | 100.5 to 102.5°F (38.1 to 39.2°C) |
|---|---|
| Heart rate | 120 to 140 beats per minute |
| Breathing rate (resting) | 16 to 40 breaths per minute |
| Breathing rate (asleep) | Under 30 breaths per minute |
To count breathing, watch your cat's chest while asleep and not purring. Count each rise for 30 seconds and double it. VCA says a sleeping rate that is regularly above 30 breaths per minute is abnormal and worth a call to your vet, and fast breathing with effort, open-mouth breathing in a cat, or blue gums is an emergency.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal temperature for a cat?
About 100.0 to 102.5°F (37.8 to 39.2°C), according to VCA Animal Hospitals. The Merck Veterinary Manual gives 100.5 to 102.5°F (38.1 to 39.2°C). Cats run warmer than people, so feeling warm to the touch is normal.
What temperature is a fever in a cat?
Anything above 102.5°F (39.2°C) is above normal, though excitement, stress, or a hot day can push it up a little. Call your vet if it stays above 103°F (39.4°C). VCA advises seeing a vet at 104°F (40°C) or higher, and 106°F (41.1°C) is an emergency.
How can I tell if my cat has a fever without a thermometer?
You can't reliably. A warm or dry nose and warm ears don't mean fever. Signs like tiredness, not eating, shivering, or hiding suggest your cat is unwell, but only a thermometer (ideally rectal) tells you the temperature.
What can I give my cat for a fever?
Nothing from your medicine cabinet. Human fever medicines like ibuprofen, Tylenol, and aspirin can poison cats. Call your vet, who can find the cause and prescribe something safe.
What is a low temperature for a cat?
Below 99°F (37.2°C). Keep your cat warm with a blanket and see your vet. If your cat is weak, shivering hard, or hard to wake, go to an emergency vet.
What is a normal heart rate and breathing rate for a cat?
The Merck Veterinary Manual gives a resting heart rate of 120 to 140 beats per minute and a resting breathing rate of 16 to 40 breaths per minute for adult cats. While asleep, a cat should take fewer than 30 breaths a minute.
Sources
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Taking Your Pet's Temperature (normal range, when to see a vet, rectal and ear methods).
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Table: Normal Rectal Temperature Ranges.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Table: Resting Heart Rates.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Table: Resting Respiratory Rates.
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Home Breathing Rate Evaluation (sleeping breathing rate above 30 is abnormal).
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Heat Stroke in Dogs (temperatures and safe cooling).
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Fever of Unknown Origin in Dogs (dangerous temperatures).
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