Why does a cat sneeze when its nose is hot and dry? A cat has a hot nose - reasons that everyone needs to know A kitten has a warm, wet nose.

Many cat owners treat their pets as full members of the family. Therefore, they are very worried when their furry friend is not feeling well, has lost his former appetite and has become lethargic. It is noteworthy that the animal’s nose serves as a kind of guide in this matter.

In this article, we will discuss in detail what to do when a cat has a dry nose and what it means.

A healthy cat's nose should be moist, slightly cool and slippery. The fact is that the mustache regularly licks it, and in addition to this, the nose is covered with a special secretion that creates a protective mucous membrane.

That is why for a cat, the nose is not only an organ of smell. Thanks to it, she determines the temperature of an object, the direction of the wind, and even, along with the vibrissae, she touches with her nose.

Also, constant moisture on the surface of the nose in cats is necessary to increase its sensitivity, while a dry nose cannot cope with its basic functions and, when cracked, causes some discomfort to the animal.

Causes

Fortunately, if a cat's nose is warm and dry, this does not mean that he is sick. It may seem to a person that a cat has a dry and hot nose, since a cat's body temperature is as much as 2 degrees higher than the body temperature of a healthy person, and this difference is very noticeable.

After active play with the body, heat evaporates (this process is well known to athletes - during training they sweat a lot and warm up). Consequently, when a cat has had a fair amount of play and is in an alert state, her nose may feel wet and hot, but just 10 minutes later it may feel wet and cold.

However, such temperature fluctuations are not yet a signal of the development of diseases. In this case, the cat’s nose only conveys the normal, absolutely natural processes of changes in the animal’s body temperature, depending on its physical activity.

Consider the following causes of a dry cat's nose:

  1. If the cat has been in the open sun a lot, his nose could well have become dry not only as a result of exposure to his own body temperature, but also to the air temperature outside or indoors, as well as from dust and wind. When the cat moves indoors or into the shade, everything will return to normal. Also, the nose may be dry because the cat was lying near a warm radiator or was in a room with very dry air. If central heating radiators can severely dry out people's skin, then what can we say about a cat's hypersensitive nose.
  2. When it's too cold indoors or outdoors, then cats usually do not lick their nose, so it becomes dry and cold. In this case, there is no reason to worry - this is normal. After the animal moves to a warm, dry place, it will lick itself again, thus moistening its nose.
  3. After your beloved pet has just woken up, his nose will almost always be warm and dry. And this is understandable - in a dream, a cat does not lick itself, and therefore its olfactory organ remains unhydrated. After just a short period of time, the cat's nose will become cool and moist as before.

When do you need veterinary help?

How can you tell if something is wrong with your beloved kitten or cat? This cannot be done without diligence and observation. Be careful to watch your cat throughout the day, checking his nose for temperature and humidity.

If your pet’s behavior is not the same as usual - the animal does not play, eats poorly or completely refuses its favorite treat - this is a dangerous signal, so it is better to go to the veterinarian without delay.

If you notice the following symptoms in your cat, be sure to contact your veterinarian to determine the true cause of your pet’s illness:

  • apathy, lethargy;
  • pale and cold nose;
  • dry and hot nose;
  • change in color of the olfactory organ (blue, red, yellowish, white).

However, remember that a dry nose in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. As a rule, if the cat is cheerful and playful, a dry nose can be caused by minor deviations in the functioning of the body, such as: overeating or, conversely, undereating, if the stomach is clogged with hair, with a mild cold (if the cat sneezes).

Therefore, you should not worry too much - such minor ailments go away quickly - in about a day, and sometimes even in a few hours.

If the owner observes the following signs along with a hot, dry nose in the cat, he should immediately consult a doctor:

  • convulsions;
  • sneezing;
  • cough;
  • prolonged vomiting;
  • difficulty urinating;
  • diarrhea;
  • drops of blood in stool or urine;
  • increase in body temperature by more than 2 degrees;
  • constipation;
  • loss of consciousness;
  • excessive salivation or foaming at the mouth;
  • unnaturally long sleep;
  • discharge from the genital loop (not estrus in females), eyes, anus;
  • screaming for no clear reason;
  • matting or hair loss;
  • unsteady gait;
  • rashes on the skin;
  • wheezing or difficulty breathing;

It is useful for every cat owner to know that a cold and pale nose in a pet is a symptom of:

  • chronic illness;
  • stress;
  • hypothermia;
  • low body temperature;
  • complete lack of appetite;
  • poisoning;

A warm and white nose indicates a disruption in the cat’s circulatory system.

The cat's hot and blue nose speaks of:

  • inflammation of the respiratory organs;
  • heart failure;
  • oxygen starvation;

A pet's hot and red nose is a symptom of:

  • infectious disease;
  • mechanical damage;
  • rhinitis;

Dry nose on a kitten

If you notice that your kitten has a dry, hot nose and warm ears, it can be easy to become worried. But such symptoms do not always mean that the pet is sick.

The fact is that kittens are still in the process of normalizing heat exchange, so their body temperature is higher than that of an adult cat. In other words, the work of the kitten’s body is configured to protect it from the effects of cold, and therefore prevent hypothermia.

Very young kittens may have a dry nose, since they have not yet learned to lick themselves, and the body does not yet secrete the necessary moisturizing secretion.

Helping your beloved pet

If you touch your cat's nose and feel that it is dry and hot, and you touch its ears - and they are also hot, then you can confidently say that your pet has an elevated body temperature.

Interesting: A cat's normal temperature is 38-39 degrees, while in bare-haired breeds the norm is higher - 39-40 degrees. In pregnant cats and kittens, the norm also shifts up half a degree.

An increase in a cat's body temperature by one degree is not critical, but a higher temperature requires an urgent visit to a veterinarian.

The temperature of cats, like other animals, is measured rectally. To do this, insert a thermometer into the anus to a depth of one centimeter, holding it for about one minute.

If you decide to measure your cat’s temperature using this method, you can use a regular thermometer, but you need to be extremely careful and careful, since the pet is unlikely to like the procedure and will break out.

Therefore, hold it tightly and do not forget that the thermometer is glass. It is better to carry out this procedure together, when one holds the animal and the other measures the temperature.

Important: Do not, under any circumstances, lower your cat’s temperature using aspirin, paracetamol, nimesulide and similar drugs from the human first aid kit, as this is fraught with serious consequences, including death.

If the animal’s temperature is too high, it needs assistance, which may include the following:

  1. There should always be cool, clean water near the cat to drink.
  2. Periodically wet the animal's fur with a spray bottle or a wet towel.
  3. Place an ice pack under your pet's neck and on the inner thighs.

So, the dryness or high temperature of a cat’s nose in itself is not a sign of the development of any disease. Only a whole set of symptoms can indicate a pet’s illness, of which a dry nose is the last in importance.

Very often the cause of concern for cat owners is pet's hot dry nose . It is believed that dryness of the organ of smell certainly indicates the presence of a pet disease. However, is this so?

What should a cat's nose look like: wet or dry?

A slightly damp nose is an indicator of a cat's healthy well-being.

In a normal healthy state, a cat’s nose should be slightly moist and cold due to the fact that a certain secretion of its mucous membrane constantly appears on the surface of the olfactory organ, and also because the animal often licks it.

What does a hot and dry nose mean (reasons)?

A cat's body temperature is different from a human's body temperature. a couple of degrees higher . This fact can mislead the owner and touching the cat’s nose and ears can cause a false alarm.

Household

Often, a cat's nose becomes dry during or immediately after sleep.

However, false dryness and increased temperature may be present for several other reasons, and if you discover them, you should not panic:

  • the animal is sleeping;
  • cat only after sleep;
  • lying in the sun for a long time or near a stove or fireplace;
  • excessive heat in the house.

Such reasons are called domestic. As a rule, they are not associated with pathologies, and there is no need to worry. You should give your pet time to recover from sleep, place it in a cooler place, and check again after some time.

Pathological

Overeating is a common cause of dry nose in cats.

Pathological causes of dry and hot nose and ears can be due to overeating, leading a sedentary lifestyle, the presence of inflammatory processes, etc.

Signs of diseases and treatment

Examination of a cat's nose.

The most alarming symptom in the presence of a dry and hot nose along with hot ears is the animal's lethargy, apathy, constant drowsiness, fatigue, and loss of appetite.

Should listen pet's pulse. If there are diseases, it will be more frequent. In this case, deep breathing is observed, possibly.

Dilation of a pet's pupils along with an increase in body temperature is an alarming signal of a cat's illness.

Depending on the disease that affects you, the following may appear:

If there are alarming signs, you should try to examine the mucous membrane of the animal.

Should be investigated bladder fullness to exclude pathologies of the genitourinary system. Take a close look at the animal's excrement for uncharacteristic consistency, impurities, and worms. And also examine the urine for blood, mucus, changes in color and odor.

Establishing diagnosis

When starting treatment for your pet, you should make sure that the diagnosis is correct.

The most common pathologies associated with increased temperature are inflammatory in nature. When stomatitis is diagnosed, treatment should begin immediately. It is recommended to treat the affected oral cavity with disinfectants. To do this, it is permissible to use a solution of baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, a weak solution of potassium permanganate, furatsilin.

You can moisturize with syringes. Wounds and ulcers are lubricated Lugol's solution with glycerin, methylene blue. In case of multiple lesions, the use of antibiotics is indicated - oxytetracycline, erythromycin. For general support and acceleration of healing - vitamins.

Nasal discharge

If a concomitant symptom is nasal discharge and a diagnosis of rhinitis is established, the first aid will be rinsing with warm water and removing dried crusts. Drug treatment is prescribed by a veterinarian.

Treatment of diseases of the digestive system

If diseases of the digestive tract occur in a cat, the veterinarian will also be able to create an effective treatment regimen.

Treatment for diseases of the digestive system will depend on the specific pathology identified. The general purpose will be to use a course of antibiotics to avoid complications in the form of other infections, anti-inflammatory drugs.

Treatment aimed at eliminating symptoms: antiemetics, antispasmodics, painkillers,. Mandatory use of a gentle or starvation diet, depending on the illness.

The presence of accompanying symptoms in the form of difficulty urinating indicates the development of pathologies in the pet’s genitourinary system.

Every owner should have No-shpa in their first aid kit in case of emergency.

If the urinary tract is blocked, therapy will consist of the following components:

  • antispasmodics – no-spa, atropine sulfate, papaverine;
  • sedatives – rovatin, sodium bromide;
  • analgesics – analgin, aspirin, paracetamol;
  • disinfectants for the genitourinary system - biseptol, bearberry decoction;
  • diet.

In severe cases - catheterization.

Urocystitis

Schematic representation of urocystitis.

An equally dangerous disease may be urocystitis. First aid is warmth and peace. At elevated temperatures, it is strictly forbidden to warm the cat’s groin and belly.

The next step in treatment is a diet in the form of vegetables, cereals, broths, and free access to drink.

Drugs used for urocystitis: antibiotics, sulfa drugs, analgesics, antispasmodics. In severe cases, rinse the bladder through catheterization.

Cat cold

Dry nose is often explained away, but one should not discount the danger of such a disease.

A lethargic animal is a sponge that absorbs various side infections, so a cold must be treated.

  1. You should immediately provide the cat with a calm, dry and warm place.
  2. Give him a warm drink, maybe heated milk.
  3. Warm compresses and heating pads only in the absence of fever.
  4. To improve blood flow in the superficial skin vessels, you can apply a light massage of the animal’s entire body.
  5. Treatment is symptomatic. If lacrimation is observed, it is permissible to use antiseptics; to wash the eyes - potassium permanganate or furatsilin.

A solution of novocaine with adrenaline, ethacridine, tannin, boric acid solution, zinc sulfate. Nasal drops are prescribed in the form of a solution of methanol with fish oil. In parallel, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and vitamins are used.

There are many myths about cats. There are no less misconceptions about their health. Even experienced owners do not always know what the cat’s condition and the temperature of individual parts of its body should normally be. It is believed that the nose should be wet and cool. And if a cat has a hot nose, it means he is sick and needs help. Unfortunately, the pet cannot tell us how it is feeling. A cat's nose can be an excellent indicator of changes in health.

What should a cat's nose be like?

A cat's nose has two nasal passages, which are separated by cartilage. They lead to a labyrinth of lattice shells, in which the animal can retain aromas for a long time, separating them into components. This helps them identify objects by smell, find them, and determine danger. A cat's sense of smell is many times better than that of a human.

In addition to its direct function, the spout helps them warm the air, clean it of small debris and bacteria, and determine the temperature of surrounding objects.

Normally, a cat's nose is warm or cool and moist. But these pets are very susceptible to various changes and events, and therefore, over the course of even one day, their body temperature can change. If a cat has a dry and warm nose, this does not mean that he is sick. There are a variety of reasons why this could happen.

Causes of a hot nose

The body temperature of a healthy cat ranges from 37 to 39 degrees (depending on the breed). During the day it may rise and fall slightly. If you find that your pet has a hot nose, this is not necessarily a cause for concern. After 1-2 hours, touch it again, and if it is no longer hot, but has become cool (or just warm), then there is no need to worry. Usually such temporary changes are caused by the fact that the cat:

  1. sleeping or recently woken up;
  2. was active, ran, played;
  3. leads a sedentary lifestyle and overeats;
  4. located in a room with low humidity;
  5. located near heating appliances;
  6. suffered significant stress.

If the animal's temperature does not decrease within several hours or even a whole day, and the nose is still hot and dry, this should be a cause for concern. This signals that pathological processes are occurring in his body, which can have varying degrees of severity.

In addition to all of the above, there may be other factors that cause a cat’s hot nose. Biological processes can occur in a pet’s body that are not visible externally. Also, if the animal has recently undergone treatment or medical procedures, its thermoregulation may be impaired.

Nose may be hot:

  • due to medications - some medications can cause stimulation of the brain centers that are responsible for thermoregulation;
  • due to the accumulation of salts - the accumulation of salts in the body can lead to active breakdown of proteins and an increase in temperature;
  • due to protein metabolism processes - when protein breakdown actively occurs in the body for various reasons, the products of such breakdown cause an increase in temperature.

Concern should arise if the cat does not eat and has a hot nose throughout the day, regardless of environmental conditions. In this case, it is worth observing the animal and determining whether there are other symptoms that may be cause for concern.

Alarming symptoms

A cat's hot, wet nose is not a symptom in itself. If you monitor his temperature throughout the day, you can notice significant fluctuations in his condition. This does not mean that the cat is sick and needs medical attention.

Concern should arise if changes occur in your pet's behavior. In this case, you need to carefully consider the condition of the animal and note any deviations from the normal condition. They will help in the future to identify why the cat has a very hot nose.

Signs that may indicate illness:

  • apathy;
  • lack of activity;
  • lack of appetite;
  • refusal to drink;
  • nasal discharge;
  • redness of the eyes;
  • aggressive behavior;
  • irritability;
  • desire to hide;
  • refusal of contact and games.

Before contacting a veterinarian, you need to exclude stress factors, heat or cold, and the presence of allergens, which can also lead to such behavioral reactions in a cat or kitten.

When examining your pet on your own, you should also touch its ear. If it is also hot, then this may indicate a general increase in body temperature.

If your cat has snot running from his nose and is hot, then you need to contact a veterinarian. Most likely your pet has rhinitis or sinusitis.

How to help a cat

Healthy cats have a body temperature that is always 1-2 degrees higher than that of humans. Therefore, it is often difficult for owners to determine whether the temperature is elevated or not simply by touching the nose. If during the day you still suspect that the nose is really hot and everything is not all right with your pet, you should consult a veterinarian.

However, in order not to expose your animal to unnecessary stress due to a meeting with a doctor, you can measure the cat’s temperature yourself. This way you can quickly find out whether there is cause for serious concern and what to do next.

The body temperature of animals is measured rectally, through the anus. This procedure is quite unpleasant not only for pets, but also for owners. You need to be prepared for resistance and aggression from the animal. It is advisable that 2 people participate in the process. The cat needs to be firmly secured (he should be standing or lying on his knees) and a thermometer should be inserted into the anus.

You can pre-treat the thermometer with Vaseline or oil. The movement should be slow, smooth, screwing. It is recommended to use plastic (more durable), or even better, electronic thermometers (show results more quickly). After the procedure, the thermometer must be wiped and disinfected.

There are also infrared thermometers for measuring ear temperature. But they are expensive and may not give accurate results.

Normal cat temperatures range from 37 to 39. If your cat has a temperature above 39 degrees and has symptoms of malaise, you should seek veterinary help. You should not prescribe treatment for your pet yourself. Only a qualified specialist can accurately determine the presence or absence of a disease and make a diagnosis. He will also provide instructions on treatment and proper care.

VETERINARIAN CONSULTATION REQUIRED. INFORMATION FOR INFORMATION ONLY.

The cat's nose is moistened by the secretion secreted by the mucous membrane, in addition, the cat itself licks it.

However, if you notice that your cat has a dry nose, do not rush to worry - this happens after active play or severe stress, if the pet is sleeping or has just woken up, if it is in a poorly ventilated area or simply lies next to the radiator. Dry noses also occur in cats that lead a sedentary lifestyle. During the day, a cat's nose can change its state from dry to wet and back several times - and this is quite normal.

In addition, it should be taken into account that the normal temperature in cats is 2°C higher than in humans, so the cat’s nose often seems hot to the touch to the owner.

However, it is worth observing your cat more closely and checking its nose more often. And if you notice that it remains dry for too long, and the cat herself, usually active and playful, has become apathetic, lethargic and has lost her appetite, it’s time to take action. First of all, measure the temperature in the traditional way at home, because in the veterinary clinic the pet will become nervous and its temperature will “jump” because of this. A cat's fever can also be indicated by reddened ears, which also feel hot to the touch.

Warning signs

The cause of a dry nose in a sick cat may be due to elevated temperature, as well as dehydration of the body, due to which the secretion is not produced in sufficient quantities.

A cause for concern is cracks, crusts or on the cat's nose - this is a sign of a skin disease. In this case, the pet definitely needs to be taken to the veterinarian.

A cat's nose can signal ill health in more ways than just dryness. If there is nasal discharge, it should be clear. But yellow, green, even foamy or dense ones indicate that the cat needs to be taken to a doctor for examination.

A too cold nose is also an unkind sign; it can indicate hypothermia, poisoning or shock.
However, it is noteworthy that in cats of some breeds the shade of the nose changes depending on the season, and pigmentation on the nose does not indicate illness, but old age. Owners should learn about these subtleties from specialists so as not to worry unnecessarily.

So nasal temperature is a relative phenomenon and not a very reliable indicator. It is better to assess the cat’s well-being by its overall behavior; if there are alarm bells, measure the temperature yourself and, if necessary, take the pet to a specialist. And, of course, make sure that the cat’s nose is clean and not clogged with dirt or secretions.