Remedies for Dehydration & Fever in Felines

Maintaining your cat's health requires awareness and monitoring of your pet's behavior and activities. Cats do not drink a lot of water each day, but they do require fluids to remain healthy and to flush toxins out of their bodies. Cats get fevers for many reasons, and not all fevers are cause for concern. There are several at-home remedies you can use to treat both fever and dehydration in felines.

  1. Dehydration Treatment

    • To check for dehydration in your cat, lift the skin between the shoulder blades and let it fall back into place. In a healthy cat, the skin should return to normal immediately. If this does not happen, carefully monitor how much water your cat is drinking for a 24-hour period. Cats can be particular about the kind of water they drink. If your cat is refusing to drink from a bowl, try getting her to drink from a stream of water. You can also offer your cat an ice cube to lick, since some cats like the texture and coolness of ice.

    Initial Fever Treatment

    • Check for fever in your cat by feeling her ears. If they seem warmer than usual, monitor her carefully for the next few hours. As long as a fever is not accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea, you can treat your cat by keeping her warm and dry. A fever is not always negative, since fevers often help cats fight bacterial or viral infections. Make sure your cat has access to water and food, and try to keep her in sight as much as possible.

    Prolonged Fever Treatment

    • If your cat experiences more than four fevers in the span of two weeks, this might be a sign of a more serious medical condition. Gently massage your cat to feel for tumors, lumps, sore spots or wounds. Even if you cannot feel anything abnormal, you should bring your cat to the vet. The doctor can administer ketoprofen if necessary and do a complete physical or blood tests to check for cancer or organ failure.

    Fevers of Unknown Origin

    • Cats can develop fevers for many reasons. Because cats spend much of their time away from humans, even more so than dogs, it can be difficult to determine the cause of feline fevers. Fevers can be caused by toxins or poison, bacterial or viral infections, asthma or any number of causes that are never ultimately determined.

      The best defense for your cat is to be a vigilant owner. Keep plants that are toxic to cats out of your home and yard. Cover any chemicals that your cat might encounter. Clean water dishes daily to limit possible exposure to bacteria. Keep your cat current on her vaccinations, and treat her for worms, fleas and hairballs.