Dry Nose in a Male Cat

A dry nose can be cause for concern for cat owners. This sometimes results from dehydration or infection, but there are reasons for dry noses in male cats that are not health related. These issues can affect female cats as well.

  1. Identification

    • A male cat's nose is typically moist and cool to the touch. However, it can go from dry to wet throughout the course of the day.

    Features

    • A dry nose in and of itself is not cause for alarm if the cat is behaving as usual. Causes of a dry nose that are not health related include lying in the sun or spending time near an indoor heat source.

    Significance

    • A dry nose may be indicative of an underlying health problem if the dry nose is warm to the touch and accompanied by warm ears, which could mean the cat has a fever.

      If the cat has a dry nose and dry gums, it may be dehydrated.

    Considerations

    • If the skin on a cat's nose is flaking, then it may have a dermatological condition and the owner should have it examined by a veterinarian.

    Warning

    • If a cat's dry nose is accompanied by other nasal symptoms, such as bleeding or sneezing, then veterinary attention should be sought.