Is It Normal for a Kitten's Nose & Body to Be Warm?

It's not unusual for your kitten's nose and body to be warm to the touch, especially if the little one is behaving normally. Very young kittens can't control their body temperatures and can actually become chilled easily, so a warm kitten is usually a healthy kitten. To rule out a fever if your little one seems lethargic or very hot, take her temperature to see if it's within a normal range for her age.

  1. Correct Temperature

    • The normal temperature for a newborn kitten ranges between 95 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit in her first week of life and 97 and 100 degrees in her second and third weeks, according to the Feline Advisory Bureau. By the time she reaches 4 weeks old, her normal temperature range is between 100 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit, the same as an adult kitty. If your kitten's body and nose seem very warm to you, use a cat ear thermometer or a rectal thermometer to get a correct temperature reading on her. Once you obtain a reading, see if her temperature is normal; if it is high for her age, get her to the vet for a checkup.

    Maintaining Kitten Temperature

    • Kittens younger than 3 weeks old can't maintain their body temperatures and can become chilled if not kept in a temperature-controlled, warm environment. Provide your little one with a nest box containing a blanket wrapped around a heating pad that she can snuggle on for warmth without touching the pad directly. Sometimes your kitten can become overheated from the pad, though, which is why her nose and body may become very warm to the touch. Prevent this from happening by placing the wrapped heating pad on only one side of the box, allowing her to have an unheated space to crawl to if she gets too hot.

    Reasons a Kitten Is Warm

    • Your kitten might feel warmer than usual to your touch for one or more of several reasons. Your kitten may have been sitting in the sun or resting on her heating pad or in a heated cat bed, for instance. If her nose feels dry, she may have been cleaning her face or rubbing her nose, removing the natural moisture that helps keep it cool. Or she may rub her nose if there is any unusual nasal discharge coming from it, which could mean she has an upper respiratory infection. A feline URI can result in a fever, according to the Mar Vista Animal Medical Center. Generally, if your kitty's ears are warm to the touch, her temperature̵7;s likely normal; but if they feel hot, she may have a fever, according to CatChannel.com.

    What to Do

    • After checking your kitty's temperature, if it is higher than the normal range for her age, you can cool her off by bottle-feeding her room-temperature water, according to the Guide to Rescue Cats. You can also rub a bit of alcohol or cool water on her tummy or rub cool water on the pads of her little feet, the American Kennel Club Pet Healthcare Plan website says. For a kitten who feels cool to the touch and has a low body temperature, hold her close to your skin or feed her a warm infant electrolyte replacement solution. After stabilizing your kitten's temperature, bring her to the vet for an exam.