Can Cats Get Hypothermia?

Cats are extremely adaptable animals when it comes to their environment, but even so they are warm blooded and can get hypothermia. What is hypothermia exactly? It is a drop in an animal’s core body temperature to below what is considered normal for that animal. When a living being is hypothermic it means that the body is losing heat faster than what it can produce.

Dr. A Brodeur says: “Hypothermia may be a primary or secondary condition, and may be due to environmental exposure, illness, medications, anaesthesia, or trauma.”

Content:

1. Understanding Hypothermia in Cats
2. Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
3. Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention
4. Conclusion

Understanding Hypothermia in Cats

As with all mammals a normal temperature is vital to maintain the normal functioning of the body. When hypothermia occurs the body’s natural defence mechanism is to route all warm blood to the centre of the body to protect vital organs such as the heart. A consequence to this is a decrease in warm blood flowing to the extremities, such as ears, fingers and toes. These extremities on your cat would feel cold to the touch compared to the rest of their body.

Hypothermia slows down or even stops some of the functions that are necessary for keeping a cat alive and well. It can change the heart rate which in turn alters blood flow. If left untreated this can result in death.

If you live in a cold climate, I will not recommend leaving large bowls of water out that a cat can easily fall in to when looking for a drink of water. A water fountain is a much safer option as it is a compact size, and the constant flowing water helps prevent it from freezing.

Signs and Symptoms to Watch For

Luckily it is uncommon for solely indoor cats to develop hypothermia. Symptoms can range from mild to serious and can even cause death. It is important to remember that a relaxed and warm cat will stretch out when sleeping; and a stressed or cold cat will lie curled up to preserve body heat.

Some signs to look out for if you suspect hypothermia:

• Cold extremities such as ears, tail and toes
• Shivering
• Weakness or lethargy
• Unresponsive
• Difficulty breathing or slow breathing
• Stiff muscles
• Unconscious

In the article Hypothermia in critically ill dogs and Cats Dr. A Oncken states: “Hypothermia can be defined as a subnormal body temperature in a homeothermic organism. Primary hypothermia occurs in the presence of normal heat production and usually results from exposure to a cold environment. Secondary hypothermia occurs from illness, injury, or drug-induced alterations in heat production and thermoregulation.”

Healthy adult cats are the least susceptible to hypothermia, with kittens and senior cats being more susceptible as they are less adept at regulating their body temperature in cold weather. The most common cause of hypothermia in cats is exposure to cold weather, so outdoor cats are more at risk. However, solely indoor cats that accidentally get locked outside would be even more at risk as they are not used to being outside. It is important to invest in a pet camera so that you can check in on your feline friend when you aren’t home and realise sooner if they aren’t either.

Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention

As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, and that is the best advice possible. Make sure you know where your cat is when you leave home so that you don’t accidentally lock them outside during cold weather. If your cat is used to being outdoors, then always make sure that they have easy access to get back inside your home when you aren’t there.

If you suspect or know that your cat has been exposed to extreme weather, take them to a warm room immediately and try to raise their body temperature with heated towels, blankets or hot water bottles. (Remember to place the hot water bottles in towels or blankets to prevent any burns.) In mild cases this may be all that is needed to prevent any damage, but in severe cases it is vital to get your cat to the closest veterinarian as soon as possible. Still use heated blankets and even your own body warmth on your way to the vet. If your cat is unresponsive then the hypothermia is severe.

It is important to let your veterinarian know if you suspect hypothermia so they can treat accordingly. They will first check all vital signs such as respiration, heart rate and temperature. If it is hypothermia your vet will provide emergency supportive care to raise your cat’s core temperature, with warming devices and warmed intravenous fluids. Additional tests may need to be done to rule out other causes of low body temperature such as low blood glucose, or to determine if there is any damage to vital organs from hypothermia.

In the article Hypothermia and targeted temperature management in cats and dogs it says: “Rewarming is the primary treatment for accidental hypothermia, with intensity ranging from passive surface rewarming to extracorporeal rewarming. The goal is to return the core temperature to a level that restores normal physiologic function of all body processes. Other supportive therapies such as intravenous fluids are typically indicated, and if cardiopulmonary arrest is present, prolonged resuscitation may be required. In cases of secondary hypothermia, reversal of the underlying cause is important.”

The longer you wait to seek veterinary care the worse the prognosis is and likelihood of permanent damage. If caught early enough hypothermia can be treated with great success, but if too severe, left or found too late it can cause permanent damage to vital organs and even death.

Conclusion

Luckily for us hypothermia is preventable. During cold weather be sure to keep your feline friend inside with plenty of warm places to sleep, and if they insist on being outside be sure they have access to a cosy spot outside and can get back inside with ease.