A normal cat temperature is 100.5-102.5°F (38.1-39.2°C), measured rectally. That is warmer than a person's normal of about 98.6°F (37°C), and many cats sit around 101.5-102°F (38.6-38.9°C).
The cat numbers here come from the Merck Veterinary Manual and the other sources listed at the end. For heart rate, breathing rate and the rest, see our chart of all normal vital signs in dogs and cats.
Go to your vet now if your cat's temperature is:
- above 104°F (40.0°C), or
- below 99°F (37.2°C)
VCA Animal Hospitals calls both of these emergency situations. And never give your cat human fever or pain medicine: acetaminophen (Tylenol) is poisonous to cats and can be fatal.
Cat temperature chart (°F and °C)
Rectal reading | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
Below 99°F (37.2°C) | Too low (hypothermia) | Go to your vet now |
99-100.5°F (37.2-38.1°C) | Below the normal range | Recheck, then call your vet and say how your cat is acting |
100.5-102.5°F (38.1-39.2°C) | Normal adult cat | Nothing, if your cat is acting normally |
102.6-104°F (39.2-40.0°C) | Above normal | Recheck once your cat is calm. If it stays up or your cat seems unwell, call your vet |
Above 104°F (40.0°C) | High | Go to your vet now |
Above 105.5°F (40.8°C) | Dangerously high | Emergency: this can cause serious metabolic disease and organ damage, especially if it lasts |
Sources: Merck Veterinary Manual (normal range, 105.5°F line), VCA Animal Hospitals (104°F and 99°F lines).
Behavior matters as much as the reading. A cat at 100.2°F that is eating, playing and grooming is a different call from a cat at 100.2°F that is hiding under the bed. When you phone your vet, give them both.
Want the dog numbers? See normal dog temperature.
Is it a fever?
Anything above the top of the normal range, 102.5°F (39.2°C), is above normal. There is no cat-specific fever cut-off in the Merck Veterinary Manual. Across species, Merck says most patients with a true fever run 103-106°F (39.5-41.1°C).
A high reading isn't always a fever, though. Merck separates fever from overheating (hyperthermia), and notes that overheating can push the temperature to 106°F (41.1°C) or more. Telling the two apart is your vet's job. Either way, a high number needs a vet.
A struggle can also nudge the number up. Toorak Road Vet Clinic, a veterinary practice, notes that an agitated or over-excited pet, or one fighting the hold, can read falsely high. That is the reason to recheck a mildly high reading once your cat has settled. A reading above 104°F is not one to recheck and wait on.
Normal temperature in kittens
Newborn kittens run cooler than adults and can't control their own body temperature until about 4 weeks of age. Until then they rely on their mother's warmth or a safe heat source.
Kitten age | Normal rectal temperature |
|---|---|
Week 1 | 95-99°F (35-37.2°C) |
Weeks 2-3 | 97-100°F (36.1-37.8°C) |
Week 4 | 99-101°F (37.2-38.3°C) |
Source: Merck Veterinary Manual. The same table applies to puppies.
What this means if you are caring for a young litter:
- The room and nest need to be warm enough that a kitten's body temperature stays at least 97°F (36.1°C), according to Merck.
- A kitten that has chilled below 96°F (35.6°C) is at higher risk of sepsis (a body-wide infection). A cold, limp kitten needs a vet right away. Read more on fading kitten syndrome.
- Don't judge by touch. Maddie's Fund, a shelter-medicine organization, says feeling a kitten is not a reliable or recommended way to check its temperature. Kittens can feel warm or cold to you and still be normal for their age.
How to take your cat's temperature
A rectal reading with a digital thermometer is the standard. Few cats enjoy it, so set yourself up before you start.
What you need
- A digital thermometer. A human digital thermometer works rectally. Don't use a glass one: it can break, and mercury is hazardous.
- Lubricant, such as petroleum jelly, for the tip.
- A towel.
- A second person, if you can get one.
Steps
- Get a helper. VCA describes this as often a two-person job: one person comforts and holds the cat while the other takes the reading.
- Hold your cat securely. Your helper can hold the cat in their lap with one arm under the neck, keeping the head snug against their body. For a rectal reading it often works best to have the cat lying on its side.
- Wrap a wriggler. If your cat squirms, wrap it gently in a towel with only the back end out.
- Lubricate the tip of the thermometer.
- Lift the tail and insert the thermometer just past the tip. Hold it steady until it beeps.
- Never force it. If your cat clamps down, stop rather than push. If you feel stool, angle the tip alongside it rather than through it.
- Read it and write it down with the date and time. Your vet will want the number and when you took it.
If your cat is fighting hard, stop. A struggle risks injury to both of you and can push the reading up anyway. Call your clinic instead: the team there can take it safely.
What about ear thermometers? Digital ear thermometers that sit close to the eardrum are, in VCA's words, reasonably accurate but not always precise, because ear canals vary in size and shape and can hold hair, wax and debris. Don't use one in an ear that might be infected. If a reading looks off, a rectal reading is the one to trust.
Why a number matters with cats
Cats are famously good at hiding when they feel unwell. A veterinarian quoted by the Cornell Feline Health Center put it plainly about breathing problems: cats have become "very, very good at hiding any signs of respiratory distress." A thermometer reading is one of the few hard facts you can hand your vet when your cat just seems quiet.
Not sure whether today's symptoms need a visit? Try our quick should I take my cat to the vet quiz.
Never give your cat human fever medicine
It is tempting to reach for the medicine cabinet when your cat feels hot. Don't.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the big one. Cats are more sensitive to it than dogs and get poisoned at much lower amounts, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. It changes the hemoglobin in the blood and damages the liver, and VCA notes that poisoning in cats can progress to liver failure and death. It also comes up in our guide to anemia in cats.
Ibuprofen and naproxen are no safer: Merck says cats are more sensitive to both than dogs, too. Its advice is to give pets no human over-the-counter drugs unless your veterinarian tells you to. If your cat has swallowed any, call your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661; a fee applies) right away.
Quick answers
Is 103°F a fever in a cat? It is above the normal range of 100.5-102.5°F (38.1-39.2°C). Recheck once your cat is calm. If it stays up or your cat seems unwell, call your vet. Above 104°F (40.0°C), go now.
Is 99°F too low for a cat? It is below the normal range. Below 99°F (37.2°C) is a reason to go to the vet now. Between 99°F and 100.5°F, call your vet.
What is a normal cat temperature in Celsius? 38.1-39.2°C. The go-now lines are above 40.0°C and below 37.2°C.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Normal Rectal Temperature Ranges
- Merck Veterinary Manual: What to Do in a Dog or Cat Emergency
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Fever of Unknown Origin in Animals
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Monitoring the Critically Ill Small Animal Using the Rule of 20
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of the Neonate in Dogs and Cats
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Normal Rectal Temperature of Neonatal Dogs and Cats
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Poisoning from Human Over-the-Counter Drugs
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Taking Your Pet's Temperature
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) Poisoning Alert for Dogs and Cats
- The Animal Medical Center: Vital Signs, Know What's Normal for Your Pet
- Maddie's Fund: Taking the Temperature in a Kitten or Puppy
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Lung Ailments, a Widespread Source of Feline Woe
- Pet Poison Helpline: Acetaminophen
- Toorak Road Vet Clinic: What Is a Normal Temperature in Cats and Dogs?
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian.
