HELP. MY CAT IS DEATHLY COLD.

lunamann

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Okay, background. I live in my parents' basement with my cat, a pure black American Shorthair named Twilight. Up until a couple months ago, I had two cats down here- Twilight and a big, 11-year-old tuxedo cat named Connor. However, recently, Connor died when... we think he missed a jump between my bed and my dresser and broke his neck or back on the heater I had stored between them.

Around an hour ago, I picked up Twilie and the first thing I thought of was how Connie felt when I was holding his body after he died. That's how cold she was.

Not ice cube cold, but dead body cold.

Other than that, she's perfectly fine, or at least seems so. She's eating, I caught her playing with a toy mouse, and all in all she's still active. And it's more pronounced in certain areas, like her paws and ears- her underside, by the way, is still warm.

I've gone ahead and brought the heater that we think killed Connie back into my room and turned it on, hoping that will help, but I still want to know what you think I should do. This is a first for me.
 

catwoman707

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Hi and welcome!!

Her extremities would get colder, her tummy she can keep warmer just by laying down.

It sounds like it's just pretty darn cold down there, so the heater will surely help :)

No worries, as long as you see playing, and eating/drinking well, she will do fine :)

Nice to see such a caring person!
 
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lunamann

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I don't know where I would get my hands on a cat thermometer.

Or any thermometer, really.
 
can you get a cat thermometer and take her temp?
I don't know how I would get my hands on a cat thermometer- or at this hour, any kind of thermometer. I'll see if I can get my hands on a person thermometer in the morning, how would one use that?
 
Hi and welcome!!

Her extremities would get colder, her tummy she can keep warmer just by laying down.

It sounds like it's just pretty darn cold down there, so the heater will surely help :)

No worries, as long as you see playing, and eating/drinking well, she will do fine :)

Nice to see such a caring person!
Thank you, that does calm me down a bit. I will continue to monitor this thread though, and continue to report any other activity.

She's currently sitting on my computer tower. Seeing how warm those can get, and with her as cold as she is, I won't blame her.
 

Norachan

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The pet thermometers are used in the rectum, but a human thermometer would be too big for that. Also you wouldn't want to be sticking it under your tongue after....well you get the idea.

You can use a human thermometer under her armpit. Just put it between her leg and her body while you hold her. It won't give you as accurate a reading as a pet thermometer will, but it will give you an idea.

Does it feel cold down in the basement to you?

I'm really sorry to hear you lost Conner that way. 
 

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When my Persian had an infection, the vet had me monitor his temperature. He had me use a human thermometer rectally, which I labeled for the cat's use only. Normal feline temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees. My kitty is older and gets pretty cold. I have recently kept a heating pad on low or medium temperature on the couch or bed where he can lay down. If he's really chilled, I'll put the pad on high to get it hot quickly, then switch it to low so he can sleep on it. It is a fast way to heat his core.
 
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lunamann

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Okay, update.

I cought Twilie sleeping on my bed, so I went ahead and felt her fur. Her paws and ears aren't any colder than the rest of her fur anymore, but she's still a bit cold. (Yay heater?)
 
The pet thermometers are used in the rectum, but a human thermometer would be too big for that. Also you wouldn't want to be sticking it under your tongue after....well you get the idea.

You can use a human thermometer under her armpit. Just put it between her leg and her body while you hold her. It won't give you as accurate a reading as a pet thermometer will, but it will give you an idea.

Does it feel cold down in the basement to you?

I'm really sorry to hear you lost Conner that way. 
It does feel a bit cold down here to me, actually. I'll try pitching the armpit thermometer idea to my parents...

As for Connor, it's all right. He's in a better place now.
 
When my Persian had an infection, the vet had me monitor his temperature. He had me use a human thermometer rectally, which I labeled for the cat's use only. Normal feline temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees. My kitty is older and gets pretty cold. I have recently kept a heating pad on low or medium temperature on the couch or bed where he can lay down. If he's really chilled, I'll put the pad on high to get it hot quickly, then switch it to low so he can sleep on it. It is a fast way to heat his core.
Heating pad... hmm... maybe we have an electric blanket somewhere... Thank you for the idea.
 

catwoman707

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Sounds like the heater was the solution.

Personally I wouldn't worry about stressing her out with a thermometer stuck in her butt, if she had a low body temperature as low as that, she would be showing sickness signs, but you described her as fine and playful, eating good.

After losing your boy you are overly worried, that's normal, any of us would be the same way. 


If your parents are good with it, I would keep the heater on down there to take the chill off of the area is all.

If they are not okay with that, and if you can't use a heating pad or blanket, you can always provide her a source of heat, for instance fill a couple socks with rice and knot the top, heat in microwave until VERY warm, set them on the bed and she will cuddle up to them. Rice takes quite a while to cool off which is why this works well, temporarily.

Even bottles of water filled with hot water work.
 

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Heating pad... hmm... maybe we have an electric blanket somewhere... Thank you for the idea.
No, don't use electric blankets or heating pads meant for Human use. They get too hot for a cat and could potentially burn. Use only pet heated beds or mats or pads. I use SnuggleSafe microwavable pads. Be careful with space heaters. A cat may sleep on top of the heater and be burned or block the heating element which could overheat or may chew on the electrical cord.

Is your cat allowed upstairs to the rest of the house or does she have to stay in the basement?
 

catwoman707

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No, don't use electric blankets or heating pads meant for Human use. They get too hot for a cat and could potentially burn. Use only pet heated beds or mats or pads. I use SnuggleSafe microwavable pads. Be careful with space heaters. A cat may sleep on top of the heater and be burned or block the heating element which could overheat or may chew on the electrical cord.

Is your cat allowed upstairs to the rest of the house or does she have to stay in the basement?
I've been using heating pads on low for kittens and recovering cats for many years with no issues at all.
 

furmonster mom

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There are some heating pads that don't have as much control over heat output, so that may be a factor.  Be sure to get one that has a decent control system, then it should be fine on low. 

Another idea might be to do what some folks do with ferals and create a cubby with boxes, shredded newspaper, and blankets.  An enclosed, somewhat insulated space will help keep in body heat.
 

momto3cats

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A box or open carrier with blankets or towels can help keep her warm while she's sleeping. My cats always appreciate things like that in winter. You can also get one of those pet beds/mats that reflect the cat's body heat back to them. Those are petty inexpensive and they don't use electricity, so they're very safe. I like rice socks too, but I find they get cold quickly when the cat isn't actually next to them. 
 

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You can use an ear thermometer on your kitty.  That's what I use and it works great.

To keep her warm, you can make a rice sock.  Just put some white rice (uncooked) in a sock, tie off the top.  Place in the microwave for a few minutes.  Wrap a hand towel or dish towel around it and place near the kitty.
 

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Here's something easy and inexpensive. Get one of those thin, foam, one side silver, automobile windshield sun shades at an auto supply store. Cut to the size of the box. Wrap in a thin towel and lay, shinny side up. The cat's body heat will be reflected back by the reflective  silver coating. My elderly cat really likes hers.
 
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lunamann

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After losing your boy you are overly worried, that's normal, any of us would be the same way. 
Catwoman here was right. I went up to my grandparents' house to stay the weekend, and Twilight's brother, Midnight, was just as cold- and he's an outdoor cat.

I just panicked.

Also, Twilight's just as active after a weekend. She's fine.

It's a good thing I panicked though- it brought me to this awesome site. :D
 
No, don't use electric blankets or heating pads meant for Human use. They get too hot for a cat and could potentially burn. Use only pet heated beds or mats or pads. I use SnuggleSafe microwavable pads. Be careful with space heaters. A cat may sleep on top of the heater and be burned or block the heating element which could overheat or may chew on the electrical cord.

Is your cat allowed upstairs to the rest of the house or does she have to stay in the basement?
I wouldn't have access to any just-for-pets electric blankets or heating pads. Also, the space heater I use is a radiator-type heater with vertical plates, which serves discourage attempts to laying on top of it. I've used it with both Twilight and Connor for a few years with no incidents.

Also, seeing as I have a desktop computer, chewing on the radiator's cord isn't much additional worry. They have other cords that both cats haven't chewed through over at least three years.

And yes, Twilight is only allowed in my room, a sectioned-off area of the basement.
 

catwoman707

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It's the trauma part of losing your other kitty, and it's okay. Plus as you said, you found this awesome site!!

We are happy to have you, and so glad to hear you feel better :)
 
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