Wondering, Why Are My Cats Ears Hot? Is it Normal or Something to Worry About? Recently I found out that one of my cat’s ears is hotter than usual. At the time, I didn’t know the exact reason why my cat ear was hot. So I called the vet, and here’s what he told me:
Why are my cat’s ears hot? If a cat’s ear is hot, it could indicate the cat has a fever, ear infection, or allergies. Cats have many nerve endings in their ears, which means that cats can feel the heat if anything is wrong with their bodily mechanism.
The vet further mentioned taking the cat to the nearby veterinary clinic for a checkup and suggesting not using ice on the cat’s ears because it will cause frostbite!
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Other Possible Causes of a Cat’s Ears Being Hot?
Some possible causes of cat’s ears being hot are:
- High blood pressure.
- Hyperthyroidism (excess thyroid hormone).
- Ear infection caused by fleas or mites
- Lack of moisture in air/dry house environment.
- Heatstroke.
Allergies are the most common reason for cat ears being hot. Allergic reactions in cats can be for many reasons: excessive grooming, dry skin, runny eyes, etc.
Correlation Between a Cat’s Ears And Temperature
A cat’s ears are not a primary heat regulator, but they will react to changes in external temperature.
When ambient air is cold, the blood vessels near the ear constrict and become more petite than usual.
Likewise, when it’s hot outside, the blood vessels expand and increase the flow of cooling blood from other areas of the body to help regulate our cat’s body temperature.
So, what does this all mean? If your cat is lying on the couch with its ears up and the ear feels hot to the touch, then it could be indicating a fever.
However, if you notice that their ear tips are pale or white in coloration, something may not be right! It could indicate frostbite as well. So make sure to take note of these warning signs before you take your cat to the vet.
Does a Cat’s Ear Temperature Indicate It May Have a Fever?
A cat’s ears are a good indicator of their body temperature, but ear temperature does not directly indicate cat fever.
If you feel your cat’s stomach and underarms are hot to the touch as well, then there might be cause for concern because this means that the cat has a fever- which will show up in other ways like increased heat across its entire body.
You can also use a human thermometer to measure cat body temperature. If the temperature is over 39.5°F, you should take your cat to a nearby veterinary clinic.
Following are the symptoms of fever in a cat:
- Weakness.
- Panting.
- Faster heartbeat.
- Low energy level.
- Loss of appetite.
- Decreased grooming.
- Stop eating.
- Weak body.
- Lack of activity.
Why Are My Cat’s Ears Hot And Itchy?
Cat ears can be itchy or hot for many reasons, but the most common ear mites. Other possibilities are ear infections caused by allergy-related inflammation from dust and other allergens in your house. When cats eat food they shouldn’t have eaten, their ears can become hot because of an allergic reaction to it.
Ear mites are tiny organisms that live in the ear cback passage of a cat and feed off the skin cells shed by the animal. The most common symptoms of an ear mite infestation include:
- Head shaking.
- Excessive grooming around the ears
- Redness
- Swelling of the external ear cback passage
If the ear mites are not removed and left untreated, these parasites can cause more severe problems like infection and permanent hearing loss. Click here to read how to remove cat ear mites.
A cat’s ears are very sensitive, and any irritation can lead to excessive scratching, leading to infection. To help your cat get relief from their itchy ear infection, I recommend using a product like Ear Relief Spray (I use this type of product for my cat). It will reduce inflammation and itching while restoring moisture.
Why My Cat’s Ears Get Red Hot After Playing?
Have you ever wondered why a cat’s ears get so hot after playing? It is because cats have blood vessels that are very close to the surface of their skin. When they play, blood flow increases in the blood vessel and makes the ear red in color.
Conclusion- Why Are My Cat’s Ears Hot?
Cat ears may get hot for many reasons: if the cat has a fever, allergies, ear mites, or ear infection, their ears will get hot first. Note down the unusual symptoms of your cat that could indicate an illness. It’s also important not to jump to conclusions before verifying with a veterinarian.