Cat Health & Safety

Knowing how to check your kitty’s temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate can help you pick up on a variety of problems. First you need to know what’s “normal.” A healthy cat’s body temperature is typically between 100–102.5°F (37.7–39.2°C). Their heart beats about 140–220 times per minute, and they take about 20 – 30 breaths each minute. Every cat can have their own “normal” though, so get to know what’s normal for your cat now so you can recognize when something’s abnormal later. Ask your vet or one of the technicians to show you how to check your cat’s vitals. And, while they’re at it, ask them to also show you how to check your cat’s gums and sclera (whites of their eyes), both of which can also tell you a lot about your kitty’s health.