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Conference misery::feline

Title:	Meower Power - Where Differing Opinions are Respected
Notice:	purrrrr...
Moderator:	JULIET::CORDES_JA

Created:	Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	1079
Total number of notes:	28858

678.0. "Body Heat in kittens" by PNEUMA::AIKEY () Fri Dec 10 1993 06:25

    
    
    
    
    
    I was wondering if anyone out there knew if kittens throw body heat??
    
    I introduced Shilo in the introductions note a couple of days ago.
    
    When ever Shilo lays his little body on my lap he stretches out full
    length.  After he has been there for a few minutes I can feel his body
    heat.  He throws off a lot.  I was just wondering if this was normal or
    if maybe we should call the vet...
    
    Also:  This has nothing to do with body heat but he likes to go into
    the fireplace and walk around.  I was wondering if someone in here knew
    how we can change his mind...  I am now worried about having a fire in
    the fireplace in fear that he will venture in before it has cooled off.
    
    We have only had Shilo for four days and I am exhausted.  I didn't
    remember how much kittens get into.  He seems to be up to something all
    of the time......   I hope that didn't sound like a put down cuz the
    whole family loves hime so much!!!!!!!!!!
    
    
    Thanks in advance for any answers that you might come up with...
    
    *joyce

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
678.1	Warm, not hot!	FRSBEE::DREYER	Jingle my bells!	`Fri Dec 10 1993 06:42`	14
	Joyce, A simple fix for the fireplace is to attach doors that can be kept closed to keep the cats out! Cats are warm when healthy, but shouldn't be hot. The only time I picked up a cat that was really radiating heat was when Buki had the infection from the fight and had a very high temperature. But when a cat lies on the bed, even on top of a coule of blankets, and you move them to get in, the spot they were layin on will be very warm even through the layers! Hope this helps, Laura
678.2		NETWKS::GASKELL		`Fri Dec 10 1993 07:08`	12
	Joyce, Cats see things by heat, I believe they see hot as red and cold as green. That's how they are able to hunt at night, it's sort of infrared vision. If there's a fire in the fireplace, unless the cat is very stupid, they will sit beside it but not get too close. (We have a ceramic stove top and when the burners are on the cats do not walk across it.) A wire mesh firescreen could help you feel more comfortable about having a fire perhaps? Cats have a higher metabolisim than humans, and like kids to humans, I think kittens have one a little higher.
678.3	Feel inside the ears for red-hot feeling	WECARE::FALLON		`Fri Dec 10 1993 09:37`	2
	The normal temp for a cat is 101-102. To us this seems very warm. Karen
678.4		BICYCL::RYER	This note made from 100% recycled bits.	`Mon Dec 13 1993 07:54`	4
	If you want to talk body heat, try three adult male kitties on you at one time! (Is it hot in here, or is it just me?) -Patrick
678.5	Such a happy family 8^}	WECARE::FALLON		`Mon Dec 13 1993 13:12`	2
	Patrick, Try 11! "where's the ice water?"
678.6		MAYES::MERRITT	Kitty City	`Tue Dec 14 1993 05:13`	2
	There's nothing nicer then sleeping on a warm waterbed with multi cats laying all over you!!! That's what you call dreamland!!
678.7		MVDS00::BELFORTI	PFYOWS	`Tue Dec 14 1993 07:41`	3
	especially if they can purr in harmony!!! M-L
678.8		TNPUBS::C_MILLER		`Wed Dec 15 1993 12:03`	16
	Keep in mind that you are generating body heat as well when your cat is sitting on top of you, so you too will start to feel warm. If your cat is panting, lathargic and not bouncing around like a kitten should, then you probably should take it to a vet. When Carly was a kitten she used to sprawl out on top of me while I was on my back watching TV and sleep for a good 45 minutes!!! Not only did her little 6 lbs suddenly feel like 106, but I was sweating by the time this little "nap" was over!! As I asked 3 years ago, kittenhood lasts a good 12-14 MONTHS!!! that means your kitten will be underfoot and driving you nuts for a while. I found about the 16th month she started to slow down and became more of a companion than a baby to take care of. At 3.5 years old, she is now a wonderful roommate; we respect each other's "space" and play with each other when we feel like it. She doesn't bounce around or get into hardly any trouble now. It was worth the year of kitty hell!
678.9	put plastic up....on fire	HOTLNE::MILES		`Tue Dec 21 1993 09:48`	13
	my cats would go into the fireplace all the time.... i've been told by an exterminator that there is evidence of bats outside my chimney and i've heard them....sometimes the noise attracts them.. now i've put plastic over the opening...keeps warm air from escaping and cold air coming in.... it seems to work. my cats are declawed of course so they haven't been able to scratch their way through it yet... I hope they aren't stupid enought to walk in there when I have a fire.... yikes... michele
678.10	Just be careful!	WECARE::FALLON		`Wed Dec 22 1993 06:23`	10
	Michele, If you have bats be careful. I don't want to alarm you but some bats have carried rabies. Personally I hold nothing against them. There is even a woman I have seen on tv that is a bat rescuer!! She takes them to schools for teaching purposes (not that kind!). Anyway, you could have some screening put on the top of the chimney to keep critters out. It might be a little safer. As for fire, that's another story! Karen