My cat acts weird around heat and hot surfaces. Why and is it safe?

It may just be that Mirz is more comfortable there if she's too hot/cold, however if you are seeing any other changes in addition to the change in sleeping spot such as weight changes, hair loss, changes in appetite, stool, activity, etc, it is always best to schedule a vet visit to rule out any more serious issues such as underlying illness or metabolic disease.

Unfortunately, it's hard to know if this is pathological or if she is in heat? I recommend to look up information on heat cycles and watch videos. Also record the behavior on video. If this is not a heat cycle or if you are unsure if it is, I recommend to have her examined and have the doctor watch the video. The vet will palpate her spine and may check her urine for infection to look for a medical cause. I also recommend to discuss having her spayed as there are many health and behavioral benefits: https://www.petcoach.co/article/spaying-ovariohysterectomy-the-benefits-in-cats/ I hope this helps.

As with any sudden behavioral change, an exam to rule out any health issues is always the best first option. If the weather is changing rapidly and you are seeing her seek out warmer spots such as blankets, by heater vents, etc that could also be related to the behavior. Adding a warm blanket out of the dryer to her bed, or providing a place for her to sleep near a heater may help. However, if you are concerned enough about the change, a vet exam for a bit of peace of mind is always good.

Hi, It sounds like Spot was lucky, as there is no limping or any lesions, so it is possible that it was very mild burn which generally limited to minor pain and in most cases also redness. Contact burns from hot surfaces are usually obvious from their onset but may take 1-2 days to fully appear in some cases. For now just monitor that she is not showing signs of discomfort and pain such as lameness or licking the paw and watch the the appearance of the paw for damage more than redness if any of these signs develop take her to your vet.

Stress is a strong contender but please keep an eye on her. If she loses her appetite, starts vomiting, develops diarrhea, anything wrong that doesn't resolve very quickly, get her seen by your vet right away. Stress can severely affect some cats, causing urinary issues and behavioral problems.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Animals will often feel warm on certain parts of their body but that does not indicate there is a fever. If she was so warm to have a fever she would be acting sick (lethargic, not eating, not playing, etc). I personally would not be worried about this at all. Don't give her a cold bath. At this age kittens cannot thermoregulate well and you will give her a chill which will be the opposite problem (and worse in my opinion). My best recommendation is to monitor her for any signs of illness - if you notice any then take her to the vet for a check-up. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Cats sometimes display very unusual behaviour and possibly can choose quite awkward spots for sleeping with no apparent reasons (usually the temperature of the place where they sleep can be a major factor). Nothing strange with it then and I would not be extremely worried about it. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.