My 14-year-old cat's ears get hot and red. Should I be concerned?

A cat's nose being warm and dry isn't used as a sign of illness because their nose can go from wet and cold to warm and dry just by laying in the sun or next to a heat source. Molly's ears being warm could indicate a fever, but if she was laying near the heat, that could also be the cause of it. Given that she is eating, I would monitor her for now. If she stops eating, becomes very lethargic, or develops other signs such as vomiting and diarrhea, then I would be concerned and have her seen by a vet. I hope this helps!

i wouldn't be worried if just his ears are warm. He is likely just flushed. If you are really concerned take his rectal temperature and if that is above 102.5 degrees F, then I would be concerned that he may have a systemic infection and require medical attention. Otherwise, he is likely fine.

Pale nose and ears in a cat can be a sign of anemia (low red blood cell count), shock, or dehydration. The pale color happens because of poor circulation to the extremeties, which can be caused by any of the conditions I mentioned. If possible, I would recommend having your kitty examined by a vet since some of these issues can be serious - your vet can do some basic blood work to help determine what's wrong.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Willa is acting normal then the temperature of her ears probably doesn’t mean anything. The blood vessels in ears are small and can dilate or construct depending on the ambient (room temperature). Just like how our hands and feet can get cold but we feel fine. I hope this helps! Have a good day!

A normal heartbeat for a cat is around 140-220 beats per minute, but is usually on the lower end when resting. Cats normally have a higher temperature than people (Usually around 101.5 degrees F) so areas that do not have a lot of hair, will feel warm to the touch. As long as Charlie is acting normally, I wouldn't worry too much. If he is lethargic, vomiting, or having diarrhea I would schedule a check up at your veterinarian.

It is possible that his ear was sunburned, but he could also have an ear infection. It's not normal to have this area bright red, and I would have your cat seen by a vet immediately. The vet can diagnose if he has a sunburn or an ear infection, and can treat him for it.

Without pictures and not being able to examine Batman it is difficult to say for sure if there is something abnormal with the warm ear. When there is inflammation, generally the area affected will be warmer due to increased blood flow to the area. It is possible that Batman may have allergies or an ear infection. If the ear is reddened as well, I would recommend having this looked at by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. Otherwise, I would just monitor for the time being. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.