Normal physiological values[78] | |
38.6°C (101.5°F) | |
120-140 beats per minute | |
16-40 breaths per minute | |
A cat comfortably sleeping with a high skin temperature.
As a familiar and easily-kept animal, the physiology of cats has been particularly well studied and is generally similar to that of other carnivorous mammals.[26] However, several features of cats' physiology are unusual and are probably due to their descent from desert-dwelling species.[26] For instance, cats are able to tolerate quite high temperatures: humans generally start to feel uncomfortable when their skin temperature passes about 44.5 °C (112 °F); in contrast cats show no discomfort until their skin reaches around 52 °C (126 °F),[79] and can tolerate temperatures of up to 56 °C if they have access to water.[80] Cats conserve heat by reducing the flow of blood to their skin and lose heat by evaporation through their mouth. They do not sweat and pant only at very high temperatures.[81]Unusually, a cat's body temperature does not vary throughout the day; this is part of cats' general lack of circadian rhythms and may reflect their tendency to be active at both day and night.[82] As well as being tolerant of high temperatures, cats' feces are usually dry and their urine is also highly concentrated, both of which are adaptations that allow cats to retain as much fluid as possible.[26] Indeed, their kidneys are so efficient that cats can survive on a diet consisting only of meat, with no additional water,[83] and can even rehydrate by drinking seawater.[84][85]
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