Wet Cat Nose – Should I be Worried?

Cute little and slightly wet cat noses – who does not adore them? How can you not love them? In fact, nothing feels sweeter and more satisfying like a kitty rubbing its fur, nose first, against you. However, just like human beings, different cat breeds tend to have vastly different bodily functions that could vary from one kitty to another. The same applies to the cute little feline nose. It is easy to think that an excessively wet or dry cat nose translates to disease or illness but nothing could be further from the truth.

Some Cats Have Dry Noses While Some Have Wet Ones

Some kitties have naturally wetter or drier noses than the average feline. If anything, the moisture content and temperature in a cat’s nose tends to vary significantly all throughout a typical day. The same cat sporting a soaked nose at dawn can have a scorched dry nose at dusk, and this is perfectly normal. What you need, therefore, is to familiarise yourself with the expected moisture-level that the nose of the kittie vis-a-vis the ‘state of the kitty’s nose.’

Why are Our Kittie’s Noses Wet?

The simplest explanation for this is that the skin around a cat’s nostril – also known as rhinarium – tends to be overpopulated with active sweat glands. The  cat’s perspiration together with the draining tears from its eye’s tear duct contribute to the wetness of this part of the nose.  What’s more, cats tend to be fastidious and meticulous groomers – the constant and continuous licking also contributes to them inadvertently adding a thin layer of wetness to the nose.

A wet kitty nose can also be due to the water or feeding bowl. It is not uncommon for cats to accidently dip their short snouts in water while attempting to quench their thirst on a hot summer afternoon.

A Dry Kitties’ Nose

Dry cat noses are just as common as wet ones, and most often than not, it is not a cause for alarm that should have you calling the vet. Sometimes a cat can have a dry nose out of something as unassuming as spending too much time outdoors sunning themselves. Sometimes they can have a dry nose just by spending a significant amount of time next to a heat source such as a heating vent or your home’s heating source.

References: Ascapet Insurance, Human society, KHpet