[Physiologic hypothermia of newborn kittens up to 6 weeks old]

Kittens showed a physiological hypothermia until they were 6 weeks of age. In the first 3 weeks of age rectal temperature was constantly low (37.6 +/- 0.3 degrees C). A linear increase of rectal temperature followed from the fourth to the sixth week of age inclusively and from the seventh week on rectal temperature reached the final temperature level (38.4 +/- 0.3 degrees C). This finding has to be considered in clinical assessment of kittens' body temperature.