My cat's nose is dry. Should I be concerned?

Cat owners frequently ask if a dry, warm nose means their cat is sick. The short answer is no. A healthy cat's nose can vary between wet and dry several times over the course of a day. And there are many reasons your cat can have a dry, warm nose that have nothing to do with health. Here are a few:

• Lying in the sun

• Spending time near a source of heat

• Dwelling in a room with poor air circulation

• Licking — saliva quickly dries on skin

Things to look out for

There are some things your cat's nose can tell you about its health though. If your cat's nose is cracked and there are scabs or open sores on it, your cat may have a skin problem and you should take her to the vet to have it checked out. If you know your cat is sick, her nose might be dry due to dehydration.

When examining your cat's nose, another thing to look out for is nasal discharge. If your cat's nose does run, the mucus should be clear. If she is producing bubbly, thick, yellow, green or even black mucus you should certainly have her checked by a veterinarian.