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

Looking at a cat's nose is a good way to check for some other problems. If your cat's nasal skin is flaking, a dermatological problem may be to blame. Ask your veterinarian to check it out.
When examining your cat's nose, another thing to look for is nasal discharge. If your cat's nose runs, the mucus should be clear. If your cat is producing bubbly, thick, yellow, green or even black mucus, see your veterinarian.