Consider the diagram of an internal feedback mechanism that the body uses to maintain homeostasis.

In homeostasis the body has a target set point which it tries to maintain, with the use of the negative feedback loop the body strives to stabilize the internal environment by regulating the temperature of the body.

the animal that would be cutest if scaled down to the size of a cat? elephant

your body is trying to warm itself up. or more precisely, sensors in your skin send messages to your brain to generate heat to your body.