Judy Taylor
House cats often tend to drink little fresh water. They mostly cover their fluid requirements with food. If the cat drinks much more than usual, then there is cause for concern. The vet should always decide whether or not there are serious illnesses behind it. Nevertheless, it seems important to classify the symptoms correctly.
My Cat is Drinking a Lot of Water
- Your cat will drink a lot of it is overheated or given the wrong food.
- On hot summer days, your cat drinks a lot and eats little.
- You should see the vet as soon as your cat drinks a lot and urinates all over the place.
- Caution is advised if your darling refuses food completely.
This is How You Can Tell If Your Cat Drinks a Lot
A cuddly cat drinks a lot to keep his fluid balance high. You can recognize this with a small bowl of water that empties quickly. Each cat needs a different amount of fluid. For this reason, the “ideal value” cannot be determined. When in doubt, you should consider the following rule of thumb: As soon as your cat deviates from its actual behavior, you should take action. This is true once your cat drinks and urinates a lot more than it normally does. But it is important to differentiate why the cat suddenly feels very thirsty. Sometimes there is a harmless cause behind it.
The Following Causes of Increased Thirst in Cats are Harmless
There are some causes that you don’t need to worry about. Sometimes the cat’s increased thirst is related to weather conditions. This is normal in healthy cats. Then the urge to drink disappears on its own.
Increased thirst due to the summer heat
If the cat drinks a lot of milk and eats little, the summer heat may be a problem for you. In this respect, the fur nose does not differ from humans. The warmer it is outside, the more the velvet paw should ingest water. A cat needs an average of 40-50 ml of water per kilogram of body weight. The cat meets this need by drinking a lot and eating a lot. The reverse can also happen. Some cats drink a lot in summer but do not eat or only a little. Whether the increased thirst is a harmless cause can be seen from the kitty’s breathing. As soon as the weather is too hot for her, she starts panting like a dog. Provide the four-legged roommate with sufficient water and milk. They’ll also help your kitty with a cool place to rest.
The cat drinks a lot due to dry food feeding
The food has a great influence on the fluid requirements of the house tiger. Basically, the more dry food a cat eats, the more he drinks. The reason is simple: There are hardly any water reserves in the dry food. The water content in this feed is only ten percent. Wet food, on the other hand, consists of 70 percent water. Your darling lacks these reserves if he only eats dry food. He makes up for this deficiency by drinking more water than animals fed wet food. In addition to the dry food, the treats influence the kitten’s feeling of thirst. Some treats are very salty. The salt makes the tender four-legged friends thirsty, which is why they drink a lot.
Important: A balanced and healthy diet consists of dry and wet food. Only then can the hangover meet its water needs with food. If you only give your velvet paw dry food, you are endangering their health.
Increased Thirst in Cats as a Symptom of a Serious Illness
Of course, an illness may also have occurred that caused the kitty to drink unusually much. But increased thirst is often just one of many symptoms. Oftentimes, the kitten exhibits other atypical changes in behavior:
- Contrary to their nature, the fur nose behaves unusually aggressively.
- Not only does she drink a lot, but she also urinates a lot.
- Shaggy fur that looks unhealthy and dull.
- An outdoorsman no longer goes outside.
- The cat withdraws more and more often.
- In the worst case, the cat drinks a lot and does not eat at all.
The basic rule is: A visit to the vet is necessary for any changes in the nature of the fur nose, no matter how small!
Thirst in cats indicates an impaired fluid regulation
If the cat drinks a lot and urinates a lot for no apparent reason, its fluid regulation is disturbed. There can be two different problems behind this. Often the so-called “primary polyuria” is behind it. In this case, the thirst center in the animal’s brain is disturbed. This affects the cat’s body in different ways. However, there are three causes.
Thirst in cats as a symptom of diabetes mellitus
Diabetes is one of the most common hormonal diseases in cats. When the disease begins, the animal shows little or no symptoms. As diabetes progresses, the cat’s blood sugar level will rise continuously. She needs more and more insulin all the time. This shows up as soon as the cat drinks a lot and still loses weight. At the same time, the animal suffers from a strong, unquenchable hunger. With the onset of diabetes, there are also externally visible physical changes: The kitten’s coat looks dull and shaggy. At the same time, the cat appears tired and listless. She no longer jumps around and struggles with weakened hind legs.
Warning: Older cats and neutered male cats are more likely to develop diabetes than young animals. So, once your old cat drinks a lot and pees a lot, it’s time to see the veterinarian.
Thirst in cats as a symptom of kidney disease
Kidney disease can make cats so thirsty. If the kidney function is permanently impaired, doctors speak of chronic kidney failure. Depending on the severity, this lasts for weeks, months, or years. The first symptoms only appear when two-thirds of the kidneys are no longer functional. Then the cat drinks a lot and withdraws. A sick cat with kidney problems also has a tendency to drink a lot and vomit. Your general health is poor. It is important to know that many older cats have kidney problems. At first, your old cat will drink a lot to meet its increased water needs. In addition, a heavily drinking cat with kidney problems will pass more and more urine. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the disease.
Thirst in cats as a result of poisoning
Extreme caution should be exercised if your young or old cat drinks a lot continuously. In the worst case, the animal has poisoned itself. This can be done outdoors through targeted poison baits or poisonous plants. But even house cats are not completely protected from poisoning. Many house plants are poisonous for your velvet paw. You should definitely not ignore these signs. As soon as the cat drinks a lot and vomits, it is a medical emergency! You should act immediately and take the kitten to the vet. The specialist staff then takes all life-saving measures and flushes the poison out of the body. If you suspect what the poison is, you should inform them immediately.
These Additional Causes Can Lead to Increased Thirst in Cats
- Dehydrating drugs (cortisone, diuretics, etc.) cause the cat to drink a lot and have a big belly.
- Cushing’s syndrome can make kittens feel thirsty.
- If the cat has too little potassium in its blood, it drinks more than usual.
- Various liver diseases can also cause the house tigers to feel very thirsty.
- Mental illness is seldom behind feelings of thirst.
You Should Do This If Your Cat Drinks Too Much
Cats and hangovers who drink a lot are not automatically sick. If your animal is otherwise fine, dose the amount you drink for your darling over the next few days. The amount of water can be measured in a measuring cup. You can see how much liquid your kitty is drinking after 24 hours based on the amount remaining in the water bowl. If the amount you drink exceeds the healthy daily amount, you can assume that you are ill. You should definitely go to the vet if your darling behaves apathetically, drinks a lot, and then vomits. You can collect urine on your own before the appointment. There is special cat litter available in stores that do not soak up urine. The urine can be collected in a container with a small syringe. This bottled urine makes the subsequent work easier for the vet. In addition, it is more informative than the urine taken directly from the vet. Ideally, you should label the sample and note the date and time on it. If you cannot drive directly to the vet, the sample can be temporarily stored in the refrigerator.
