grovercentervetWhy Is My Cat Drinking a Lot of Water? A Complete Guide for Concerned Owners
If you’ve seen your cat drinking water more than usual, you may be wondering, why is my cat drinking a lot of water? Many cat owners will come to Grove Center Veterinary Hospital with this question and it is important: this is not a random occurrence. If owners ask, ‘Why is my cat drinking more water than usual’, the answer is that it can be a natural response to hot weather or new dry food or it may indicate a serious underlying medical condition that requires attention.
This article describes the most common causes for why is my cat drinking so much water, the problems that often go along with excessive water consumption, when you should take the cat to the vet and what to expect when you get there. If you know more about the reasons for your cat drinking copiously, you’ll be able to catch a health problem early in its life, before it’s too late.
Why Drinking Water So Much? The Short Answer
When owners question why is my cat drinking more water, there are a number of reasons this may be due, in most cases it is due to one of three factors: environmental, diet changes, and underlying medical. Cats, as a result of their desert heritage, are not thirsty animals and any dramatic increase in their water consumption should be investigated. If greater fluid intake is a habit that has been going on for more than a day or two, then it’s time to monitor that behavior and see the vet.
Here are some typical medical causes of excessive feline thirst. Here are some of the common medical reasons why cats are thirstier than usual.
The most common conditions found when veterinarians ask themselves why is my cat drinking water are:
- Chronic Kidney Disease: Chronic kidney disease is one of the most frequent reasons for cats to be drinking lots of water, particularly senior cats. As kidney function decreases, the kidneys can no longer collect the urine, so cats will drink more to replace the fluid.
- Diabetes Mellitus: One of the most common responses owners ask is why is my cat drinking a lot of water and diabetes is another leading answer. High blood sugar causes fluid to be lost from the tissues and into the urine, which leads to increased thirst, urination and, at times, a higher appetite but weight loss.
- Hyperthyroidism: Overactive thyroid causes a cat’s metabolism to be too quick, and is a common cause for why is my cat drinking so much water in middle-aged and older cats. Other symptoms of hyperthyroidism are weight loss, hyperactivity and a ravenous appetite.
- Urinary Tract Infections: Another reason for my cat drinking lots of water can be due to an infection in the bladder, or urinary tract. Urinary tract infection (UTI) may cause cats to strain to pee, pee less, and/or drink more, and may result in blood in the litter box.
- Liver Disease: Another, less frequent, but possible reason why is my cat drinking a lot of water is liver dysfunction. The liver is a key organ in maintaining fluid balance and liver disease can have a profound impact on fluid balance.
- Medication Side Effects: It’s possible that is my cat drinking so much water because she just started taking a new medication. Some steroids and other medications can have a dry mouth as a side effect.
Non-Medical Causes
If your cat’s drinking habits aren’t medical, it could still be a problem. There may be non-medical reasons your cat drinks more. However, not all of the time, if your cat is drinking lots of water, it is due to a disease. First, try these less morbid reasons:
- Change in diet: As you change your cat’s wet food to dry kibbles, it’s important to realize that it will lead to a higher water intake because your cat will not be getting moisture from food.
- During hot weather or increased activity: When it’s hot or when your cat is more active, they will require more water.
- Environmental changes: A change in your pets daily routine, new pet, moving to a new home, or changes in your environment may cause temporary drinking habit changes.
- Salt intake: A salty food item or table scraps may cause a transient increase in thirst.
If you still don’t know the reason behind your cat’s excessive water intake after eliminating these basic factors from your list of possibilities, the next sensible step would be to seek your vet’s advice.
Increased Thirst Signs to Watch For
Increased thirst comes with a number of signs to watch for:
Don’t only look at thirst when you ask yourself the question, why is my cat drinking so much water?! Look for these additional signs that may help your vet determine the cause:
- More urination or larger litter boxes in the litter box
- A decrease in weight when the appetite is normal or even raised
- Unusually sleepy or less active
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Poor coat condition or shedding too much
- Foul-smelling odor, may indicate kidney problems
- More crying or fussiness
If combined with increased thirst, all of these signs can make the question of “why is my cat drinking a lot of water” even more important to ask an expert about.
When to See the Vet
When is it too late to take your pet to the vet?
If your cat has a prolonged period of excessive water intake (more than 48 hours) you should make an appointment at Grove Center Veterinary Hospital. If thirst is accompanied by any of the following, it’s best to seek care earlier:
- Sudden and dramatic weight loss
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Lethargy/weakness is evident to the untrained eye
- Hematuria (in the urine)
- Loss of appetite
If you delay in finding out why your cat is drinking so much water, it may be because an underlying condition such as diabetes or kidney disease has advanced too much to treat.
Diagnostic Tests to Expect
Throw away the water bottles. Drink up any water bottle.
Your veterinarian will probably perform a series of the following tests to determine the cause of your cat’s excessive water consumption:
- Physical examination: Assessing hydration status, weight and general appearance.
- Bloodwork: Testing blood values for kidneys, liver and blood sugar.
- Urine examination (urinalysis): To check for infection or glucose in the urine and to determine the concentration of the urine.
- Thyroid testing: Testing of thyroid hormone in middle-aged and senior cats.
- Measurement of the blood pressure: Some conditions associated with elevated thirst also cause elevated blood pressure.
These diagnostics enable your veterinarian to go from asking your cat, why is she drinking so much water? to a diagnosis that can be treated.
Tracking Water Consumption at Home
Here are some tips on keeping track of your cat’s water consumption at home.
If you aren’t certain something is wrong but you suspect it, keeping track of how much water is being consumed might help determine the answer to why is my cat drinking a lot of water prior to your appointment:
- Measure the water you put in the bowl each day and note how much is left the next morning.
- Observe litter box habits: Frequency and number of clumps.
- Maintain a simple log for one week for thirst, appetite, energy and urination.
Take this to the vet to help get a more timely and accurate diagnosis.
Why Choose Grove Center Veterinary Hospital?
What are the reasons to choose Grove Center Veterinary Hospital? What are Grove Center Veterinary Hospital’s advantages?
The best way to get answers to your questions of why is my cat drinking a lot of water is to take your cat to a trusted veterinary team. Here at Grove Center Veterinary Hospital, we use a combination of careful physical examination and advanced laboratory diagnostic testing to determine just what’s causing your cat’s increased thirst, not to guess the answer. We know how disturbing it can be to see a change in your cat’s behavior and here to lead you through each step, from testing to treatment.
Conclusion
Therefore, why is my cat drinking so much water? It may be something as simple as a diet change or as severe as diabetes, kidney disease, or hyperthyroidism. One of the first and most recognisable signs that there is a problem is increased thirst as cats are excellent at hiding illness. If your cat has been drinking increased amounts of water for more than a day or two, don’t delay, call Grove Center Veterinary Hospital for the right treatment plan, and your cat’s accurate diagnosis, as early as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my cat drinking a lot of water all of a sudden?
This is because of a sudden change in diet, hot weather, medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease or hyperthyroidism. Should it continue for over a few days, a veterinarian should be seen.
Does the quantity of water consumed increase with age?
Not necessarily. A sudden surge in thirst is usually a sign of kidney disease or hyperthyroidism in senior cats and should be diagnosed by a vet.
What are some diseases that will make a cat drink too much water?
The most frequent are chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, UTI and liver disease.
If my cat is drinking more water but is behaving normally, should I be concerned?
Yes, it is definitely a subject to watch. Cats may have a medical problem that they are able to conceal, and drinking more water than usual could be a sign of it.
What is the “normal” amount of water a healthy cat should drink daily?
Cats should consume approximately 3.5–4.5 ounces for every 5 lbs of body weight on a daily basis, though cats that eat wet food may drink less as they are getting moisture from their food.
Can increased water intake in cats be caused by diet?
Yes. Dry kibbles have less moisture than wet food, so the change should increase your cat’s water intake from the water bowl.
