That said, the. The vet will perform a full clinical examination and will need to sample blood and urine to screen for the diseases mentioned and other, less common causes. Compensatory increased water intake eg, losses after vomiting or diarrhoea. There are many possible causes of dehydration, one of which we already discussed: hot weather. There are certainly exceptions, and some diabetic cats have many problems no 2 diabetics are the same. Diabetes mellitus ('sugar diabetes') Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) Urinary tract disease. Talking of why your cat would suddenly start drinking a lot of water, what about when it comes to cat not eating but drinking lots of water? Also Read: Why Is My Cat Drinking a Lot of Water? 7 Take your cat to the vet. Its a good deal if you can find it. Why is my cat drinking a lot of water and not eating? So a 10-pound cat will typically drink about 8 ounces of water every day. Anywhere from 3090% of cats will return to normal with early diagnosis and treatment. The easiest thing to do to stop your cat (or dog!) If the kidneys are failing, they arent able to reabsorb water from the blood as efficiently as normal, causing the body to become dehydrated and the cat to feel thirsty. Mug, is acting like Mr. Angrypants. Your cat will either be a house cat, a feral cat, or a farm cat. Cats with diabetes often need to change to a canned, high-protein diet. She will sleep more and more and may be weak when she is awake. That said, if you have any concerns about this, then you should book an appointment with your local vet for a check-up. Cats Drinking Lots Of Water - CatsWorldClub.com The cost has skyrocketed lately. One example is screening for high levels of growth hormone in the cats bloodstream. What should you do with a loose dog tooth? Another reason why your older cat is not eating but acting normal and drinking plenty of water could be that they have diabetes mellitus. Why Is My Cat Drinking So Much Water And Throwing Up? Local, privately owned pharmacies may be your best bet. Excessive Thirst in Dogs: Is it Normal or Serious? | Hill's Pet No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice, food recommendation, diagnosis, or treatment. Fur. If they have always drunk a substantial amount of water since they were a kitten, it's less concerning than if there is a sudden change in their thirst. More information. Older Cat Not Eating But Drinking: Senior Cat Food Issues - MrBossCat My cat is 16 and a half and in the last few weeks, he lost a lot of weight. Monitor your cat's water intake and call a veterinarian if there's a dramatic shift. Or drinking in new places? Talk with your vet if you want to try the insulin pen. The symptoms of a dying cat will vary and depend on whether the feline is experiencing an illness or injury. If you happen to have an older cat and he is behaving in this manner, he could be hyperthyroidism, which is a fairly common problem in older cats. Hes often looking scruffy with a matted coat, perhaps growing long, thick nails, and more vocal positively yowling sometimes. If your dog is drinking lots of water all of a sudden and urinating more often, do not withhold water from your dog. Hyperthyroidism can be treated in various ways, including medication and surgery. Feline Diabetes. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Diabetes is a complex condition, so treatment can seem daunting. In conclusion, how best can we address the question why is my cat drinking a lot of water and not eating? We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Drinking too many fluids can cause water toxicity by diluting your body's sodium and other electrolytes, which may cause your cells to swell, including the cells in your brain. Even well-regulated diabetics, particularly cats, experience stress when their family leaves. cramping, spasms, or weakness in your muscles. Dr Hannah Godfrey is a small animal vet who graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2011 and began work straight away at a busy mixed practice. We took him to the veterinarian. Cats can also lose moisture by sweating small amounts through their paws but. Stress can change their metabolism and therefore change their insulin needs. What is going on? If the cat is still happy, eating, and his glucose hasnt gotten too high or the diabetes hasnt been going on for a long time, this cat is what we call a happy diabetic.. This test can either be done at the vet clinic or at home. Many veterinary specialists worry about the quality of compounded insulin. What to Do If Your Cat Is Not Drinking Water: Signs, Symptoms and More Cat Nutrition: What Makes a Nutritional Cat Food. If we catch the illness early, a diabetic cat will stop drinking tons of water, have a normal amount of energy and lead a happy life. Dr Godfrey has a strong interest in soft tissue surgery. Most cats require very little insulin, so some of the insulin will go to waste, even if it lasts for 6months. Why is my cat drinking a lot of water and not eating at home?if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'learnaboutpet_com-leader-1','ezslot_11',560,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-learnaboutpet_com-leader-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'learnaboutpet_com-leader-1','ezslot_12',560,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-learnaboutpet_com-leader-1-0_1');.leader-1-multi-560{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important;width:100%}. Your veterinarian will likely recommend blood and urine tests. Furthermore, cats are not very sensitive about their food and may skip a meal if theyre not in the mood for it. This involves taking a pinprick of blood every hour or so to see how much sugar is in the blood. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! It just takes more work. A poor diet may have brought on your cats diabetes in the first place. Canned food, however, has plenty of moisture, so cats tend to drink less. Its most often seen in older cats, though in Persians and occasionally in Himalayans and British Shorthairs a hereditary condition called polycystic kidney disease can cause mid-life problems. (7 Interesting Facts), Can Sheep Live Alone? Your pharmacist might talk you into Lantus Solostar pens. These are 3 ml pens that are sold in bundles of 5. Cats are fastidious eaters and as a rule carefully inspect food before eating unlike their see-it, eat-it canine companions. From time to time, monitoring is necessary to check if the insulin dose is correct. Be prepared for some trial and error. In the article below, well walk you through some of the most common causes of increased thirst in cats. Unlike dogs, some cats may be able to go into remission from the disease if managed appropriately. If you suddenly start noticing your cat drinking more than they usually do, it may be a sign that something is wrong. There are many possible reasons why a cat may suddenly start drinking more water, including diabetes: Increased thirst is a very common. Seven strange things cats do that are actually quite normal, This simple grooming mistake can pose a serious health risk for your dog, Trainer shares clever tip to help your dog get used to the vacuum cleaner, and make spring cleaning a breeze. Get the cat to the vet. Changes in your cats thirst might not seem serious, especially if your feline friend is acting well and has no other symptoms. Is a cat drinking a lot of water a problem? Though these are sad signs of kidney disease, they're also an important indicator of the kidneys' continuing ability to function. Cats with kidney disease often have other signs such as weight loss, poor appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. Apart from diabetes, Why Does My Cat Like Coffee? This disease is manageable but not curable therefore early detection is necessary to instill therapies to help slow progression. However, there are health risks associated with feeding your cat too much wet food, and experts recommend feeding your cat a mix of both wet and dry food. Why is my cat suddenly throwing up? You can set up a pet camera to help you keep track. According to the above information, exactly why is my cat drinking a lot of water and not eating? There are many possible causes of your cats increased water intake, some of which are potentially serious and some of which are completely insignificant. Caring for a Diabetic Cat: The Good and The Bad of Diabetes Care Here are some other things youll want to keep in mind: A couple of times a week, you should test the cats urine with a dipstick. You want to get a cat with diabetes diagnosed as early as possible so it can be treated aggressively. This can be given as an oral medication or a topical gel that can be rubbed into their ears. Why Is My Cat Drinking Lots Of Water But Not Eating? Youre not alone if youve experienced this problem. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The cat is eating well but thinks the water bowl has turned into the best open bar in the world. As blood sugar levels rise, the cat will become thirstier and will need to urinate more often. The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. There are many causes of your cat drinking a lot of water, some more serious than others. There are several reasons why cats drink large amounts of water. 8 Reasons for This Behavior. If the gums are cherry red, your finger sticks to the gums, or the refill time is longer than 2 seconds, your cat may be significantly dehydrated. Monitoring your cats water intake at home can help your vet determine how serious the problem might be. The following content may contain Chewy links. In particular, excessive thirst in cats can be a symptom of: Kidney disease Diabetes mellitus Hyperthyroidism Urinary tract disease What should I do if my cat is drinking a lot? In most cases, these tests are enough to get to a diagnosis. The kidneys are responsible for filtering the blood and producing urine. Cats tolerate radiation very well, and a cat will only need to stay several days in the hospital after treatment. Furthermore, cats, when tamed, can fall in two categories. Its best to avoid them. Your veterinarian will probably rate the severity of your cats kidney disease using International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) guidelines, and they will recommend a treatment plan based on stage of the disease. In fact, the first sign of a problem might be if the litter box is getting full more quickly and the clumps are getting heavier and harder to scoop. Many diabetic cats come in to the vet and their human and the cat dont think theyre that sick. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The most common causes of increased thirst and drinking are: Kidney (renal) dysfunction. We dont completely understand this, but we are getting better treatment results with low-carb/high-protein diets and early insulin intervention. It's rarely seen in cats under 8 and much more common in the oldies of 12 and over. Featured Image Credit: AleksandarMilutinovic, Shutterstock. If your cat is showing any additional symptoms, such as weight loss, lethargy, or changes in appetite, try to get to the vet as soon as possible. Forcing her to drink too much water at a time can cause the water to go down her trachea and into her lungs, causing choking and even aspiration pneumonia. She may also be older and not able to reach the water bowl or there may be something wrong with her kidneys. Why is my cat drinking a lot of water? If your cat seems very thirsty, this is not normal. Or is there a medical condition you need to worry about? Now its time to get back on the right track. The biggest factor that affects thirst is a change in diet, particularly if you switch your cat from dry food to wet food or vice versa. 2. Cats drink a lot of water because they are trying to flush out the toxins from their ailing bodies. Diabetes is a fairly common disease and can be managed with insulin therapy and other medications. This is a progressive disease, and it is better to catch it early on. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. Treatment is variable depending on the underlying cause. This could be a sign of pain or various other serious medical issues including kidney disease, diabetes, and hyperthyroidism. This can mean they are more active at times they wouldn't usually be, and sometimes means they're very loud too. Sometimes, youll notice that they throw up their food right after eating or when they, Cats arent hard to please creatures. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Dry cat food has less water content than canned cat food, so. However, cats, especially kittens, play a lot, which can make them dehydrated too. These cuddly cats have an unfortunately habit of storing fat inside insulin-producing cells, which smothers their ability to produce vital insulin. A temporary thirst is common in cats when they are overexerted from exercise, excited from playing, or when there is a change in diet. Remember too that so-called wet foods are so wet that an 8lb cat, eating these alone, might only drink a mere fluid ounce of water a day, while the same cat eating dry food would drink 5 times that amount. Some cats wont let you prick their ear for a drop of blood. But times have certainly changed. This is an older cat's disease. Want to learn more? Firstly, it could be normal for them. When the electrolyte levels drop because of drinking too much water, your body balance goes down. Manage Settings You should take your cat to the vet to get the necessary treatment since failure to do so can be fatal to your cat. However, if your cat is diagnosed with diabetes, dont be downhearted. Cats will generally drink about 4 ounces of water per 5 pounds of body weight. What about when it comes to cat drinking but not eating? Only in advanced stages do these pets become very poorly; the term ragdoll is used to describe the toxic, floppy, collapsed appearance of a late-stage diabetic cat. These cut down on vet visits and are great for the cat who is anxious at the vets office. If you dont find a likely explanation above and even if you do, keep a careful watch its time to turn to more serious matters.