Mary Allen
If your cat suddenly drinks a lot more water than usual, this can have various causes. In case of doubt, the vet will always know whether it is harmless or not. Here are a few possible reasons why your furry friend is drinking a lot of water.
If your cat drinks more than usual, you should keep an eye on its general condition: does the furry nose show any other abnormalities, such as hair loss, loss of appetite, or changes in behavior? Then don’t put off your visit to the vet for too long, because it could be that your pet is sick. Is the velvet paw, on the other hand, doing well, is it playing, eating and does it have a nice, healthy coat? Then your great thirst could also have quite harmless causes.
Cat Drinks a Lot of Water: Possible Causes
It’s very warm outside and your fur nose suddenly drinks more than usual? Then the summer heat can be responsible for their thirst. Just like humans, cats also have a higher fluid requirement when the temperature is high and should definitely be able to cover it with plenty of freshwaters.
If your cat drinks a lot of water in winter so that hot temperatures are no longer a possible cause, it may have eaten too large a portion of dry food. House tigers actually cover a large part of their liquid requirements with wet food and then do not drink much more. After a dry food meal, the impression can arise that the cat is suddenly drinking a lot of water.
If your cat is outdoors, it’s also possible that one of your neighbors will give you salty treats or something similar. This in turn creates a great thirst for returning home.
If your cat eats little or nothing and drinks a lot of water, you should take a closer look at the food: Have you changed your pet’s diet recently? Maybe your house cat just doesn’t like it anymore and he’d rather fill his stomach with water than with the (for the time being) unfamiliar food?
Also, if a kitten drinks a lot of water, she could be pregnant. Especially shortly before giving birth, pregnant cats have a high water requirement.
Poisoning & Foreign Objects
Unfortunately, the reasons for your cat’s excessive thirst are not always so harmless. For example, a foreign body may have lodged in the stomach, which the cat is trying to get rid of by drinking a lot. Poisoning can also make you thirsty. In both cases, a quick visit to the doctor is advisable.
Thirst is a Symptom of Illness
If the cat suddenly drinks a lot of water, illnesses can also be to blame. Most cat owners then also discover other symptoms such as:
- Vomit
- diarrhea
- weight loss
- exhaustion
- aggressiveness
- withdrawn behavior
- shaggy fur
- injuries
Symptoms can vary depending on the cause. In any case, you should not hesitate too long before you consult a veterinarian. Possible medical conditions that can be associated with great thirst in your pet are:
- diabetes mellitus
- renal insufficiency
- liver problems
- thyroid malfunction
Although older cats, in particular, develop these diseases, they cannot be completely ruled out in young cats either. If your little cat drinks an unusual amount of water, you should also have the baby kitty examined by the vet.