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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cat drinking a lot

45 replies

booboobutt · 04/02/2018 07:38

My cat usually doesn't touch his water (I think he drinks from puddles etc outside) but recently he's drinking loads. Every day his water bowl is completely empty. He literally never touched it before! He's also been sleeping quite a lot but that's not necessarily unusual as he will go through lazy phases.

His behaviour is otherwise normal. Still waking me up at 3am when he gets stuck on top of the wardrobe. Still going outside, still eating.

Can this be a sign of anything? Should I take him to the vets or am I being overcautious?

Thank you.

OP posts:
Ragdoll1234 · 04/02/2018 07:48

You need to take him to vets. My mum's 15 year old cat started drinking all the time. Turns out she has kidney disease and needs specialist food to help with water retention. For peace of mind get it checked out.

lovemylover · 04/02/2018 07:52

Most likely kidney disease. But could be Diabetes.
Does her breath smell sweet like peardrops .that's a sign of Diabetes. Take her to vets for check up

lovemylover · 04/02/2018 07:53

Him sorry!

Want2beme · 04/02/2018 08:01

He looks so lovely and relaxed there. Drinking a lot is often a sign of illness. I'd take him to vet and see what they say. They'll probably do a blood test to see what's going on.

Original poster
booboobutt · 04/02/2018 08:02

Oh god.

Ok, I'll call them tomorrow. I hope he's ok! He's our first born!

Thank you for your advice.

OP posts:
Original poster
booboobutt · 04/02/2018 08:04

Sorry I didn't answer the question. No, his breath smells normal (like cat food Envy)

He's only 6.

OP posts:
choccybiscuit · 04/02/2018 08:04

Hyperthyroidism

Want2beme · 04/02/2018 08:07

I'm sure It'll be something that can be managed. When mine have drunk lots of water, their conditions have turned out to be hyperthyroidism, which they had medication for.

Original poster
booboobutt · 04/02/2018 08:21

He's not lost or gained any weight. He's exactly the same patient, snoozy, lovely cat he's always been. It's literally just the drinking.

He has had fleas recently (he goes outside and mixes with other cats and animals a lot) but we've treated him. Could fleas have dehydrated him? Just clutching at straws now!

Hopefully it's nothing, or something treatable.

OP posts:
lovemylover · 04/02/2018 08:39

Doubt its flea related, but he could have been drinking more than you think if hes drinking from puddles too
Could also be Hyperthyroidism as suggested.but he does need checking over,which im sure you will do
I lost my beautiful Siamese at 7 due to kidney failure, but he suddenly lost a lot of weight,
I also lost a cat to Diabetes but she was 17, and drinking loads
Another cat had Hyperthyroidism. but she was 15, also non stop eating and drinking
Hopefully whatever it is its easily sorted
Just another thought, is he on biscuits, it could be they are making him thirsty
I hope you get him sorted and its nothing that cant be treated easily
I will keep watching
If it turns out it is kidney disease,your vet might suggest special food, but they dont always like it,
You can get something called Ipakitine ,from your vet or cheaper online,its a tasteless powder you just sprinkle on their food
Mine wouldnt eat special food

Want2beme · 04/02/2018 08:48

Try not to worry. It could be something as simple as him eating too much dry food. See what vet thinks. They might do a urine test as well as bloods. It's all part of being owned by catsGrin. I had no idea of the trials and tribulations before my first one 20 years ago.

Original poster
booboobutt · 04/02/2018 08:56

He's a very fussy cat love so I hope he doesn't need special food! He eats Science Plan dry food and Whiskers wet food (won't eat any other brand!) He doesn't eat any biscuits, he will occasionally have some dreamies or some tuna.

I will get him all the tests he needs when I call for the appointment tomorrow, and I'll let you know that's happening. I'm sure its nothing serious as he'd have other symptoms... I hope.

OP posts:
lovemylover · 04/02/2018 09:05

I meant dry food ,not particularly other biscuits, should have said dry food, sorry
It could be the dry food has been changed ,and its making him thirsty,
He looks and sounds healthy enough, so whatever it is, probably caught early
Good luck at the vets,im sure he will be fine

Original poster
booboobutt · 04/02/2018 09:11

Thank you. He's been on the same dry food since he was weaned. (We weaned him ourselves as he was sold to us too young, we didn't realise until we took him for his check up at the vets. We had to boil chicken and mash it up into milk for him... my little baby!)

Sorry I've digressed, but no his dry food hasn't changed! He's eating the same quantity too.

You might be right that he's been drinking a lot outside and now he's drinking the same amount inside, so he just appears to be drinking more.

OP posts:
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 04/02/2018 09:18

It’d definitely worth getting him checked out by the vet. It may be nothing but if there is anything wrong it’s better caught sooner rather than later.

My cat was diagnosed with early kidney disease last year. He’s very, very fussy and refused the renal diet recommended by the vet so he now has a phosphate binder added to his normal wet food. It took three attempts to find one he would take though! Apparently it’s not as effective but at least he takes it!

He’s a gorgeous boy!

falang · 04/02/2018 09:36

Introduce some wet food and see if he's still drinking as much. I'd hate to have to eat dry food all the time. It'd make me thirsty.

Original poster
booboobutt · 04/02/2018 09:39

He does have wet food, about 1-2 pouches a day (given half a pouch at a time because he won't eat it if it's been sitting out).

His diet hasn't changed at all in quantity or type. But he's drinking 1/2 - 1 full bowl of water a day when he didn't touch it a couple of weeks ago.

OP posts:
Hassled · 04/02/2018 09:43

The excessive drinking was the first sign my (now late) cat was diabetic. It's easy enough for the vet to diagnose. The good news is that it's quite treatable, depending on the personality of your cat - mine was so laid back and gentle that injecting him twice a day was no problem at all (it would have been a nightmare with my pyschotic other cat). When he died it was because he was old rather than the diabetes, which was well managed.

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 04/02/2018 09:47

My cat did similar at a similar age and it was diabetes.

He is now on insulin twice a day but is otherwise fine, def get it checked.

Original poster
booboobutt · 04/02/2018 09:51

hassled your cat sounds lovely and must have had a good life with you! Mine is quite laid back too - my DD (2) is overenthusiastic with him but he just lets her cuddle and kiss him. He will give a warning 'scratch' (you know when they scratch but with the claws not fully out) when he's fed up though.

That's another thing that's making me think it's nothing - if he was unwell he wouldn't want to put up with any shit from the toddler, but he's still so chilled out.

Oh man I love him so much. I hope I can get him seen quickly.

OP posts:
Gah81 · 04/02/2018 09:54

Mine started doing exactly the same. Turns out he has diabetes but this was the only symptom and because we caught it so early, it is v.treatable and no permanent damage had been done.

On insulin twice a day but pretty perky as usual.

falang · 04/02/2018 10:02

Ok. You need to take him to the vet then. Hope he's ok OP. He looks lovely

Original poster
booboobutt · 04/02/2018 10:05

Thank you, he really is lovely.

I'll keep you updated, will call tomorrow first thing.

OP posts:
prettymess · 04/02/2018 10:07

My cat with kidney disease drinks a lot. He’s on Semintra and stable on that.

Vinorosso74 · 04/02/2018 10:12

Our old girl was diabetic and the excessive drinking was the first sign-we were warned she was high risk as her pancreas was badly damaged. It was easy to administer the insulin. It could be something else but tests will soon show the issue.
He has a very fluffy tummy!!!

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