If your cat drinks a lot of water but does not urinate much, it might be overhydrated. Overhydration can cause serious health problems in cats, so it’s essential to track how much they drink. In this case, getting them to a vet as soon as possible is necessary to get them checked out and treated for dehydration.
Normal Cat Drinking Behaviors
A cat’s normal drinking behavior consists of sipping water from different body parts and swallowing. If your cat seems thirsty but won’t drink, it may be time to consult a vet about its health status or give him a fresh bowl of water with added flavor like mint or lemon.
However, based on your cat’s drinking habits and personality, you can estimate how often they drink each day. For example, some cats drink every few minutes, while others might only drink once or twice a day. This is also based on their activity level – a calmer cat might need water more often than an active one.
Additionally, cats have bodies about twice the size of humans, so they need more water to function correctly, while most cats enjoy drinking from a bowl or fountain, some like getting wet directly from the tap!
Reason Why Cats Drink a Lot of Water
Keeping an eye on your cat’s water intake is crucial. Not only are they keeping themselves hydrated, but drinking enough water can also help regulate their body temperature. If you suspect your cat drinks too much water, take them to the veterinarian for an evaluation.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease is a condition that can cause your cat to drink a lot of water. Drinking too much water is one of the cats’ most common symptoms of kidney disease. There are several causes of chronic kidney disease in cats, and some, like feline leukemia or kidney stones, can be pretty serious.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in cats where the thyroid gland is overactive. This can lead to increased appetite, more drinking than usual, rapid weight loss, and increased activity levels. Treatment usually involves medication and surgery to remove or reduce the size of the thyroid gland.
Cats are prone to hyperthyroidism, a common problem in this breed of pet. If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, it’s essential to take them to see their veterinarian for an evaluation and treatment plan.
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a disease that causes excessive drinking in cats. Other causes of drinking too much water include kidney disease, bladder stones, or simply over-watering your cat’s environment. When your cat isn’t getting enough protein from his diet, he will turn to water to help regulate his blood sugar levels.
Cats are obligate carnivores, and as a result, their bodies are designed to digest and use meat as the primary source of nutrients. So if you see your cat drinking a lot of water and having bad breath, it is probably time for an examination by the veterinarian.
Urinary Tract Infection
Getting treated as soon as possible is essential if your cats are experiencing urinary tract infections. Left untreated, UTIs can cause kidney damage or even death. Here are some of the most common causes and symptoms of UTI:
- Diabetes mellitus – this condition increases your risk of developing a UTI because urine becomes more concentrated and thus harder to resist bacteria growth;
- Kidney stones – these small rocks that form in a person’s kidneys can block urine flow, leading to an increased incidence of infections;
- Pregnancy – during this time, your body changes dramatically, and there might be increased chances of getting a urinary tract infection owing to various medical conditions such as blood pressure irregularities or frequent urination.
Wet Food
Cats eat wet food to help keep their water intake high, but if you have more than one cat, this can lead to them fighting over the water bowl. To prevent this, ensure each cat has their food dish and monitor your cat’s drinking habits. If it becomes necessary to stop feeding wet food, be prepared for a decrease in water intake.
Dry Food
Dry food doesn’t have the moisture content of wet food, meaning cats need more hydration. This can make them thirsty and cause increased urine production – mainly if their urinary tract isn’t functioning correctly due to another health condition.
Things to Do to Limit Cats Water Intake
Cats need water just like people, but sometimes they drink too much water. When this happens, it’s essential to know how to help them stop drinking so much water. A straightforward solution is to serve them wet food in pieces instead of bowls. Another is Feliway spray, which helps cats feel less thirsty and less inclined to drink from the water dish.
If your cat cries when thirsty and doesn’t want to drink from the regular water dish, try keeping the water bowl filled but low, so they have to work for it. Finally, if your cat is drinking a lot of water, you can do a few things to help them stop.
For example, try putting a water bottle near their food so they have to drink from it instead of drinking from the water bowl straight from the faucet. You can help your cat stay hydrated and healthy with simple tips.
