MCV FAQ: Is it healthy for my cat drink a lot of water?

A lot of people are pleased to see their cat drinking lots of water - that means they're keeping hydrated - right? Not necessarily! We actually become concerned if we hear this news - read on to find out why.

Cats naturally don't require a lot of water. Being a species that originated in the arid areas of Africa, their kidneys are adapted to conserve body water. In fact, if a healthy cat eats mostly wet food, we expect that owners would rarely observe their cat drinking. Cats on a mostly dry food diet would be expected to drink water, but probably less than 250-500ml per day.

Healthy cats on completely wet food diets may rarely be seen to drink as they get most of their moisture requirements from their food.

If you've noticed your cat drinking more water or making frequent trips to urinate in thier litter box, they may be experiencing polydipsia (excessive thirst) and polyuria (excessive urination). These symptoms can be signs of underlying health issues that require veterinary attention.

Let’s explore what polyuria and polydipsia mean for your feline friend and when you should seek help.

Common causes of excessive drinking and urinating in cats:

Several conditions can lead to increased thirst and urination in cats.

1. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): A prevalent issue in older cats, CKD impairs the kidneys' ability to concentrate urine, leading to increased water intake and urine output.

   
   

2. Diabetes Mellitus: This condition causes high blood sugar levels, leading to glucose in the urine, which pulls more water into the urine, causing excessive urination and thirst.

   
   

3. Other hormonal imbalances: An overactive thyroid gland can speed up metabolism, causing increased thirst and urination along with other symptoms like weight loss and increased appetite. Likewise, an underactive pituitary gland can disrupt the production of the key hormone involved in urine concentration called vasopressin.

   
   

4. Other issues that make the kidneys less responsive to vasopressin. There are numerous conditions that can also affect the kidney's response to normal vasopressin levels - examples include certain urinary tract infections, drugs and abnormal calcium or potassium levels.

While keeping hydrated is important, don't assume that regular trips to the drinking fountan means all is well.

Diagnosing the cause

To determine the cause of your cat's symptoms, we will perform a thorough physical examination and likely recommend blood tests, urine tests, and other diagnostics. One key test involves measuring the urine specific gravity (USG). This helps us understand how well your cat’s kidneys are concentrating urine.

For more information on the tests we perform on urine samples please see this blog post.

We routinely perform blood and urine testing on cats presenting with excessive urination and thirst.

Conclusion:

If your cat is drinking and urinating excessively, please don’t ignore it. Early diagnosis and treatment can make a significant difference in managing the underlying condition and improving your cat’s quality of life. Always consult us if you notice any changes in your cat’s habits, and keep an eye on their water intake and litter box usage as part of your regular care routine.