How can I get my Cat to drink more water?
Tips to Get Your Cat Drinking More
- Add Water Your Cat’s Food. If you don’t feed your cat wet/canned food, you should consider adding water to its kibbles. ...
- Switch to Wet Food. ...
- Running Water / Cat Fountain. ...
- Add Water to Snacks Throughout the Day. ...
- Increase the Number of Drinking Bowls. ...
- Switch the Type of Bowl. ...
- Flavored Water. ...
- “Catnip” Your Cat’s Water. ...
Why is my old cat drinking so much water?
What are the causes of increased water consumption in older cats?
- Kidney disease. Kidney disease and failure is common in older cats. ...
- Diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is also common in older cats. ...
- Hyperthyroidism. The thyroid glands control the body’s metabolism. ...
- Other causes: Diabetes insipidus is a condition wherein there is a lack of the Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) or the kidneys do not respond to ADH.
Why is my cat drinking and peeing so much?
Why does my cat pee a lot?
- free water. If you leave your cat free water during the day, it can get the quantities it needs and more, and thus its desire to urinate increases with drinking ...
- Age. The age of cats is one of the main factors in influencing the amount of urine or the number of urination times that your cat does.
- Food. ...
- disease. ...
Why is my cat drinking so much?
Why is my cat drinking a lot of water?
- Stress or Anxiety. If you’ve been to senior-cats.com before, you probably have noticed that stress and anxiety can manifest in a lot of varied physical issues.
- Diabetes mellitus. ...
- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Kidney issues are common in senior cats, and excessive thirst is an early symptom of chronic kidney disease.
- Hyperthyroidism. ...

Should I be worried if my cat drinks a lot of water?
Polydipsia is defined as a cat drinking more than 100ml per kg of their bodyweight per day, but any cat that is drinking more than usual should be seen by a vet, as this may indicate that something is amiss. Of course, let the vet know the amount your cat is drinking if you have measured it.
Do cats drink more water as they get older?
Increased thirst is an early warning sign of many age related diseases. As a guide all cats should drink about 50mls fluid per kilo of bodyweight every day – 200mls or slightly less than ½ a pint for the average cat some cats drink much less.
What does it mean when an elderly cat drinks a lot of water?
In the vast majority of cats that are drinking excessively it is because they are genuinely thirsty as their kidneys are making more urine, their bodies are detecting the loss of fluid and stimulate the desire to drink.
How can I tell if my cat has diabetes?
Early Signs of Diabetes in CatsExcessive Urination & Thirst. Your cat may be suffering from Type I or Type II diabetes if they are urinating frequently. ... Increased Weight Loss & Appetite. ... Inability to Jump & Loss of Interest. ... Change in Gait. ... Lack of Appetite, Vomiting, Lethargy.
How much water should a senior cat drink?
Most cats should drink about 4 ounces of water per 5 pounds of body weight in a day, give or take an ounce in either direction.
How much water does a cat need daily?
How Much Water Does My Cat Need? Your cat needs a daily amount of about 3.5 to 4.5 ounces of water per 5 pounds of their body weight. For instance, if you have a 10-pound cat, they should be drinking between 7 to 9 ounces of water daily.
How much water should a cat drink in 24 hours in ML?
The fluid requirement of a cat So how much fluid should a cat drink every day? An adult cat needs between 50 ml and 70 ml fluid per kilo body weight every day. So if your cat weighs 4 kg, for example, then she should drink between 200 ml and 280 ml per day. Your cat will not drink this amount all at once.
What are the signs of kidney disease in cats?
The most common changes seen are weight loss, poor hair quality, halitosis (bad breath), variable appetite which may be associated with mouth ulcers, lethargy, and depression. Less common signs include increased drinking or urinating, vomiting, diarrhea, and anemia.
How do I know if my cat is drinking too much water?
Most owners simply notice that their cat is spending more time lapping from their water bowl compared to in the past, or that they need to fill up...
How much water should a cat drink in 24 hours?
Cats generally drink enough water to keep their body hydrated, but the exact amount varies from cat to cat. The technical definition of “excessive...
Why is my elderly cat drinking so much water?
Some of the diseases listed above are more common in older cats. In particular, chronic renal failure, diabetes mellitus, hepatic disease and hyper...
Do cats drink a lot of water?
Cats’ thirst varies on an individual basis. Cats obtain water from a variety of sources, including moist food (which contains 80% water). They also...
Why does my cat drink so much water?
If any cat starts to drink noticeably more fresh water than previously, this is a sign that there may be a significant cat health problem brewing, and a visit to a vet for a thorough health check is recommended , It can make sense to measure how much water you need to add to top up your cat’s water bowl every day, so that it is then obvious to you if your cat suddenly starts drinking more water.
How much water does a cat drink?
Typically, a healthy cat might consume a total of around 50ml per kilogram body weight every day.
Why do cats thirst?
Causes of Increased Thirst in Cats. Cats start drinking increased quantities of water for a wide range of reasons, including a dry diet, kidney disease, diabetes, and more. There is a long list of common causes of increased thirst, and an investigation by a DVM veterinarian is always needed to identify the underlying problem ...
What are some things that can cause a cat to drink more water?
Detailed history taking, noting any other aspects of the cat’s habits that may have changed, such as loss of appetite, change in type of cat food, change of supply of water (e.g. a water fountain, or running water, may encourage cats to drink more).
What is the term for the combination of increased thirst and increased urination?
The combination of increased thirst and increased urination is often called “polyuria polydipsia”, abbreviated to PUPD.
How to monitor cat health?
Most cat owners know how to monitor the general health of their pe, by observing their appearance, their daily habits, and their appetite. But it’s less well known that monitoring their daily water intake is a simple, extra way of ensuring that your cat is in optimal health.
What diseases are common in older cats?
Some of the diseases listed above are more common in older cats. In particular, chronic renal failure, diabetes mellitus, hepatic disease and hyperthyroidism are all more common in elderly cats.
Why does my cat drink so much water?
If a cat begins to drink more water than normal and even excess it is possible that if it is not for a specific physiological reason (heat, stress, medication, food) we are facing a possible sign of a disease. One of the most common is a renal failure (in this article we talk about kidney ailments in cats). But there are also other diseases associated with a cat drinking a lot of water, with an increase in the number of times it goes to the sandbox such as diabetes, kitten diarrhea or liver disease.
What Should we do to know if my Cat Drinks more Water?
If cat drinking water in more amount then you can make it stabilize for following some precautions which you can see below. With this you can simply make your cat to avoid cat drinking.
How old should a cat be to go to the sandbox?
For cats over 10 years old (know about cat years calculator) if it is confirmed that they drink a lot of water and go to the sandbox we recommend that if it is not one of the points justified above such as a change of food to dry, or the effect of temperatures higher at home or in short, specific things that could justify it.
What to do if my cat is not eating?
If the cat not eating or drinking then you must take your pet to veterinarian. The diseases that affect the urinary system of cats are the most common that veterinarians usually treat. Changes in a cat’s thirst are almost always a sign that can indicate that something is not right.
What happens if you give a kitten a steroid?
If you are under a steroid or anti-inflammatory medication, one of the side effects is that the kitten will drink a lot of water.
Can worms cause liver disease in cats?
It may be a worm infection see more about signs and symptoms of worms in cats . These parasites feed internally, so they are absorbing nutrients from the infected cat. It may be a liver related disease. You may be suffering, if you know it from a fever or infection. It could be a bladder infection.
Is it normal to drink more than once?
You may have had a change from wet to dry food and therefore it is normal, that you can drink more often than before. Try to observe these causes and identify what the reason may be. The important thing in case of being a latent disease is the speed to detect it and put it in the hands of a veterinarian.
Natural factors
A cat may drink a lot of water due to the influence of natural causes that are not related to health problems and do not require treatment. The following phenomena may cause a desire to drink water:
Deseases
Often the reason that the cat began to drink a lot of water is some kind of pathology. In order to identify it, it is necessary to see a doctor and have the pet examined.
Medication
Another reason why a cat often drinks water is medication. Some medications can cause cats to be thirsty. However, this phenomenon is not considered the norm, it is a side effect of the medication. It usually occurs because the cat is prescribed the wrong treatment.
Why do cats drink water?
Do you notice a change in your cat’s water intake? The most obvious and common change is an increased intake of water called polydipsia. Animals, like people, typically drink for one reason — because they’re thirsty. On average, cats and dogs alike drink between 10-30 ml per pound per day. This amount can be impacted by the amount of moisture in the food, and water loss associated with exercise and panting. Remember that canned foods contain as much as 80% moisture.
What to do if your cat is drinking too much?
So if you suspect that your cat is drinking excessively don’t delay, it is important to see your veterinarian as soon as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian -- they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets. 1.
Why does my cat have thirst?
Behavioral causes of excess thirst are usually suspected when other conditions have been excluded. These are considered unusual in cats but have been linked to hyperthyroidism, which is quite common in older cats and can cause increased thirst for a variety of reasons. 1. How is the cause of polydipsia determined?
Why does diabetes mellitus cause water to be urinated?
Diabetes mellitus — which is characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. As this glucose overflows into the urine it carries with it large volumes of water.
What diseases affect the ability of the kidneys to reabsorb water?
Hormonal or endocrine diseases — such as primary (central) dibetes insipidus or renal (nephrogenic) diabetes insipidus. Both impact the ability of the kidneys to reabsorb water. In these two conditions the kidneys are not stimulated by or cannot respond to antidiuretic hormone (ADH) so fluids simply cannot be reabsorbed from the kidneys.
