Hello! Nigel, here. Do you notice that your kitty has been spending more time at the water dish than he used to? When you scoop the litter box, do you find more or larger clumps than you had in the past? If so, this is something that you should not ignore. Increased thirst and subsequently increased urination can be common symptoms to many diseases that cats are prone to develop.
Now, at our house, my trusty sidekick Cecil and I are only fed canned food. Dr. S and Dr. J even add a bit of warm water to our meals as we do enjoy a little extra “gravy.” For kitties that eat a mostly moist diet, humans may feel that they never really see their cats drink water. This is normal and should not be cause for alarm. However, cats that eat partly or all dry food do usually visit the water dish, fountain or sink on a regular basis. It is important for cat guardians to note if there is an increase in water intake and bring their precious kitties to the vet straight away if they should see this occurring.
There are several conditions that cats acquire with age that have increased water intake as a primary symptom. The three most common are kidney disease, diabetes and hyperthyroidism. The good news is that all three of these conditions can be managed with medicine and/or nutritional changes. Even better news is that your vet can diagnose these conditions quite easily with just a bit of blood and urine sent to the lab. The earlier that these problems are discovered, the more readily they can be managed. So, be sure to never miss your cat overlord’s scheduled physical examination and wellness blood screening. These tests are crucial to helping your cat live as long and as healthy a life as possible.
If you are unsure if your cat is drinking too much, consider an intervention and give the staff at For Cats Only a ring. You won’t regret having a visit with the doctors to make sure your kitty is staying as happy and healthy as he can possibly be.
Have a wonderful weekend! As always, this is Nigel, signing off. Meow!
