I have 3 cats. One of them, Miss Kitty drinks an enormous amount of water every day. (In comparison to the others.) I have 2 water fountains and she drinks for a long time. She is overweight and I'm concerned that her drinking may be caused by an underlying health problem. Is this a sympton or am I being overly zealous.
I realize that the weight problem should be addressed, but my question for now is about her water intake. Thanks for any input!
Excessive drinking??
Re: Excessive drinking??
Get her to your vet immediately for testing (especially for diabetes). Keep in mind, that since she is overweight, she is at further risk for diabetes and liver problems, so for this reason, a carefully managed weight reduction plan should be implemented by your vet.
Please start with a general chemistry profile and urinalysis, need to look expressly at urine and blood glucose to rule out diabetes.
Diet could be another factor of increased water consumption, if you're feeding dry only, or a commercial generic food, this would cause increased water consumption to a degree, but excessive water consumption really needs to be investigated by your vet.
Please start with a general chemistry profile and urinalysis, need to look expressly at urine and blood glucose to rule out diabetes.
Diet could be another factor of increased water consumption, if you're feeding dry only, or a commercial generic food, this would cause increased water consumption to a degree, but excessive water consumption really needs to be investigated by your vet.
..........Traci
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puddypaws100
Re: Excessive drinking??
Ok, I'll call the vet, but how do get a urine sample from a cat?
Re: Excessive drinking??
Best time is early in the morning, before kitty has eaten or drank. Try using an empty litterbox for this purpose, at least long enough to get a sample to take to your vet. If you can get the sample, you can refrigerate it in a clear clean container up to 8 hours, but it is not an ideal fresh sample for testing.
Otherwise, you can try to schedule an appointment with your vet for the first available appointment in the morning, he may be able to draw a sample by cystocentisis, providing she hasn't completely voided before the appointment. If that too isn't possible, then having her stay at the clinic for half a day might give your vet a sample to test. While he is waiting for a sample, he could then do the bloodwork.
Otherwise, you can try to schedule an appointment with your vet for the first available appointment in the morning, he may be able to draw a sample by cystocentisis, providing she hasn't completely voided before the appointment. If that too isn't possible, then having her stay at the clinic for half a day might give your vet a sample to test. While he is waiting for a sample, he could then do the bloodwork.
..........Traci