Excessive thirst or ‘polydipsia’ is a common symptom for several feline diseases and spotting this early can really make a difference to your pet’s health, says veterinary surgeon Graham Lewis.
You might notice your cat is spending longer at the water bowl or going to it more frequently and often. You may also notice that they need to urinate more frequently (‘polyuria’) as well, so may visit the litter tray or need letting out more than normal. So if you notice these signs, what problems might your cat have?
What could be causing your cat to drink more?
Urinary tract infections
UTIs will almost always cause polyuria and your cat might spend a lot of time on the litter tray straining without producing a lot of urine. You might notice some blood in the urine or even blood spotting in the litter tray or other areas. This infection can also make them want to drink more, so you might notice this sign first.
UTIs are usually fairly simple to treat, however some cats can have underlying causes. It is also possible if left untreated then cats can get urinary tract blockages that rapidly become far more serious. It's definitely worth a trip to the vet if you think this might be what is going on and a urine sample might be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Diabetes
Did you know that cats can get diabetes as well as people? This condition tends to affect middle-aged to older cats and is characterised by excessive thirst, increased urination and weight loss. Obese cats are at higher risk of developing diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes is a condition that cannot be cured, but long-term management is possible in many cases with ongoing treatment – and early diagnosis can prevent secondary complications linked to the disease. Diagnosis commonly involves blood and urine samples.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism is an endocrine condition that is due to a (usually) benign mass in the thyroid tissue in the neck. This produces a thyroid hormone that has many effects on the body and cats drink more, want to eat more and usually lose weight and have poor coat condition. This is a condition of middle-aged to older cats and is diagnosed via blood tests. If left untreated, it can lead to heart disease and can be fatal. Luckily there are several treatment options available for this condition.
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Chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in older cats and as the kidneys lose their ability to filter waste products and control salt and hydration, these cats start to drink more, urinate more frequently and lose weight as they go off their food. CKD is diagnosed with blood samples and the progression of the disease can be slowed by treatments including special diets.
Liver disease
Liver disease is not as common as hyperthyroidism or CKD but is still a common disease of older cats that can cause excessive thirst. Liver disease will often have other symptoms that can include vomiting, diarrhoea and jaundice (a yellow colour to the gums and the whites of the eyes) and can be diagnosed with blood tests. Finding out what type of liver disease is underlying might require more tests such as ultrasound scans or biopsies.
Cancer
Certain types of cancer can show by excessive drinking as one of the first symptoms. Some cancers cause increased calcium levels in the blood and this leads to excessive thirst. If increased calcium levels are identified on blood tests then your vet will discuss further tests to find out what is causing the problem.
Central heating!
This is something that happens in the autumn fairly commonly: a pet might start drinking a bit more when the central heating kicks in at home and they are in a warmer environment. It is always something to consider if you notice your pet suddenly drinking a bit more than usual and could save you a trip to the vets!
So if you notice your cat drinking more than normal, it might be worth getting in contact with your vet to see if they need an examination to see what might be causing this symptom.