Why Is My Cat Drinking Excessively? Vet Explains Causes & Solutions

Vet expert Aga Zoltowska advises a your cat reader on why her cat has started to drink much more water than usual...

Q) My 15-year-old Bengal has started drinking a lot of water. I know that this is due to his kidneys. Could you tell me what I can do to help him? At the moment, he eats a mixture of wet food and dry food. I would appreciate any help. 

Pauline Hurford

AGA SAYS: An increase in the amount of water a cat is drinking is a very important clinical sign and I think it is great that you were able to detect it and identify it as a potential sign of a disease. You are absolutely correct that kidney insufficiency is one of the reasons why your cat may be drinking more but I have to stress that it is not the only reason. Other diseases. like diabetes mellitus and hyperthyroidism, may also present with increased drinking. I would love to recommend ways you could help your little cat but we must first have a proper diagnosis. 

I would strongly recommend that you contact your vet to arrange an examination and further tests. Initially, I like to get a baseline information level using a geriatric blood profile. It is very important that we also test the urine to build a picture of your cat’s health. Please make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. As soon as you have a diagnosis, your cat will be able to receive the right treatment.