cat drinking a lot

[ladyalex]

Hello, cat experts.
Our cat, age 14, finished all of the water in her bowl last night and has been drinking a lot this morning. Never happened before.
She seems fine.Coat looks fine. Isn't looking unwell, hasn't vomitted or anything. Don't think she is having any problem peeing, but how would one tell ? Only unusual thing is her drinking.
We've measured out her water so we can get an idea of how much she is taking in.
Any ideas ? Or is it vet tomorrow ? Can it wait till tomorrow ? As I said, other than the drinking, she seems fine, doing all her usual things.
She has always had dried food since she was a kitten.
Thanks folks.

[tonyav]

Keep an eye on it your ladyship, maybe the vet could do a kidney test.

[tiggerblue10]

I would just monitor her drinking for a few days before you take her to the vet. She may have just been quite thirsty. Is she eating normally or eating more?

[Barmaid]

Given that she has no other symptoms it is probably absolutely nothing to worry about.

However, in a cat of her age it could be a symptom of renal problems (don't panic, that is not such a terrible thing as you may think and is manageable with diet and medication - I've had one "renal" cat and now have another - the latest one is absolutely fine and at 19 he still acts like a kitten). I would be inclined just to go and have her checked out, if only to put your mind at rest.

It can wait until tomorrow though.

[ladyalex]

Thank you, folks.
The drinking seems to have slackened off a bit now.
I'll take her to the vet tomorrow , stopping by the bank to arrange a loan first.
ladyalex :-))

[Nibble]

Ladya, definitely worth getting some bloods done - could be renal or diabetes, both common in older cats and both highly treatable. Rover's kidney function was seriously defective when he was first diagnosed with kidney failure - medication and diet means he's still a happy kitty, 3 years later.

[ladyalex]

Sorry, tigger, missed your question.
She's eating normally. And jumping about, wanting to be stroked etc etc. (I nearly said wanting to be clapped, but realised that it is mainly Scots who say that and didn't want to give the impression that we applauded her regularly!)

[Barmaid]

lol Ladyalex, I don't think you will need a bank loan - all they do is test the urea levels. Given that she seems otherwise well, I think there is nothing to worry about.

[murraymints]

can cats be diabetic ?

[ladyalex]

Thanks,nibble.
What's the treatment ?
She must be one of the world's worst cats to medicate. ( Warnings on her file at the vet in case any of them should be so foolish as to approach her )

[Nibble]

Just checking - Rover's consultation and blood tests last week cost us 50 quid.... thankfully covered by his insurance!

[tiggerblue10]

Yes, they can Murray. Tigger has diabetes and I have to inject her with insulin twice daily.

[Nibble]

Can't say for diabetes, ladya, but for chronic kidney disease he was prescribed one tablet a day before breakfast - thankfully they are palatable tablets so he just eat them out of our hand. (Unfortunately they look exactly the same as Boxy's hay fever tablets, so we DO have to be careful!)

[Barmaid]

If it IS her kidneys it depends on how high her urea levels are. With my old lady, she had a pill once a day (now medicating her was the devil's own job, but a prawn slit down the middle with the pill popped inside made it EASY) and a special diet which was low protein.

My old boy doesn't have medication (his urea levels are not that high), but must eat a low protein diet.

[Barmaid]

lol Nibble.

[ladyalex]

We stopped the insurance as she was so healthy!
The excess was just going up and up as were the premiums.
We now have an account with the vet where we make quarterly desposits . We can get the money out any time and it pays for her annual checkup.

I must say I am reassured by your replies. Thank you all.
And, rather like lordalex when he is unwell, now that she is aware that we are concerned about her, the symptoms have diminished.
:-))

[ladyalex]

Oh God...pills...must put gauntlets on the shopping list....

[Nibble]

We're still not sure about how Rover has had 6 months off ANY meds, as his urea & blood tests all came back as normal, vets were doing the correct tests, but had no idea as to why the results came back as they were, probably something to do with a high vole diet. IMHO, but from last week, it'll be back to one pill a day - I refuse to spend my day running round fields vole-catching!!! ☺

[ladybirder]

lady my cat's kidneys are failing, have been for a couple of years now. She's 19. Unfortunately she refuses any medication and can detect the "odourless" powders a mile off and we both get so stressed trying to get her to take a pill it's not worth it. It does sound as if this is the problem with yours as has been said it comes to most of them with age. If so make sure you are feeding her the "Senior" cat foods and cut down on the proteins. Maggie quite often goes off her food and has lost a lot of weight but I manage to keep that stable now. When she goes off her food she will only be tempted by chicken, prawns, ham, cheese, all the things she shouldn't have. Don't you just love them.

[Barmaid]

lol Ladybirder. I know what you mean. With my old lady she lived for almost 6 years with chronic renal failure. Now I know I shouldn't have done, but I did used to give her a little treat of her favourite things. Even the vet said a little treat every now and again wouldn't hurt her!!

[Wharton]

If it is a renal problem your vet will probably advise carbimazole tablets (around £15 for box of 100) Google "vidalta carbimazole". Barmaid's suggestion as to how to administer is good, I insert one into a piece of cat stick for my boy. All in all I don't think there's much to worry about. Good luck.