Should I be worried that my cat is drinking more/less?

26th January 2023

It is important to keep track of your cat’s drinking behavior as this is a vital indicator of your cat’s state of health. If your cat is unwell and has to go to the vet, it’s likely that one of the first questions you’ll be asked will be whether your cat is eating or drinking differently from usual.

However, it is important to remember that there are lots of reasons why cats change their pattern of drinking, and most of the time it is nothing to worry about. For example, cats will drink more when they are switched from a wet to a dry diet, if the weather is hot and when they have been more active. You might also see an increase in drinking if the house is warmer or you turn on air-conditioning. If your  cat has outdoor access, it might start drinking more from its bowl because outside water sources, like puddles, have dried up. On the other hand, a cat might drink less during cold weather, or after a switch from dry to wet food, but it might also appear to be drinking less because it has found somewhere else to drink, possibly outside, if your cat has outdoor access.

So, if you see that your cat’s drinking pattern has changed, but otherwise it is active and behaving normally, you should think whether any of these benign reasons could be the explanation, before worrying that something might be wrong. If you are still concerned, take a look at our checklist of signs of dehydration to see whether there are other indications that your cat is unwell. However, if the change in your cat’s drinking behavior cannot be explained by any of these causes, it is advisable to consult your vet.

 

Monitoring your cat’s drinking

Using a product such as Felaqua Connect, can help you to understand what normal drinking behaviour is for your cat.  The app will show you how much, how often and when your cat is drinking, making it easier to spot changes earlier than would otherwise be possible.  You can also share this information with your vet if you have any concerns.  If used with the other Sure Petcare connected pet products, such as the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder Connect or the SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap Connect, you can build up a more comprehensive picture of your cat’s wellbeing, answering key questions that your vet will ask:  have they been drinking?  Have they been eating?  Have they been exercising?