An emergency veterinarian should be considered if your vet’s office is not open, as dehydration can occur quickly and cause severe illness in cats.Ĭats with underlying health issues such as kidney disease, cancer, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism are more likely to become dehydrated and need to be monitored closely if they start drinking less water.Ĭats need to drink more water than usual if they are affected by severe heat, prolonged exposure to heat, or are physically active. One episode of vomiting or diarrhea is likely not concerning for dehydration, but if it’s paired with other clinical signs or becomes persistent, dehydration will occur.Īny of these clinical signs can be concerning for dehydration, so it is important to contact your veterinarian to discuss these symptoms as soon as possible. Persistent vomiting/diarrhea: Both processes rid a large amount of water from the body, making it difficult for your cat to maintain normal hydration. If your cat is straining to defecate in the litter box, and there is no feces or only small, hard fecal balls, your cat may be constipated and dehydrated. When the body is already dehydrated, the colon continues to dry out the stool, leading to constipation. Sunken eyes: Your cat’s eyes will appear sunken into their head with moderate to severe dehydration.Ĭonstipation: The colon’s job is to pull water out of the feces to rehydrate the body and to form stool.
CAT WATER PULL SKIN
If the skin remains tented any longer, your cat is likely dehydrated. The skin should bounce back into place within a second. Increased skin tenting: Gently pinch the skin between your cat’s shoulder blades or on top of the head, pull it upward, then let go. If the gums are cherry red, your finger sticks to the gums, or the refill time is longer than 2 seconds, your cat may be significantly dehydrated. This should happen in less than 2 seconds. Signs of dehydration include:ĭry gums: Try to press your index finger gently into your cat’s gums and watch them turn from white back to a normal pink color.
Unfortunately, pet parents don’t always notice the signs of dehydration in cats until they become severe. This is a serious condition that can even be fatal. Not drinking enough water will cause dehydration if it goes on long enough. Is It an Emergency if My Cat Won’t Drink Water? Gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, cancers, and other diseases may cause your feline friend to decrease or stop water intake.
Since cats require less water than dogs, they may already be appropriately hydrated. Why Is My Cat Not Drinking Water?Ĭats may stop or slow down their water intake for a variety of reasons, including:
If you start noticing that your cat is going to the water bowl less frequently, contact your veterinarian to discuss possible causes. That’s why it’s important to note when your cat is drinking less water than usual. Cats drink small amounts of water throughout the day, while dogs lap up large amounts at a time.Įven though cats don’t drink huge amounts of water, hydration is necessary for the body to survive and to perform vital jobs. Domestic cats are descendants of larger felines that did not require much water for everyday living.
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