Thirsty Cat

[pips1]

My male cat has never drunk tap water, only our milk (his choice!) I know it is supposed to be bad for them but he is nearly 20 now so never did him any harm. When he used to go out a lot he drank rainwater but has always been healthy and has hardly ever had to go to the vets. However now he drinks loads of tap water and I just wondered, do you think it is just because he is old or maybe indoors all the time?

[murraymints]

is there a feline diabetes ?? ...I would check with vet if this is an abnormal behaviour

[ummmm]

I would take him to the vets. It could be diabetes.

Mine never drink any water I put down, they'd rather drink from the toilet.

[Khandro]

At 20 (wow) I think you may have to brace yourself for the beginning of the end :0(

[TheChair]

Drinking a lot, especially in old age, is usually a sign of imminent kidney failure. Kidney failure is a common cause of death in cats. I hate to say it, but the reason that milk is "supposed to be bad for them" is that it puts excessive strain on the kidneys.

[TheChair]

Just realised that might reply might sound judgemental, which was not intended. If he's had a happy life, and he's 20, well, everyone has to go sometime, and 20 is is a ripe old age for a cat.

[Prudie]

I'd agree perhaps a visit to the Vet as it can be indicative of kidney problems.
As for milk, I thought the only problem with it is cats can't digest it very well rather than being harmful - after all cats have been given saucers of milk for decades so don't worry.
Good luck

[237SJ]

It could be because he doesn`t go out anymore but as others have mentioned, it does sound like his kidneys could be failing. Take him to the vet and he/she will do a blood test for creatinine and urea.

[murraymints]

my cat would not drink milk only water and only from a running tap or the toilet ! nb don't put bleach or bloo loo in toilet

[pips1]

I think we are all getting prepared to be honest. He has had such a good life, my daughter brought him home when he was really too young to have left his mum but they were all about to be destroyed back then if homes weren't found. He has never had any injections since the initial ones, we have been lucky with him, he went to the vets about a month ago when his fur started looking manky and he said he was fine and just to brush him. He does not look 20 at all - thank you for your replies, I never thought about diabetes.

[237SJ]

BTW - is he weeing a lot as well?

[pips1]

Because he is now very much an indoor cat he has a litter tray for the first time. I didn't think he would know what it was but uses it fine, I suppose it does need changing a lot come to think of it.

[237SJ]

Drinking a lot and weeing a lot is a classic feature of renal failure in an elderly cat. If the vet confirms it by blood tests and the problem is not too advanced, the cat can be put on a renal diet to help him for a while.

[ladybirder]

Pips I echo what others have said about diabetes. My cat died at 20 having suffered from that and hyperthyroidism for the last 2 years of her life. She stopped grooming herself and I used to take her to the groomers for as long as she would tolerate it. She lost weight and was on medication which helped. By what you say she has hardly cost you anything throughout her life but now is the time to let the vet help her through the final stages. How lovely that she has been loved and taken care of all her life. So many poor cats don't get that lucky.

[ladybirder]

Sorry I have no idea why I put diabetes when I meant kidney failure. Yes, you have described classes signs of kidney failure. BTW my cat wouldn't tolerate the special renal food. At coming up to 21 I fed her what she wanted

[wolf63]

I would say Kidney failure or Diabetes, both of which can be controlled to a certain extent.

20 is a good age and maybe he will manage to stay around for another couple of years.

[pips1]

I am going to book him in again, money doesn't come into it as he has hardly cost us anything his whole life, apart from food of course. I only came on here as the last time I took him to the vets I felt I was wasting their time but maybe he does need a more thorough check up.

[wolf63]

Cats can be secretive and devious. They are not too keen to let us know they are feeling ill. Don't feel stupid about taking him for a check up - I once took my old cat to our vet because he had started snoring loudly in my ear. I was ready to lock him out of the bedroom so I could sleep.

Good luck with your boy

[pips1]

Just an update and to thank people for answering: the vet has thoroughly examined my cat and run tests for kidney problems etc. He has poor back legs which seem to be giving him discomfort and a heart murmur so is on painkillers. Why oh why are vets so expensive though? £192.70. He is worth it but come on!

[Khandro]

Did the vet. give you a breakdown of his bill? It sounds excessive. They usually say it is the outsourced (?) tests which are expensive.
Any bill you feel is too much should be challenged.

[pips1]

Yes: 1st consultation £33; blood pressure £36; take blood sample £30; Internal labwork £61.66; injection £10.16; Oral suspension £21.65. All this and I still have to try and get a urine sample from him myself which, if infected, could lead to more!