My cat is drinking a lot, is that normal?

Is your cat often returning to its fountain or asking for water more than usual? Here's when it's perfectly normal and when it's best to consult a vet.

How much water should a cat drink per day?

As a general rule, a healthy adult cat drinks between 40 and 60 ml of water per kilogram of body weight per day. For a 4 kg cat, this represents approximately 160 to 240 ml daily, which is a little less than one glass.

This amount varies depending on several factors: diet, ambient temperature, activity level, and the cat's age. A cat fed exclusively on kibble will need to drink much more than a cat fed wet food, which already contains 70 to 80% water.

Normal reasons why a cat drinks more

A kibble-rich diet

This is the most common cause. Kibble contains only 8 to 10% water compared to 70 to 80% for wet food. A cat fed kibble naturally compensates by drinking more. This is a healthy and desirable behavior and a good reason to offer them a filtered water fountain rather than a simple static bowl.

Heat and seasonal changes

In summer or a heated room in winter, a cat drinks more to regulate its body temperature. If your cat drinks more during a heatwave, this is completely normal. Just make sure its fountain is always well-filled and clean, and that the water remains fresh.

Increased physical activity

A more playful or active cat than usual will naturally compensate with a higher water intake. This is a sign of good health.

A recent change in diet

If you have recently changed your cat's food, especially by switching from wet food to kibble, an increase in water consumption is expected and normal.

When excessive water consumption becomes concerning

Polydipsia, or excessive thirst, occurs when a cat drinks more than 100 ml per kilogram of body weight per day. For a 4 kg cat, this represents more than 400 ml daily. If you observe this level of consumption without any change in diet or temperature, consult a veterinarian.

Warning signs to look out for

Abnormally high water consumption can be a symptom of several serious conditions in cats:

• Chronic kidney failure: the kidneys no longer filter the blood correctly, and the cat compensates by drinking more. This is one of the most common diseases in older cats.
• Diabetes: intense thirst accompanied by sudden weight gain or loss may indicate feline diabetes.
• Hyperthyroidism: common in cats over 10 years old, it speeds up metabolism and leads to increased thirst.
• A urinary tract infection or pyometra: especially in unspayed females.

In all these cases, polydipsia is rarely the only symptom. It is usually accompanied by an increase in urine volume, weight loss or gain, a change in behavior, or unusual fatigue.

How to monitor your cat's water consumption

The simplest way is to fill the fountain to a specific level each morning and note how much has been drunk at the end of the day. Do this for 3 to 5 consecutive days to get a reliable average.

If you have several pets, this exercise is more difficult. In this case, observe indirect signs instead: frequency of visits to the fountain, volume and frequency of urine in the litter box, and general behavior.

Our fountains naturally facilitate this monitoring thanks to their transparent, graduated reservoir. The 3.2L spout fountain is particularly suitable for households with multiple cats: its large capacity makes it easy to measure daily consumption. For a household with a single cat, the 2.2L compact fountain fulfills the same role more discreetly.

A fountain also encourages your cat to drink regularly throughout the day rather than in large quantities all at once, which is much better for their kidneys.

Key takeaways

Situation	Action to take
Kibble-fed cat that drinks a lot	Normal, no action needed
Increased intake due to heat	Normal, check that the fountain is full
More than 100 ml per kg per day for no apparent reason	Consult a veterinarian
Excessive thirst accompanied by other symptoms	Consult a veterinarian quickly

In the majority of cases, a cat that drinks a lot is a cat that is properly hydrated. The essential thing is to know your cat's habits to quickly detect any unusual changes. A filtered water fountain, by making water more attractive and accessible, is the best way to encourage regular hydration and easily monitor their consumption.

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