Question:
If your cat was drinking too much water or peeing too much, believ me, you would KNOW it. I had a cat with diabetes. He had one of those automatic water feeder things. When his insulin was getting adjusted, he would sit and just drink for minutes at a time. He’d get in his box and pee for literally 30 seconds–I counted. Another time I took in a stray–Timmy, he’s sitting right next to me now- and it was winter in Minnesota. The first thing I did was give him a large cereal bowl of water. He drank it ALL without even stopping, and when I filled it up again, drank about 1/3 more. Now THAT’s thirsty. The vet said strays often get dehydrated. As for worrying, it’s better to worry too much than not enough. Karen
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi all, > … >How do I know if Kai is drinking so much water or urinating so much that I >should be concerned? > … >I know that these questions probably sound ridiculous, but we’re about to >go away for a week and I doubt that our cat sitters know him well enough >to know if he looks sick. And I’m exceedingly paranoid about kidney >problems right now (lots of friends with sick/RB pets with kidney >problems… :( ). >… >Feeling pretty stupid, >Janet
Well, don’t feel bad about being concerned. As other people have pointed out, there is no real problem with drinking water. There would be a problem if your cat wasn’t drinking water. As a comparison, doctors tell us to drink something like 7-8 glasses of water a day (that does not include coffee or beer, which tends to dehydrate). You would be much like a cat if you drank that much, you would have to drink throughout the day and you would use the bathroom a few times a day. Besides, do you know how much effort it is to run around the house, chase imaginary creatures, purr and nap? Don’t forget about practicing mountain climbing techniques on the curtains! It’s not easy being a cat. Seriously, the quantity of food and water consumed should be observed as a ‘baseline’. If your cat has a change of behaviour and is eating or drinking significantly less, that would be a potential problem sign. -Giff —
Response:
> And even without all the baggage, I’m a hypochondriac. With it, I’m > downright ridiculous.
Don’t be so hard on yourself. We’ve all made fools of ourselves at one time or another. I once spent a quarter of an hour trying to convince my vet that a hairball wasn’t a hairball and that Bob’s kidney infection must have returned because he was vomiting again. It was a hairball. Another time I rushed Charcoal to the emergency clinic because I had slammed a door on her foot and she was limping and crying. Needless to say, she refused to limp *at all* for the vet, who told me to take my kitty home. You’ll calm down as you gain some experience. Also, I’d second Stacey’s recommendation that you get a good book about cats. My favorite is _Cornell Book of Cats_, but Carlson and Griffin is also good. You should spend some time flipping through them in the bookstore and buy the one you think you’ll actually read. — Rebecca Graham McQuitty, inspired by the world’s best cats: Bob: DM Ot+W Y ~6 Y+ L++ W+ C++ I++ T++/— E++ H++ V+ F- Q++ P+ B– Charcoal: DM (R+B)r G ~4 X L- W C+++ I+ T+/– A++ H+ V++ F- Q+ PA- PL–
Response:
Hi all, I’m a regular hypochondriac when it comes to Kai, so I’m asking the newsgroup before I call the vet. You are welcome to flame me if you like, but the staff at the local emergency clinic can practically recognize my voice, and I doubt that they would take me seriously anyway. How do I know if Kai is drinking so much water or urinating so much that I should be concerned? I think that he urinates quite frequently (3 or more times a day), and he drinks more water than any other "house" cat I ever had. (When I was a kid and could convince my mom to let our barn cats live in the house, we would have a house cat for about two or three months before my parents would move them back outside again. So, not a lot of experience.) I fill his water dish every morning, and he usually drinks between 1/4 to 1/3 of it. Sometimes he drinks 2/3 of it. Is that considered "a lot"? I’m guessing that his dish holds between 1/2 cup to 1 cup. I never measured it. Kai is almost 6 months old and weighs around 6 or 7 pounds. He was neutered at 4.5 months. I know that these questions probably sound ridiculous, but we’re about to go away for a week and I doubt that our cat sitters know him well enough to know if he looks sick. And I’m exceedingly paranoid about kidney problems right now (lots of friends with sick/RB pets with kidney problems… :( ). Feeling pretty stupid, Janet
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi all, > I’m a regular hypochondriac when it comes to Kai, so I’m asking the > newsgroup before I call the vet. You are welcome to flame me if you like, > but the staff at the local emergency clinic can practically recognize my > voice, and I doubt that they would take me seriously anyway. > How do I know if Kai is drinking so much water or urinating so much that I > should be concerned? I think that he urinates quite frequently (3 or more > times a day), and he drinks more water than any other "house" cat I ever > had. (When I was a kid and could convince my mom to let our barn cats > live in the house, we would have a house cat for about two or three months > before my parents would move them back outside again. So, not a lot of > experience.) I fill his water dish every morning, and he usually drinks > between 1/4 to 1/3 of it. Sometimes he drinks 2/3 of it. Is that > considered "a lot"? I’m guessing that his dish holds between 1/2 cup to 1 > cup. I never measured it. > Kai is almost 6 months old and weighs around 6 or 7 pounds. He was > neutered at 4.5 months. > I know that these questions probably sound ridiculous, but we’re about to > go away for a week and I doubt that our cat sitters know him well enough > to know if he looks sick. And I’m exceedingly paranoid about kidney > problems right now (lots of friends with sick/RB pets with kidney > problems… :( ). > Feeling pretty stupid,
don’t! It really doesn’t sound like he is drinking too much to me. Do you feed him dry food ? Cats tend to get most of there water from there food, so if your feeding him dry, it would be a reason for him drinking a bit more water. I can tell from your post that you have talked with your vet. I wouldn’t sweat it too much…sounds like your guys going to be fine… lighten up a bit….I’m sure you both will do ok! 8;) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Janet
Response:
Hi. One thing you might consider doing before you leave for the week is getting a larger water bowl (and preferably 2) that would hold several days worth of water. It sounds like your kitty really consumes much of what is put in the bowl on a daily basis. If for some reason your sitters can not make a visit one day, your kitty would be OK (assuming the sitters are attentive to the water level and fill the bowl daily). For example, they may have a family emergency and have to leave town for a say or two. We currently have three indoor cats, and I maintain 2 very large water bowls (each holds several quarts) on different floors of the house. A single bowl would last these three cats many days. Therefore I feel comfortable that if for some reason we can not make it home one night their water needs will be met. Another reason I maintain at least two bowls is that, very rarely, a cat may barf into a water bowl after eating too much dry food. With additional bowls there are alternative water sources should one become contaminated. KW Theil Wooster, Ohio
Response:
>> Hi all, > I’m a regular hypochondriac when it comes to Kai, so I’m asking the > newsgroup before I call the vet. You are welcome to flame me if you like, > but the staff at the local emergency clinic can practically recognize my > voice, and I doubt that they would take me seriously anyway. >lighten up a bit….I’m sure you both will do ok! 8;)
<grin> I wish I could! I have a lot of emotional baggage when it comes to pets (particularly cats), and so I tend to really hover over Kai every second. I have far too many friends waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge (lost before I was old enough to be fully responsible for things like veterinary care), and even though I know I’m not to blame for their absence, I feel the weight of the responsibility, regardless. My cat, Rio, died around the time I left for college, and it took me nearly ten years before I felt ready to love another cat (Kai) again. My parents had adopted other cats during that time, but I honestly could not feel any emotional bond with any of them. Now that I’m so much in love with Kai, I’m terrified that he’s going to die prematurely like the others did, even though he’s an indoor-only cat living under entirely different circumstances. And even without all the baggage, I’m a hypochondriac. With it, I’m downright ridiculous. So far, I’ve called the vets because he had a reaction to some flea repellant and was foaming at the mouth, because he vomited twice in one day, because he coughed a couple of times, because he may have swallowed something he shouldn’t, because he looked sluggish less than 24 hours after being neutered, and I was nearly on the phone with them this morning about the water thing. We rushed him to an emergency clinic on Christmas Day ($60.00 to walk in the door) because of the vomiting. And we’ve only had him for two months! I really appreciate the help that I’ve gotten from people on these newsgroups. Just be patient with me; I’m terrified. :) Janet P.S. We do feed him dry cat food. I had been moistening it a bit with water because he was losing his baby teeth and refused to eat it, and I guess that he was drinking less water for a while.)
Response:
>I know that these questions probably sound ridiculous, but we’re about to >go away for a week and I doubt that our cat sitters know him well enough >to know if he looks sick. And I’m exceedingly paranoid about kidney >problems right now (lots of friends with sick/RB pets with kidney >problems… :( ).
If he’s drinking plenty of water, you can probably stop worrying about his kidneys. Abundant water eases the load on kidney function. It’s often hard to coax a pet that doesn’t drink enough to drink more (and people, too). — "There’s a seeker born every minute."
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> Hi all, >> I’m a regular hypochondriac when it comes to Kai, so I’m asking the >> newsgroup before I call the vet. You are welcome to flame me if you like, >> but the staff at the local emergency clinic can practically recognize my >> voice, and I doubt that they would take me seriously anyway. >lighten up a bit….I’m sure you both will do ok! 8;) > <grin> I wish I could! I have a lot of emotional baggage when it comes > to pets (particularly cats), and so I tend to really hover over Kai every > second. I have far too many friends waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge > (lost before I was old enough to be fully responsible for things like > veterinary care), and even though I know I’m not to blame for their > absence, I feel the weight of the responsibility, regardless.
don’t worry too much…I probabiliy have 20 cats to every one you have waiting for you! don’t blame yourself…it’s not good for you, or your furry friends…they want you WHOLE, not worring about them every second of there life… > My cat, Rio, died around the time I left for college, and it took me > nearly ten years before I felt ready to love another cat (Kai) again. My > parents had adopted other cats during that time, but I honestly could not > feel any emotional bond with any of them. Now that I’m so much in love > with Kai, I’m terrified that he’s going to die prematurely like the others > did, even though he’s an indoor-only cat living under entirely different > circumstances.
have you ever thought about working part time, or as a volenteer at a shelter ? Working with cats can make it easier to deal with the inevaitable, plus working with other cats will help you to see that they aren’ty so fragle that have to worry every second > And even without all the baggage, I’m a hypochondriac. With it, I’m > downright ridiculous. So far, I’ve called the vets because he had a > reaction to some flea repellant and was foaming at the mouth, because he > vomited twice in one day, because he coughed a couple of times, because he > may have swallowed something he shouldn’t, because he looked sluggish less > than 24 hours after being neutered, and I was nearly on the phone with > them this morning about the water thing. We rushed him to an emergency > clinic on Christmas Day ($60.00 to walk in the door) because of the > vomiting. And we’ve only had him for two months!
Damn! Wish I were your vet (could use the money!) Well, if nothing else, this one should be safe! > I really appreciate the help that I’ve gotten from people on these > newsgroups. Just be patient with me; I’m terrified. :)
don’t worry…if I can ever help, drop me a line > Janet > P.S. We do feed him dry cat food. I had been moistening it a bit with > water because he was losing his baby teeth and refused to eat it, and I > guess that he was drinking less water for a while.)
maybe I wasn’t too far off after all! I think you’ll be ok! Give your furry a big head butt for me!
Response:
> I know that these questions probably sound ridiculous, but we’re about to > go away for a week and I doubt that our cat sitters know him well enough > to know if he looks sick. And I’m exceedingly paranoid about kidney > problems right now (lots of friends with sick/RB pets with kidney > problems… :( ).
I think at 6 months the possibilities of any real diseases which cause polyuria/polydipsia are extremely remote. However, I figure that your cat should be drinking upwards of 300mL of water a day at least. I dunno the conversion to the English system of measurements, but perhaps you could do those and figure itout. Erik "Rouleaux" Hofmeister WSU Class ‘00 PLEASE NOTE: In the absence of a traditional veterinarian-client-patient relationship, this information should be taken as a friendly opinion, not as an official clinical recommendation. Also realize that I am a veterinary student, and anything stated should be taken with that in mind.
Response:
I’d say, base your concern on your prior history with your cat. I have two kittens, both of whom drink a lot of water… always have. If suddenly they stopped, I might be concerned. You know your cat better than anybody… judge his health on his appetite and behavior as they compare to his "normal" appetite and behavior. And have a nice vacation! Rachel — To reply by email, please replace the kitty noises with the school suffix. :)
Response:
> <snip> > And even without all the baggage, I’m a hypochondriac. With it, I’m > downright ridiculous. So far, I’ve called the vets because he had a > reaction to some flea repellant and was foaming at the mouth, because he > vomited twice in one day, because he coughed a couple of times, because he > may have swallowed something he shouldn’t, because he looked sluggish less > than 24 hours after being neutered, and I was nearly on the phone with > them this morning about the water thing. We rushed him to an emergency > clinic on Christmas Day ($60.00 to walk in the door) because of the > vomiting. And we’ve only had him for two months!
I’m guilty of much the same behavior! Fortunately, my vet will answer just about any damn fool question over the ‘phone. He’s never criti- cized me, even when I’ve tied him up for an unpaid hour over Norton’s bowel movements: instead, the last time I saw him, he told me: "You’re a good cat mommy." Being easily pleased, I glowed the rest of the day. I’d like to recommend a good book: Carlson and Giffen’s =Cat Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook.= It’s now in a revised edition. I like this one because it’s got real nuts-and-bolts information on what’s normal and what’s not, it provides information on what you can handle at home and when you really need the vet, and it tells you how to do a home exam that will provide your vet with useful information. The =Cornell Book of Cats= is good, too, but it’s Carlson & Giffen’s that, for instance, provides a full description of various colors and con- sistencies of stool, and what they might mean. Okay, it sounds dis- gusting: but it was really useful in helping determine just what was wrong with poor Norton (he’s got exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and inflammatory bowel disease, so bowel movements tend to be on my mind). Stacy Scott
Response:
If your cat was drinking too much water or peeing too much, believ me, you would KNOW it. I had a cat with diabetes. He had one of those automatic water feeder things. When his insulin was getting adjusted, he would sit and just drink for minutes at a time. He’d get in his box and pee for literally 30 seconds–I counted. Another time I took in a stray–Timmy, he’s sitting right next to me now- and it was winter in Minnesota. The first thing I did was give him a large cereal bowl of water. He drank it ALL without even stopping, and when I filled it up again, drank about 1/3 more. Now THAT’s thirsty. The vet said strays often get dehydrated. As for worrying, it’s better to worry too much than not enough. Karen
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi all, > … >How do I know if Kai is drinking so much water or urinating so much that I >should be concerned? > … >I know that these questions probably sound ridiculous, but we’re about to >go away for a week and I doubt that our cat sitters know him well enough >to know if he looks sick. And I’m exceedingly paranoid about kidney >problems right now (lots of friends with sick/RB pets with kidney >problems… :( ). >… >Feeling pretty stupid, >Janet
Well, don’t feel bad about being concerned. As other people have pointed out, there is no real problem with drinking water. There would be a problem if your cat wasn’t drinking water. As a comparison, doctors tell us to drink something like 7-8 glasses of water a day (that does not include coffee or beer, which tends to dehydrate). You would be much like a cat if you drank that much, you would have to drink throughout the day and you would use the bathroom a few times a day. Besides, do you know how much effort it is to run around the house, chase imaginary creatures, purr and nap? Don’t forget about practicing mountain climbing techniques on the curtains! It’s not easy being a cat. Seriously, the quantity of food and water consumed should be observed as a ‘baseline’. If your cat has a change of behaviour and is eating or drinking significantly less, that would be a potential problem sign. -Giff —
Response:
> And even without all the baggage, I’m a hypochondriac. With it, I’m > downright ridiculous.
Don’t be so hard on yourself. We’ve all made fools of ourselves at one time or another. I once spent a quarter of an hour trying to convince my vet that a hairball wasn’t a hairball and that Bob’s kidney infection must have returned because he was vomiting again. It was a hairball. Another time I rushed Charcoal to the emergency clinic because I had slammed a door on her foot and she was limping and crying. Needless to say, she refused to limp *at all* for the vet, who told me to take my kitty home. You’ll calm down as you gain some experience. Also, I’d second Stacey’s recommendation that you get a good book about cats. My favorite is _Cornell Book of Cats_, but Carlson and Griffin is also good. You should spend some time flipping through them in the bookstore and buy the one you think you’ll actually read. — Rebecca Graham McQuitty, inspired by the world’s best cats: Bob: DM Ot+W Y ~6 Y+ L++ W+ C++ I++ T++/— E++ H++ V+ F- Q++ P+ B– Charcoal: DM (R+B)r G ~4 X L- W C+++ I+ T+/– A++ H+ V++ F- Q+ PA- PL–
Response:
Hi all, I’m a regular hypochondriac when it comes to Kai, so I’m asking the newsgroup before I call the vet. You are welcome to flame me if you like, but the staff at the local emergency clinic can practically recognize my voice, and I doubt that they would take me seriously anyway. How do I know if Kai is drinking so much water or urinating so much that I should be concerned? I think that he urinates quite frequently (3 or more times a day), and he drinks more water than any other "house" cat I ever had. (When I was a kid and could convince my mom to let our barn cats live in the house, we would have a house cat for about two or three months before my parents would move them back outside again. So, not a lot of experience.) I fill his water dish every morning, and he usually drinks between 1/4 to 1/3 of it. Sometimes he drinks 2/3 of it. Is that considered "a lot"? I’m guessing that his dish holds between 1/2 cup to 1 cup. I never measured it. Kai is almost 6 months old and weighs around 6 or 7 pounds. He was neutered at 4.5 months. I know that these questions probably sound ridiculous, but we’re about to go away for a week and I doubt that our cat sitters know him well enough to know if he looks sick. And I’m exceedingly paranoid about kidney problems right now (lots of friends with sick/RB pets with kidney problems… :( ). Feeling pretty stupid, Janet
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi all, > I’m a regular hypochondriac when it comes to Kai, so I’m asking the > newsgroup before I call the vet. You are welcome to flame me if you like, > but the staff at the local emergency clinic can practically recognize my > voice, and I doubt that they would take me seriously anyway. > How do I know if Kai is drinking so much water or urinating so much that I > should be concerned? I think that he urinates quite frequently (3 or more > times a day), and he drinks more water than any other "house" cat I ever > had. (When I was a kid and could convince my mom to let our barn cats > live in the house, we would have a house cat for about two or three months > before my parents would move them back outside again. So, not a lot of > experience.) I fill his water dish every morning, and he usually drinks > between 1/4 to 1/3 of it. Sometimes he drinks 2/3 of it. Is that > considered "a lot"? I’m guessing that his dish holds between 1/2 cup to 1 > cup. I never measured it. > Kai is almost 6 months old and weighs around 6 or 7 pounds. He was > neutered at 4.5 months. > I know that these questions probably sound ridiculous, but we’re about to > go away for a week and I doubt that our cat sitters know him well enough > to know if he looks sick. And I’m exceedingly paranoid about kidney > problems right now (lots of friends with sick/RB pets with kidney > problems… :( ). > Feeling pretty stupid,
don’t! It really doesn’t sound like he is drinking too much to me. Do you feed him dry food ? Cats tend to get most of there water from there food, so if your feeding him dry, it would be a reason for him drinking a bit more water. I can tell from your post that you have talked with your vet. I wouldn’t sweat it too much…sounds like your guys going to be fine… lighten up a bit….I’m sure you both will do ok! 8;) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Janet
Response:
Hi. One thing you might consider doing before you leave for the week is getting a larger water bowl (and preferably 2) that would hold several days worth of water. It sounds like your kitty really consumes much of what is put in the bowl on a daily basis. If for some reason your sitters can not make a visit one day, your kitty would be OK (assuming the sitters are attentive to the water level and fill the bowl daily). For example, they may have a family emergency and have to leave town for a say or two. We currently have three indoor cats, and I maintain 2 very large water bowls (each holds several quarts) on different floors of the house. A single bowl would last these three cats many days. Therefore I feel comfortable that if for some reason we can not make it home one night their water needs will be met. Another reason I maintain at least two bowls is that, very rarely, a cat may barf into a water bowl after eating too much dry food. With additional bowls there are alternative water sources should one become contaminated. KW Theil Wooster, Ohio
Response:
>> Hi all, > I’m a regular hypochondriac when it comes to Kai, so I’m asking the > newsgroup before I call the vet. You are welcome to flame me if you like, > but the staff at the local emergency clinic can practically recognize my > voice, and I doubt that they would take me seriously anyway. >lighten up a bit….I’m sure you both will do ok! 8;)
<grin> I wish I could! I have a lot of emotional baggage when it comes to pets (particularly cats), and so I tend to really hover over Kai every second. I have far too many friends waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge (lost before I was old enough to be fully responsible for things like veterinary care), and even though I know I’m not to blame for their absence, I feel the weight of the responsibility, regardless. My cat, Rio, died around the time I left for college, and it took me nearly ten years before I felt ready to love another cat (Kai) again. My parents had adopted other cats during that time, but I honestly could not feel any emotional bond with any of them. Now that I’m so much in love with Kai, I’m terrified that he’s going to die prematurely like the others did, even though he’s an indoor-only cat living under entirely different circumstances. And even without all the baggage, I’m a hypochondriac. With it, I’m downright ridiculous. So far, I’ve called the vets because he had a reaction to some flea repellant and was foaming at the mouth, because he vomited twice in one day, because he coughed a couple of times, because he may have swallowed something he shouldn’t, because he looked sluggish less than 24 hours after being neutered, and I was nearly on the phone with them this morning about the water thing. We rushed him to an emergency clinic on Christmas Day ($60.00 to walk in the door) because of the vomiting. And we’ve only had him for two months! I really appreciate the help that I’ve gotten from people on these newsgroups. Just be patient with me; I’m terrified. :) Janet P.S. We do feed him dry cat food. I had been moistening it a bit with water because he was losing his baby teeth and refused to eat it, and I guess that he was drinking less water for a while.)
Response:
>I know that these questions probably sound ridiculous, but we’re about to >go away for a week and I doubt that our cat sitters know him well enough >to know if he looks sick. And I’m exceedingly paranoid about kidney >problems right now (lots of friends with sick/RB pets with kidney >problems… :( ).
If he’s drinking plenty of water, you can probably stop worrying about his kidneys. Abundant water eases the load on kidney function. It’s often hard to coax a pet that doesn’t drink enough to drink more (and people, too). — "There’s a seeker born every minute."
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> Hi all, >> I’m a regular hypochondriac when it comes to Kai, so I’m asking the >> newsgroup before I call the vet. You are welcome to flame me if you like, >> but the staff at the local emergency clinic can practically recognize my >> voice, and I doubt that they would take me seriously anyway. >lighten up a bit….I’m sure you both will do ok! 8;) > <grin> I wish I could! I have a lot of emotional baggage when it comes > to pets (particularly cats), and so I tend to really hover over Kai every > second. I have far too many friends waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge > (lost before I was old enough to be fully responsible for things like > veterinary care), and even though I know I’m not to blame for their > absence, I feel the weight of the responsibility, regardless.
don’t worry too much…I probabiliy have 20 cats to every one you have waiting for you! don’t blame yourself…it’s not good for you, or your furry friends…they want you WHOLE, not worring about them every second of there life… > My cat, Rio, died around the time I left for college, and it took me > nearly ten years before I felt ready to love another cat (Kai) again. My > parents had adopted other cats during that time, but I honestly could not > feel any emotional bond with any of them. Now that I’m so much in love > with Kai, I’m terrified that he’s going to die prematurely like the others > did, even though he’s an indoor-only cat living under entirely different > circumstances.
have you ever thought about working part time, or as a volenteer at a shelter ? Working with cats can make it easier to deal with the inevaitable, plus working with other cats will help you to see that they aren’ty so fragle that have to worry every second > And even without all the baggage, I’m a hypochondriac. With it, I’m > downright ridiculous. So far, I’ve called the vets because he had a > reaction to some flea repellant and was foaming at the mouth, because he > vomited twice in one day, because he coughed a couple of times, because he > may have swallowed something he shouldn’t, because he looked sluggish less > than 24 hours after being neutered, and I was nearly on the phone with > them this morning about the water thing. We rushed him to an emergency > clinic on Christmas Day ($60.00 to walk in the door) because of the > vomiting. And we’ve only had him for two months!
Damn! Wish I were your vet (could use the money!) Well, if nothing else, this one should be safe! > I really appreciate the help that I’ve gotten from people on these > newsgroups. Just be patient with me; I’m terrified. :)
don’t worry…if I can ever help, drop me a line > Janet > P.S. We do feed him dry cat food. I had been moistening it a bit with > water because he was losing his baby teeth and refused to eat it, and I > guess that he was drinking less water for a while.)
maybe I wasn’t too far off after all! I think you’ll be ok! Give your furry a big head butt for me!
Response:
> I know that these questions probably sound ridiculous, but we’re about to > go away for a week and I doubt that our cat sitters know him well enough > to know if he looks sick. And I’m exceedingly paranoid about kidney > problems right now (lots of friends with sick/RB pets with kidney > problems… :( ).
I think at 6 months the possibilities of any real diseases which cause polyuria/polydipsia are extremely remote. However, I figure that your cat should be drinking upwards of 300mL of water a day at least. I dunno the conversion to the English system of measurements, but perhaps you could do those and figure itout. Erik "Rouleaux" Hofmeister WSU Class ‘00 PLEASE NOTE: In the absence of a traditional veterinarian-client-patient relationship, this information should be taken as a friendly opinion, not as an official clinical recommendation. Also realize that I am a veterinary student, and anything stated should be taken with that in mind.
Response:
I’d say, base your concern on your prior history with your cat. I have two kittens, both of whom drink a lot of water… always have. If suddenly they stopped, I might be concerned. You know your cat better than anybody… judge his health on his appetite and behavior as they compare to his "normal" appetite and behavior. And have a nice vacation! Rachel — To reply by email, please replace the kitty noises with the school suffix. :)
Response:
> <snip> > And even without all the baggage, I’m a hypochondriac. With it, I’m > downright ridiculous. So far, I’ve called the vets because he had a > reaction to some flea repellant and was foaming at the mouth, because he > vomited twice in one day, because he coughed a couple of times, because he > may have swallowed something he shouldn’t, because he looked sluggish less > than 24 hours after being neutered, and I was nearly on the phone with > them this morning about the water thing. We rushed him to an emergency > clinic on Christmas Day ($60.00 to walk in the door) because of the > vomiting. And we’ve only had him for two months!
I’m guilty of much the same behavior! Fortunately, my vet will answer just about any damn fool question over the ‘phone. He’s never criti- cized me, even when I’ve tied him up for an unpaid hour over Norton’s bowel movements: instead, the last time I saw him, he told me: "You’re a good cat mommy." Being easily pleased, I glowed the rest of the day. I’d like to recommend a good book: Carlson and Giffen’s =Cat Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook.= It’s now in a revised edition. I like this one because it’s got real nuts-and-bolts information on what’s normal and what’s not, it provides information on what you can handle at home and when you really need the vet, and it tells you how to do a home exam that will provide your vet with useful information. The =Cornell Book of Cats= is good, too, but it’s Carlson & Giffen’s that, for instance, provides a full description of various colors and con- sistencies of stool, and what they might mean. Okay, it sounds dis- gusting: but it was really useful in helping determine just what was wrong with poor Norton (he’s got exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and inflammatory bowel disease, so bowel movements tend to be on my mind). Stacy Scott
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If your cat was drinking too much water or peeing too much, believ me, you would KNOW it. I had a cat with diabetes. He had one of those automatic water feeder things. When his insulin was getting adjusted, he would sit and just drink for minutes at a time. He’d get in his box and pee for literally 30 seconds–I counted. Another time I took in a stray–Timmy, he’s sitting right next to me now- and it was winter in Minnesota. The first thing I did was give him a large cereal bowl of water. He drank it ALL without even stopping, and when I filled it up again, drank about 1/3 more. Now THAT’s thirsty. The vet said strays often get dehydrated. As for worrying, it’s better to worry too much than not enough. Karen
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi all, > … >How do I know if Kai is drinking so much water or urinating so much that I >should be concerned? > … >I know that these questions probably sound ridiculous, but we’re about to >go away for a week and I doubt that our cat sitters know him well enough >to know if he looks sick. And I’m exceedingly paranoid about kidney >problems right now (lots of friends with sick/RB pets with kidney >problems… :( ). >… >Feeling pretty stupid, >Janet
Well, don’t feel bad about being concerned. As other people have pointed out, there is no real problem with drinking water. There would be a problem if your cat wasn’t drinking water. As a comparison, doctors tell us to drink something like 7-8 glasses of water a day (that does not include coffee or beer, which tends to dehydrate). You would be much like a cat if you drank that much, you would have to drink throughout the day and you would use the bathroom a few times a day. Besides, do you know how much effort it is to run around the house, chase imaginary creatures, purr and nap? Don’t forget about practicing mountain climbing techniques on the curtains! It’s not easy being a cat. Seriously, the quantity of food and water consumed should be observed as a ‘baseline’. If your cat has a change of behaviour and is eating or drinking significantly less, that would be a potential problem sign. -Giff —
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> And even without all the baggage, I’m a hypochondriac. With it, I’m > downright ridiculous.
Don’t be so hard on yourself. We’ve all made fools of ourselves at one time or another. I once spent a quarter of an hour trying to convince my vet that a hairball wasn’t a hairball and that Bob’s kidney infection must have returned because he was vomiting again. It was a hairball. Another time I rushed Charcoal to the emergency clinic because I had slammed a door on her foot and she was limping and crying. Needless to say, she refused to limp *at all* for the vet, who told me to take my kitty home. You’ll calm down as you gain some experience. Also, I’d second Stacey’s recommendation that you get a good book about cats. My favorite is _Cornell Book of Cats_, but Carlson and Griffin is also good. You should spend some time flipping through them in the bookstore and buy the one you think you’ll actually read. — Rebecca Graham McQuitty, inspired by the world’s best cats: Bob: DM Ot+W Y ~6 Y+ L++ W+ C++ I++ T++/— E++ H++ V+ F- Q++ P+ B– Charcoal: DM (R+B)r G ~4 X L- W C+++ I+ T+/– A++ H+ V++ F- Q+ PA- PL–
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Hi all, I’m a regular hypochondriac when it comes to Kai, so I’m asking the newsgroup before I call the vet. You are welcome to flame me if you like, but the staff at the local emergency clinic can practically recognize my voice, and I doubt that they would take me seriously anyway. How do I know if Kai is drinking so much water or urinating so much that I should be concerned? I think that he urinates quite frequently (3 or more times a day), and he drinks more water than any other "house" cat I ever had. (When I was a kid and could convince my mom to let our barn cats live in the house, we would have a house cat for about two or three months before my parents would move them back outside again. So, not a lot of experience.) I fill his water dish every morning, and he usually drinks between 1/4 to 1/3 of it. Sometimes he drinks 2/3 of it. Is that considered "a lot"? I’m guessing that his dish holds between 1/2 cup to 1 cup. I never measured it. Kai is almost 6 months old and weighs around 6 or 7 pounds. He was neutered at 4.5 months. I know that these questions probably sound ridiculous, but we’re about to go away for a week and I doubt that our cat sitters know him well enough to know if he looks sick. And I’m exceedingly paranoid about kidney problems right now (lots of friends with sick/RB pets with kidney problems… :( ). Feeling pretty stupid, Janet
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi all, > I’m a regular hypochondriac when it comes to Kai, so I’m asking the > newsgroup before I call the vet. You are welcome to flame me if you like, > but the staff at the local emergency clinic can practically recognize my > voice, and I doubt that they would take me seriously anyway. > How do I know if Kai is drinking so much water or urinating so much that I > should be concerned? I think that he urinates quite frequently (3 or more > times a day), and he drinks more water than any other "house" cat I ever > had. (When I was a kid and could convince my mom to let our barn cats > live in the house, we would have a house cat for about two or three months > before my parents would move them back outside again. So, not a lot of > experience.) I fill his water dish every morning, and he usually drinks > between 1/4 to 1/3 of it. Sometimes he drinks 2/3 of it. Is that > considered "a lot"? I’m guessing that his dish holds between 1/2 cup to 1 > cup. I never measured it. > Kai is almost 6 months old and weighs around 6 or 7 pounds. He was > neutered at 4.5 months. > I know that these questions probably sound ridiculous, but we’re about to > go away for a week and I doubt that our cat sitters know him well enough > to know if he looks sick. And I’m exceedingly paranoid about kidney > problems right now (lots of friends with sick/RB pets with kidney > problems… :( ). > Feeling pretty stupid,
don’t! It really doesn’t sound like he is drinking too much to me. Do you feed him dry food ? Cats tend to get most of there water from there food, so if your feeding him dry, it would be a reason for him drinking a bit more water. I can tell from your post that you have talked with your vet. I wouldn’t sweat it too much…sounds like your guys going to be fine… lighten up a bit….I’m sure you both will do ok! 8;) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Janet
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Hi. One thing you might consider doing before you leave for the week is getting a larger water bowl (and preferably 2) that would hold several days worth of water. It sounds like your kitty really consumes much of what is put in the bowl on a daily basis. If for some reason your sitters can not make a visit one day, your kitty would be OK (assuming the sitters are attentive to the water level and fill the bowl daily). For example, they may have a family emergency and have to leave town for a say or two. We currently have three indoor cats, and I maintain 2 very large water bowls (each holds several quarts) on different floors of the house. A single bowl would last these three cats many days. Therefore I feel comfortable that if for some reason we can not make it home one night their water needs will be met. Another reason I maintain at least two bowls is that, very rarely, a cat may barf into a water bowl after eating too much dry food. With additional bowls there are alternative water sources should one become contaminated. KW Theil Wooster, Ohio
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>> Hi all, > I’m a regular hypochondriac when it comes to Kai, so I’m asking the > newsgroup before I call the vet. You are welcome to flame me if you like, > but the staff at the local emergency clinic can practically recognize my > voice, and I doubt that they would take me seriously anyway. >lighten up a bit….I’m sure you both will do ok! 8;)
<grin> I wish I could! I have a lot of emotional baggage when it comes to pets (particularly cats), and so I tend to really hover over Kai every second. I have far too many friends waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge (lost before I was old enough to be fully responsible for things like veterinary care), and even though I know I’m not to blame for their absence, I feel the weight of the responsibility, regardless. My cat, Rio, died around the time I left for college, and it took me nearly ten years before I felt ready to love another cat (Kai) again. My parents had adopted other cats during that time, but I honestly could not feel any emotional bond with any of them. Now that I’m so much in love with Kai, I’m terrified that he’s going to die prematurely like the others did, even though he’s an indoor-only cat living under entirely different circumstances. And even without all the baggage, I’m a hypochondriac. With it, I’m downright ridiculous. So far, I’ve called the vets because he had a reaction to some flea repellant and was foaming at the mouth, because he vomited twice in one day, because he coughed a couple of times, because he may have swallowed something he shouldn’t, because he looked sluggish less than 24 hours after being neutered, and I was nearly on the phone with them this morning about the water thing. We rushed him to an emergency clinic on Christmas Day ($60.00 to walk in the door) because of the vomiting. And we’ve only had him for two months! I really appreciate the help that I’ve gotten from people on these newsgroups. Just be patient with me; I’m terrified. :) Janet P.S. We do feed him dry cat food. I had been moistening it a bit with water because he was losing his baby teeth and refused to eat it, and I guess that he was drinking less water for a while.)
Response:
>I know that these questions probably sound ridiculous, but we’re about to >go away for a week and I doubt that our cat sitters know him well enough >to know if he looks sick. And I’m exceedingly paranoid about kidney >problems right now (lots of friends with sick/RB pets with kidney >problems… :( ).
If he’s drinking plenty of water, you can probably stop worrying about his kidneys. Abundant water eases the load on kidney function. It’s often hard to coax a pet that doesn’t drink enough to drink more (and people, too). — "There’s a seeker born every minute."
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> Hi all, >> I’m a regular hypochondriac when it comes to Kai, so I’m asking the >> newsgroup before I call the vet. You are welcome to flame me if you like, >> but the staff at the local emergency clinic can practically recognize my >> voice, and I doubt that they would take me seriously anyway. >lighten up a bit….I’m sure you both will do ok! 8;) > <grin> I wish I could! I have a lot of emotional baggage when it comes > to pets (particularly cats), and so I tend to really hover over Kai every > second. I have far too many friends waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge > (lost before I was old enough to be fully responsible for things like > veterinary care), and even though I know I’m not to blame for their > absence, I feel the weight of the responsibility, regardless.
don’t worry too much…I probabiliy have 20 cats to every one you have waiting for you! don’t blame yourself…it’s not good for you, or your furry friends…they want you WHOLE, not worring about them every second of there life… > My cat, Rio, died around the time I left for college, and it took me > nearly ten years before I felt ready to love another cat (Kai) again. My > parents had adopted other cats during that time, but I honestly could not > feel any emotional bond with any of them. Now that I’m so much in love > with Kai, I’m terrified that he’s going to die prematurely like the others > did, even though he’s an indoor-only cat living under entirely different > circumstances.
have you ever thought about working part time, or as a volenteer at a shelter ? Working with cats can make it easier to deal with the inevaitable, plus working with other cats will help you to see that they aren’ty so fragle that have to worry every second > And even without all the baggage, I’m a hypochondriac. With it, I’m > downright ridiculous. So far, I’ve called the vets because he had a > reaction to some flea repellant and was foaming at the mouth, because he > vomited twice in one day, because he coughed a couple of times, because he > may have swallowed something he shouldn’t, because he looked sluggish less > than 24 hours after being neutered, and I was nearly on the phone with > them this morning about the water thing. We rushed him to an emergency > clinic on Christmas Day ($60.00 to walk in the door) because of the > vomiting. And we’ve only had him for two months!
Damn! Wish I were your vet (could use the money!) Well, if nothing else, this one should be safe! > I really appreciate the help that I’ve gotten from people on these > newsgroups. Just be patient with me; I’m terrified. :)
don’t worry…if I can ever help, drop me a line > Janet > P.S. We do feed him dry cat food. I had been moistening it a bit with > water because he was losing his baby teeth and refused to eat it, and I > guess that he was drinking less water for a while.)
maybe I wasn’t too far off after all! I think you’ll be ok! Give your furry a big head butt for me!
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> I know that these questions probably sound ridiculous, but we’re about to > go away for a week and I doubt that our cat sitters know him well enough > to know if he looks sick. And I’m exceedingly paranoid about kidney > problems right now (lots of friends with sick/RB pets with kidney > problems… :( ).
I think at 6 months the possibilities of any real diseases which cause polyuria/polydipsia are extremely remote. However, I figure that your cat should be drinking upwards of 300mL of water a day at least. I dunno the conversion to the English system of measurements, but perhaps you could do those and figure itout. Erik "Rouleaux" Hofmeister WSU Class ‘00 PLEASE NOTE: In the absence of a traditional veterinarian-client-patient relationship, this information should be taken as a friendly opinion, not as an official clinical recommendation. Also realize that I am a veterinary student, and anything stated should be taken with that in mind.
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I’d say, base your concern on your prior history with your cat. I have two kittens, both of whom drink a lot of water… always have. If suddenly they stopped, I might be concerned. You know your cat better than anybody… judge his health on his appetite and behavior as they compare to his "normal" appetite and behavior. And have a nice vacation! Rachel — To reply by email, please replace the kitty noises with the school suffix. :)
Response:
> <snip> > And even without all the baggage, I’m a hypochondriac. With it, I’m > downright ridiculous. So far, I’ve called the vets because he had a > reaction to some flea repellant and was foaming at the mouth, because he > vomited twice in one day, because he coughed a couple of times, because he > may have swallowed something he shouldn’t, because he looked sluggish less > than 24 hours after being neutered, and I was nearly on the phone with > them this morning about the water thing. We rushed him to an emergency > clinic on Christmas Day ($60.00 to walk in the door) because of the > vomiting. And we’ve only had him for two months!
I’m guilty of much the same behavior! Fortunately, my vet will answer just about any damn fool question over the ‘phone. He’s never criti- cized me, even when I’ve tied him up for an unpaid hour over Norton’s bowel movements: instead, the last time I saw him, he told me: "You’re a good cat mommy." Being easily pleased, I glowed the rest of the day. I’d like to recommend a good book: Carlson and Giffen’s =Cat Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook.= It’s now in a revised edition. I like this one because it’s got real nuts-and-bolts information on what’s normal and what’s not, it provides information on what you can handle at home and when you really need the vet, and it tells you how to do a home exam that will provide your vet with useful information. The =Cornell Book of Cats= is good, too, but it’s Carlson & Giffen’s that, for instance, provides a full description of various colors and con- sistencies of stool, and what they might mean. Okay, it sounds dis- gusting: but it was really useful in helping determine just what was wrong with poor Norton (he’s got exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and inflammatory bowel disease, so bowel movements tend to be on my mind). Stacy Scott
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