Cat drinking more - because of special food ?

Acc72

Hello all,

Just looking for some advice with regards to my cats (I have 2 - both indoor cats).

One of my cats suffers from cystitis and after a recent episode we have introduced special urinary / anti struvite food into his diet.

As it is difficult to give both cats different food (they always want what the other has got !), both cats often eat this special food (along with "normal" food and treats etc.).

I have noticed recently that the "non-cystitis" cat in particular appears to be drinking more ?

Is this a coincidence or does this food promote drinking (as drinking more is a positive with this condition).

I can't find anything on the food instructions, but am just wondering whether the new food is having an effect and if it may have a negative effect on my "non-cystitis" cat.

I hope that this makes sense, and I would appreciate any comments.

moggymutt

I've not got any knowledge of this, but just ring your vet who prescribed the special diet, and ask him.

My gut instinct would say no, but I'd always ring my vet and check that I'm not wrong. I never like guessing.

spike7451

Ol Orbit started drinking more & more water after he was diagnosed with renal failure.It only came to light when he came onto the bed gasping for breath & the vet told me he was retaining the water on his body.This was in turn 'squashing' his lungs & other organs.
He was getting fatter but I thought that was him being a greedy guts,as the previous vet had told me he was just overweight...It was the new vet who diagnosed his renal problems,so he was put onto Fortekor & then later on a diaretic.

antw23uk

Whats the new food? Dry or wet food?

Fire_Fox

Check with your vet about side effects of any medical treatments.

enabledebra

I would say don't jump to conclusions but drinking more needs to prompt ruling out renal problems not least because it's a very common illness with cats and that's the major observable symptom.

Acc72

antw23uk wrote: »

Whats the new food? Dry or wet food?

Hi,

It is both - they have a combination of new/old wet food, and also as we are out at work all day I leave a bowl of dry food (we only use the new dry food as they both seem to like it).

Although has he does not like the new wet food he is choosing to not eat this and eat more of the new dry food (which he does like).

I was thinking that if he is now eating more dry food, then this might be causing him to drink more.

It is really difficult to feed 2 cats 2 seperate diets - any tips would be appreciated !

bitemebankers

If he is indeed eating more of the dry food, he'll definitely need to drink more. The moisture content of wet food is about 80% and a cat can get all/most of its water requirement from wet food alone. Dry food only has about 10% moisture content so the cat will need to drink to make up the shortfall.

In general, I'd be very wary of feeding dry food to a cat with a history of UT problems. A lot of cats are reluctant to drink enough fluid to make up the shortfall because drinking isn't something cats need to do a lot of when living in the wild - they get most of all of the moisture they need from their prey. This is a particular issue with my own cat who is now on a strict wet-food only diet (Royal Canin s/o urinary) along with Cystophan.

Acc72

bitemebankers wrote: »

In general, I'd be very wary of feeding dry food to a cat with a history of UT problems.

This is a particular issue with my own cat who is now on a strict wet-food only diet (Royal Canin s/o urinary) along with Cystophan.

Hi,

The cat with the UT problem is also on Cystophan.

We feed him wet food (a combination of "regular" plus the urinary food) and we leave out some "urinary" specific dry food during the day whilst I am out.

The problem is my other cat.

He does not like the urinary wet food, so is eating less of this but compensating (I think) by eating more of the urinary dry food (I hope that this makes sense).

I am trying to introduce 2 seperate diets for the 2 cats, but it is not as easy as it sounds ! (as an interim measure both cats are getting the same food which is a combination of normal wet food and urinary wet food).

bitemebankers

Acc72 wrote: »

a combination of "regular" plus the urinary food

Okay, first things first, I'm afraid this is a really bad idea. By including normal food in his diet, you're negating all struvite cystal dissolving properties of the urinary food. Trust me. And if you don't trust me, as your vet he/she will tell you the same thing. It's an all-or-nothing strategy.

And yes, before you ask, feeding my cat on an exclusive diet of urinary wet food is costing a fortune (about £70pm). It's a good thing I love my cat so much.

He does not like the urinary wet food, so is eating less of this but compensating (I think) by eating more of the urinary dry food (I hope that this makes sense).

That does make sense, and it would certainly explain why he's drinking more. Assuming this is the case, it's entirely normal and nothing to worry about. If it were me, I'd still keep a close eye on him and if his drinking seems excessive and he's showing anything other problems (lethargy for example) then take him for a check up.

I am trying to introduce 2 seperate diets for the 2 cats, but it is not as easy as it sounds ! (as an interim measure both cats are getting the same food which is a combination of normal wet food and urinary wet food).

If you can bear the cost, I don't think it's necessarily a problem for both cats to eat the urinary wet food. In any case, by mixing the two, the cat that needs the urinary food is getting no benefit from it.

Hope this helps

Stooby2

Take the cat to the vet. There are a number of illnesses for which drinking a lot is a symptom. It could be getting worse while you prevaricate on here getting mixed advice from people who are guessing.