Senior cat MAYBE drinking more than usual?

kluchetta · Nov 9, 2005

I'm not sure, but I think my senior cat (almost 16 years) is drinking a little more than usual. She's also eating more dry food than usual. I think.

I'm taking her to the vet tomorrow, but I just thought I'd get a little input since I can't search. Kidneys? Thyroid? Diabetes? Sorry, I'm paranoid cause my kitten just had FIP, and he drank a lot.

Thanks, Kim.

sharky · Nov 9, 2005

Get her a senior panel asap.... this is a tell tale sign of kidneys or dibetes or hyperthyroid...

kluchetta · Nov 9, 2005

OK. I will ask for one of those. I've been lucky that she's been so healthy so far!

sharky · Nov 9, 2005

heres hoping she stays that way

meower · Nov 9, 2005

My cat at 16 years old was diagnosed with kidney disease(we noticed she was drinking more water) and with food changes, subq fluids and medication she lasted another four years. The kidney disease wasn't the reason she died. So don't get really upset if your kitty has kidney disease becasue you could have many more years with her.

kluchetta · Nov 9, 2005

I checked in on her at lunch. She seemed totally normal. A bit hungry, though. So whatever it is, if it is anything, I think we got it really early.

jane_vernon · Nov 9, 2005

Kidney disease can come on quick, so best to be safe and get to the vet. I have lost two cats to kidney failure. Poor possums.

pat · Nov 9, 2005

As Meower said, you can do a lot to treat kidney failure, Patrick is now 3 years past his diagnosis. Hopefully, there is nothing wrong, but getting the senior panel, even if all is normal, will give you a baseline, and at this age, I'd have one done every year.

kluchetta · Nov 9, 2005

Yes, it is a good idea. I can't believe it's been 2 years since she's been to the vet. That I remember.

semiferal · Nov 9, 2005

The good news is that at her age FIP is unlikely.

If her appetite is increased then kidney disease is not the most likely possibility. Diabetes would be more likely, or possibly hyperthyroid. Hopefully it is hyperthyroid if it is anything since that is the easiest to manage, but if it is any of those three conditions then you will have a treatable condition to deal with.

I would recommend calling the vet right away and booking the first available appointment so she can have a complete exam including a senior blood profile and urinalysis. Please keep us posted!

kluchetta · Nov 11, 2005

Had the tests yesterday. Everything is in the normal range, except one component of her white cells bringing the total down. So she's on Clavamox. I really hope I'm not heading down that FIP road again!

But...I have a copy of the tests here - I don't think they tested her thyroid. Anyone know what little acronym they use for that? The tests are pretty cryptic! Thanks, Kim.

sharky · Nov 11, 2005

Originally Posted by kluchetta

Had the tests yesterday. Everything is in the normal range, except one component of her white cells bringing the total down. So she's on Clavamox. I really hope I'm not heading down that FIP road again!

But...I have a copy of the tests here - I don't think they tested her thyroid. Anyone know what little acronym they use for that? The tests are pretty cryptic! Thanks, Kim.

TSH or t3 or t4

kluchetta · Nov 11, 2005

Originally Posted by sharky

TSH or t3 or t4

Yep, they didn't test her thyroid - I called. They have enough serum to send out for an additional test, so we'll see if that's it. Since Tigger's been on kitten food, I could see having an elevated thyroid without losing weight...

cloud_shade · Nov 12, 2005

Let us know what the values are. The range listed on the paperwork for "normal" is normal for kitties of all ages. As kitties get older, it's usually better to keep them in the lower end of the thyroid range. So if the T4 value comes back at the upper en of normal, it may be worth having a Free T4 test done.

Have you noticed anything else, such as weight loss or a scruffy coat? Those are some of the clinical signs, along with excessive thirst, that can happen with hyperthyroidism. Have you switched foods? If so, it's possible that the new one has more sodium, and that your kitty is drinking more in response to that. Hyperthyroidism is treatable, as are diabetes and CRF. We'll hope that you won't have to worry about that though.

kluchetta · Nov 12, 2005

Originally Posted by cloud_shade

Let us know what the values are. The range listed on the paperwork for "normal" is normal for kitties of all ages. As kitties get older, it's usually better to keep them in the lower end of the thyroid range. So if the T4 value comes back at the upper en of normal, it may be worth having a Free T4 test done.

Have you noticed anything else, such as weight loss or a scruffy coat? Those are some of the clinical signs, along with excessive thirst, that can happen with hyperthyroidism. Have you switched foods? If so, it's possible that the new one has more sodium, and that your kitty is drinking more in response to that. Hyperthyroidism is treatable, as are diabetes and CRF. We'll hope that you won't have to worry about that though.

Well, I've accidentally been feeding her kitten food, so she hasn't lost weight. She's also talking a LOT lately.

AbbysMom · Nov 12, 2005

I'm surprised they didn't do a thyroid test. Molly really started howling when she started with her thyroid condition. It was definitely a noticeable howl.

pat · Nov 12, 2005

Most definately...Patrick developed a nighttime howl that was something else until we treated him as Hyptert. As Cloud_Shade said, even if the results are high normal that can be too much for an elder cat.

With Patrick, we kept testing him (over time) and he was normal but his values were creeping up consistently...so we began treating him when he was high normal due to the clear upward trend (and the dang howling!)

kluchetta · Nov 12, 2005

It's hard to tell with Tigger. She's always been a real talker. (They told us at the shelter it was because she was "lonely". We think she "misses" her food, LOL.) She also gets up really early to eat and talks and talks to us. I'm just glad they had enough serum to send out rather than taking her in again.

kluchetta · Nov 14, 2005

WOO HOO! Tigger's FIP test came back NEGATIVE!

pat · Nov 14, 2005

Senior cat MAYBE drinking more than usual?

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