feline water intake

Question
I'm wondering what might be considered a "normal" amount of water for a cat who only eats dry food and does not go outside. I give my 18 yr old cat fresh water every morning & evening, and she drinks about 8-12 oz daily, depending on how warm (wood stove) the house gets. Just curious as to what is considered "normal/typical".

Thanks!


Answer
Excessive thirst can be due to kidney disease, diabetes or over-active thyroid.  If you are noticing a change in what she normally drinks, then some routine blood testing is warranted.  Also, other things that could indicate an underlying medical problem are weight loss or change in appetite (less or more).

For a 10-pound cat, I would say about 9 ounces is average.