Summer is here, and I believe many cat owners have put in a lot of effort in getting cats to drink water. Because many cat owners know that cat owners are more likely to get sick if they don't like to drink water. Once they see their cats suddenly becoming fond of drinking water, they will be very happy. I thought the cat had become sensible. I can finally feel relieved.

Actually, this is not the case. A sudden increase in drinking water may be a sign of illness, and it is very likely that you are suffering from kidney failure! Masters, please be more careful~

< p> An adult cat, under normal circumstances, needs to drink about 200-300ml of water every day. If you observe abnormal behavior in your cat drinking large amounts of water, you should pay attention, as this may be a sign of kidney failure.

Compared to stray cats, domestic cats are more likely to suffer from kidney failure

People with a little experience in raising pets know that the number one killer of domestic cats is kidney failure. , and renal failure and liver failure have always been at the forefront of pet cat deaths. Most domestic cats receiving emergency treatment in pet clinics are due to acute renal failure. Experts found through research that even though most stray cats are emaciated, few suffer from kidney failure.

Then why do domestic cats in better situations suffer from liver and kidney failure at a higher rate than stray cats?

Some veterinary scholars believe that long-term Feeding a diet low in protein, high in fat and high in carbohydrates may be one of the causes of liver damage. In fact, this implies from a certain perspective that the wild food consumed by cats is less harmful to their internal organs.

The ancestors of cats are predatory animals. The genes for hunting in the wild have been written into the cat’s body. The ratio of its body structure, health and wild diet is innately suitable. So they have the habit of taking in water from food, rather than "drinking" to meet their needs.

The entry of cats into families as pets only happened after the development of industrial society. This period of time is very short. Cats are genetically destined that their groups have not been able to fully adapt to this ecological change.

Therefore, although stray cats sleep in the open and are hungry, they often catch rats, rabbits, birds, insects, etc. for food, and they do not eat too much grain carbohydrates. and acquired processed products, the body’s metabolism will be normal, and the burden on the internal organs will naturally be reduced.

But on the other hand, the situation of domestic cats who are "rich" is completely different. Most scavengers lack the awareness to identify cat food, and for the convenience of work, they usually accidentally choose bagged high-grain cat food. The unbalanced nutrient ratio and the fact that cats completely rely on drinking water for water intake have placed a huge burden on their kidneys, so renal failure has become a common disease in domestic cats as they age.

Kidney failure is a very familiar disease name to cat owners, especially in older cats, where the incidence rate is even higher.

First of all, don’t panic. Kidney failure is divided into acute and chronic.

The acute form is mild and easy to detect. It usually occurs suddenly within a few days or weeks. The kidney damage is small and is usually caused by substantial damage such as poisoning, infection, ischemia, etc. Because the onset time is short, prompt treatment can still restore health.

Chronic ones are often very serious once discovered, because the kidneys have often been irreversibly damaged. As for the causes, they are mostly related to body aging, organ decline, kidney infection and blockage, and congenital diseases. Kidney malformations and tumors are also related.

And because cats have a strong ability to tolerate pain, their lifespan is often severely shortened by the time they are discovered.

The main symptom of kidney failure is frequent urination. Because the kidney function weakens, the toxins and wastes excreted through urine are reduced. The cat will become dehydrated and feel thirsty, and will want to drink more water, but it cannot be replenished. The water still cannot remove toxins and waste, creating a vicious cycle; the accumulation of toxins in the body makes the cat feel nauseous and vomiting, anorexia, and gradually lose weight.

Therefore, you should pay attention to your cat’s drinking water every day. When your cat has abnormal symptoms, you should seek medical treatment in time. Older cats need regular check-ups. Although severe kidney failure cannot be cured, it is completely manageable with prevention.

Raise cats scientifically and treat them rationally

Of course, if you suddenly find that your cat likes to drink water, don’t panic immediately. The cat may drink more water. It’s because the weather is hot and you need to rehydrate, or your throat is dry due to internal heat, or you’ve eaten too salty food, etc.