Cat Won't Drink Water(Will Eat though)

12 years ago

Our cat started making a funny meow(She's only 3 years old, we have had for only about 3.5 months from the SPCA). She's normally very active and constantly talking to us and was eating a lot and gaining weight when all of a sudden she stopped eating and drinking.

We took her to the vet. Had bloodwork done. Nothing was out of the ordinary besides the fact she was dehydrated. Since they didn't know what was wrong with her we decided not to pay $500 to have her stay overnight and get an IV for fluids(We did this with our last cat only 8 months ago and ended up having to put her down a day later because the vet had no idea what was wrong with her and still decided to advocate the fluid rehydration and this made us feel ripped off, sad, and angry).

Cat quickly started going downhill. Didn't eat or drink for two days, started hiding, lost a lot of weight. We finally read about PediaLyte. We started forcing 20ml(CC) into her every hour. Within 2 hours she changed. After 4 hours she began eating food and running around the house and meowing.

Back to normal.

Except she won't drink water on her own. And she won't eat and starts to lose weight, get larthagic, and hide and sleep if we don't force Pedialyte into her. Whenever we do give her PediaLyte she comes literally back to normal.

With PediaLyte she eats over half a can of catfood and also crunchies, goes to the bathroom normal and has tons of energy.

Without it she literally starts to die. So confusing. I think she has an upper respiratory problem. Her eyes are red, her voice changed and she purrs strangely through her lungs like she's got an infection.

Were skeptical to go back to a vet as we've gone to two different ones for two different cats with a similar problem and all they could do was advocate taking our money without getting results.

Has anyone heard of a cat becoming fully healed from Pedialyte(rehydration) only to completely backslide without it?

Thanks for reading!

Featured Answer

sable_ca

12 years ago

When a cat is lethargic, refuses to eat, and hides, it is really sick. Some of those symptoms sound like an upper respiratory infection, and for that she needs a course of antibiotics and probably a shot of prednisolone.

Find another vet clinic as soon as possible and get her there asap; without treatment she may die.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

annzgw
12 years ago
You really need to find a vet you're willing to work with. The other symptoms concern me and she needs more tests run.
I think the pedialyte is just giving her a boost, yet she's slowly getting worse. Did the previous vet not comment on her lungs or did he even give her a thorough physical?

Do you have a 'cat only' clinic in your area? If not, ask friends or call the SPCA for vet references. I know how frustrating some vets can be.....I went to one that never touched my cat and would point at her with a pen. Needless to say, I never went back to him! But, there are good ones out there........so keep searching.
Related Professionals
West Plains Architects & Building Designers · San Francisco Architects & Building Designers · San Luis Obispo Architects & Building Designers · Grand Junction Architects & Building Designers · Twin Falls Architects & Building Designers · Pullman Architects & Building Designers · Riverton Architects & Building Designers · Cape Girardeau Interior Designers & Decorators · Burlington Interior Designers & Decorators · Newport Interior Designers & Decorators · Lake Havasu City Interior Designers & Decorators · Butte Interior Designers & Decorators · Vicksburg Furniture & Accessories · Chattanooga Furniture & Accessories · Milwaukee Furniture & Accessories
robertz6
12 years ago
What kind of water? Tap water? Hard or soft?

My last dog preferred four day old yellowing rain water over fresh cool tap water. And my tap water is considered good -- no taste to humans, not hard.

Maybe the flouride taste was a factor. Maybe chlorine or chloramines residuals.
lzrddr
12 years ago
any lab work done? What was your cat's blood sugar? Electrolytes? Not heard of a cat with Addisons, but that should be on your list of possible diagnoses. If there have been no diagnostics done you, you definitely need to get that done... otherwise it's just a lot of guess work. Sure is an odd presentation, though.
Kileen93
12 years ago
Are the foods/treats you're giving your cat GRAIN-FREE? It seems that so many issues can be resolved by simply eliminating grain from the feline diet!!
Samantha Ramos
9 years ago
Hi, I'm experiencing the same issue. May I ask what the outcome was? I'm very worried about my little one.
mamapinky0
9 years ago
Samantha what are your kittys symptoms?
Samantha Ramos
9 years ago
Well she went in to get spayed last week and I noticed that she wasn't drinking water after. I took her to the ER and they told me she had mouth ulcers. They weren't sure what they were from, but they did say she came back negative for everything. They put fluids in her and then gave me medicine for her. She seemed great after and she's eating but still won't drink water. I have to mix water with her food to get something in her. I don't want to take her to the vet if they're going to tell me they don't know what's wrong with her :(
annztoo
9 years ago
How are you monitoring her water intake? If your going by levels in a water bowl it's possible she's getting her water elsewhere. My cat wouldn't drink out of 'her' bowl but would use either the dog's and her favorite was the toilet.

Use ceramic bowls (vs metal or plastic) and place a couple extra in other parts of the house. I keep an extra in my bedroom and often hear the cats drinking in the middle of the night.