My cat drinks more water and meows constantly. Is he sick or grieving?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your cat. She will need to see her veterinarian for laboratory work. Increased vocalizations and increased thirst are common signs of hyperthyroidism. This is a disease where the body makes too much thyroid hormone thereby increasing metabolism. Other signs can include weight loss, hyperactivity, increased urination as well as vomiting and/or diarrhea. If this is her diagnosis, the disease is typically managed with medication. I hope this information helps!

She may be grieving but at her age I would worry there is an imbalance with her thyroid gland. A cat gland can become hyperactive and when the levels rise, they will eat and lose weight and meow at night and roam randomly. Your vet can check the level with a blood test to be sure

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Lack of interest in water can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Stinker evaluated by a veterinarian soon for further assessment and treatment as I am afraid that he could be getting dehydrated. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your cat. I would recommend a trip to the veterinarian to ensure she is not suffering a medical problem causing this behavior change. A disease known as hyperthyroidism can cause increased vocalizations in a cat. It is usually accompanied an increase in thirst and urination, hyperactivity, possibly vomiting/ diarrhea and weight loss. She will likely have blood work performed to rule out this as well as other internal diseases. If she is found to be healthy, then you can discuss behavioral modifications at home. I hope this information helps!

These sudden changes in temperament and the weight loss are commonly due to an endocrine problem called hyperthyroidism. The thyroid starts working more than normal increasing the metabolism (that is the cause of the weight loss) and causing behavioural changes similar to what you described. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately. A blood test and urine analysis are needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

There are three very common things that cats get as they age: 1. diabetes, 2. kidney disease and 3. hyperthyroidism (high thyroid levels). All of these can be easily ruled in/out with simple blood/urine testing. I suggest you have Monty to the vet to discuss this.

Unfortunately yes, weight loss and increased meowing can often be signs of illness in cats. You don't say how old your cat is, but if she is middle-aged or older the first thing I would be concerned about is possible thyroid disease - hyperthyroidism very commonly causes both of these symptoms. It also often causes increased appetite, and sometimes soft stool. Other possible causes could be diabetes, kidney disease, or even a digestive problem like inflammatory bowel disease. I would recommend having Ittybitty examined by a vet - he/she can do a simple blood panel to check for most of these problems, and advise you on treatment options based on the results.