Is it normal for my cat to constantly lick the faucet and seek water?

This is an unusual behavior, especially in a cat as old as yours. I have seen cats who "drink from their paws" from a young age, and I think it can be normal then. I'd be concerned that in a senior cat this could be her way of telling you she's trying to get more water - that's called "polydipsia", and it can be due to a number of conditions. Usually you'd see them also urinating a larger volume, and/or going more frequently. If this is the case your vet can run tests to determine whether her increased water consumption is causing her to urinate more, or vice versa. Possible causes include kidney disease, some kinds of cancer, a hormonal disease called hyperthyroidism, and liver disease. I would certainly recommend that you get Gizmo in for a checkup with your vet and some tests to see what might be going on.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Some cats do prefer to drink from running water so a pet fountain may be a good idea. But if she is drinking more than usual a visit to the vet is needed for possible bloodwork to rule out things like kidney disease.

Cats really prefer to dring from a water fountain or running water. Some (and I have two of those) will only drink from a running tap. He may be always thirsty because the tap is not running constantly and he thinks he needs to drink every time you turn it on for him. Make sure you put his water away from his food bowl (at least 6 feet) as cats do not like to drink water that was next to their food. If you think he is still drinking way too much I suggest you take him to your vet for a blood test checking kidney, liver and glucose parameters to rule out diabetes, kidney and liver disease.

Sweetie is doing something that is extremely common in cats. Some cats (and dogs) simply prefer to drink water that is in motion versus stagnant in a bowl. If you prefer that your cat does not drink from a dripping faucet but she refuses to drink from the regular bowl, many pet stores sell water fountains that continually cycle the water. This is often the best solution for cases like one you are describing. In terms of the safety of the water, this is hard for me to speculate about. If the water is safe enough for you or your family to drink, it is almost certainly safe enough for Sweetie. If your water source is coming from a well or spring and is not routinely tested, use of a bottled or distilled water may be a safer option.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sometimes cats do that as they like the sensation of licking that particular material. However, I would make sure that there is not any substance or anything like that that she could be licking like old soap for example. Have a great day!

If your cat is drinking excessive amounts of water then this can be a sign of kidney disease. We can often see early kidney disease with hyperthyroidism as well. I would recommend having some bloodwork done on your kitty if he hasn't had any in the last few months to check his kidney values. This is recommended every 6 months in a cat his age.

Spunky loves and just wants to be with you! He's curious as to what you are doing, and is following along. This is all normal, even drinking from the bath. I have cats that love to drink from the faucet.