My senior cat keeps laying by his water bowl. Is it a medical issue?

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.

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.

It sounds like she is in good health for her age, but that being said, any abrupt change in behavior is a good reason to go to the vet for an exam and senior labwork, if you haven't had that done lately. Cats are excellent at hiding symptoms of illness, so this could be an early warning that she might be developing a medical condition that needs attention. If you're concerned enough to ask about it, then it is a significant enough change to warrant investigation.

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.

The close up vision of cats is much weaker than their long distance vision and so, when they are right at their water dish, they can’t see the water level. In order to check where the water starts – or if there is even any water in the dish – they will move it to cause the water to ripple and splash. Once they are satisfied they know where the water is, then they will commence their drinking. That is my best guess. If you are not happy with this change in behavior you could always get her a drinking fountain to drink from. Most cats prefer to drink from running water so this may help. ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/cat/cat-feeding-supplies/cat-waterers-fountains-and-accessories/catit-flower-cat-water-fountain )

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry your Tabby is having issues with his water dish! A lot of cats do prefer running water to drink from and not standing water. You may try purchasing a pet fountain from your local supply store (a small one will work) and give that a try. He may like the running water more. If you are giving him the same food every day, don't stop! Changing up the food frequently will turn him into a very picky eater. Stick with one food and continue to offer it- cats will not stave themselves if they are hungry enough. He will learn to eat what is in front of him. However, if you notice your tabby has gone more than 3 days without eating, I would be suspicious there is something else more concerning going on with him that may need to be evaluated by a veterinarian. I hope this has helped and I wish you and your Tabby the very best!

It is fairly rare, but ask your veterinarian if your kitty may be suffering from Cushing's disease or liver disease. Also sometimes cats can still be hyperthyroid, even though the thyroid parameters are within normal limits (this is called euthyroid sick). He could also have a tumor. In any case, this needs to be investigated further.