My cat is panting and not drinking her water

by Kathy M
(New Jersey)

My cat is panting and not drinking her water what can possibly be wrong? Georgie is a 15 year old tortie. She recently has stopped drinking her water. All she wants to do is go outside. She relieved herself out there and won't use her litter box unless I place her in it.

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Jan 15, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		I'm very sorry
by: Kurt (Admin)

I'm very sorry to hear that Georgie didn't make it, Kathy. I'm always very worried when people post about their cats not drinking. Thank you for letting us know. RIP Georgie.
Jan 15, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		Georgie
by: Kathy

I'm sorry to say Georgie didn't make it. I took her to the vet and her kidneys were enlarged and her white cell count was too high. I had to do the humane thing and put her down. It broke my heart but it was the right thing to do.
Jan 14, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		Maybe lymphoma?
by: Anonymous

My 16 DSH just passed away from Lymphoma. She lost a ton of weight and quit drinking and then eating. You could feel her swollen lymph nodes throughout her body. The easy ones to check are on the neck the same place you would feel on a human. This disease was very aggressive and took my baby very quickly.

Editor's note: I'm sorry to hear about your cat's passing.
-Kurt
Jun 09, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Georgie
by: David

From very personal experience, follow Kurt's advice and get Georgie into your vet ASAP. Our second cat as a couple was a Tortie who came to us with a variety of problems, from worms to liver failure. Not that any of this is specific to Torties, it just brings back a lot of sad memories for me. With our Miss Chakotay, or Coo-Baby, it ranged from being a little dehydrated and needing a little fluid under the skin to tube feeding her for a couple months when her liver was failing. (She made history for not only surviving, but living for more than two years before God called her home finally)

So there is a wide range of possible problems, from best to worst cases. Fifteen years is getting up there in cat-years, so I would err on the side of caution and have a professional check it out. Have you tried offering tuna water or even chicken water? We have also used pure drinking water from a cooler (not with the additives; and I can hear my mother rolling around in her grave "You're paying for water for a cat?!?") but sometimes the water from the tap has a lot of dirt, rust, and yes, additives that cats eventually find repulsive. Our hearts are with you,
David
Jun 09, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Please consult your veterinarian
by: Kurt (Admin)

I'm sorry to hear that Georgie is having problems, Kathy, and I wish I had an easy answer for you. Cats don't normally pant unless the're overheated or perhaps having difficulty breathing. A cat not drinking water is a sign that medical attention is needed. She may have a fever from an infection, or honestly it could be many other conditions or illnesses that require a professional diagnosis and treatment. If she were my cat, I'd take her to the veterinarian right away. Please let us know how she comes along.

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