Get

In Your Inbox

Catster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

How to Tell If My Cat Is Dehydrated: 8 Vet-Reviewed Signs

tired sick cat lying on bed

Cats don’t always advertise when something is wrong, and if your cat isn’t getting enough water, you might not even realize it if you aren’t paying attention. However, dehydration is a serious condition; cats that don’t get enough water will feel the consequences. Dehydration is an especially big problem in hot climates where your cat’s warm fur coat might work against them, but it doesn’t just happen on hot days. Every cat owner should watch out for signs of dehydration.

divider cat faces 2 oct 2024

How to Tell If Your Cat Is Dehydrated

1. Panting

a tabby cat panting on hot weather
Image Credit: Sari ONeal, Shutterstock

Dogs and cats pant to cool their bodies by exposing their wet tongues and mouths to the air. Although dogs pant after exercise, cats usually only pant when dehydrated, struggling to breathe, or overheating. If you see your cat panting, there’s a good chance they aren’t getting enough water. Panting is usually one of the most obvious signs that something’s not right, so if you see a cat panting, you can check for other signs of dehydration.

If you need to speak with a vet but can't get to one, head over to PangoVet. It's an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!

PangoVet_Mention-in-Content for PangoVet2 save money


2. Skin Tenting

The “skin test” is a strange but accurate way to tell if your cat’s getting enough water. Cats have stretchy, supple skin when they are healthy, but it becomes stiff during dehydration. To perform a skin test, pinch the loose skin between your cat’s shoulder blades and pull it up 2 or 3 inches until it looks almost like a tent.

Then let it go. If the skin snaps back to normal within a second or so, you’re good! But if it takes several seconds to return to normal or the “tent” stays sticking up, your cat is likely dehydrated. The longer it takes your cat’s skin to normalize, the more serious it is.


3. Dry Gums

Veterinarian checks teeth to a big maine coon cat at vet clinic
Image Credit: Ermolaev Alexander, Shutterstock

Another way to tell if your cat is dehydrated is by looking at their gums. Try pulling up their lip to see what the gums above their teeth look like. Healthy cats have pink gums that are moist and slippery, just like a person’s gums. Dehydrated cats have white or gray gums that are dry or sticky to the touch.


4. Sunken Eyes

As cats become dehydrated, they lose luster in their eyes, and the skin around them sags. Bright, alert eyes are a sign of a healthy cat, while dull, sunken eyes can indicate dehydration or illness. If your cat has sunken eyes and other dehydration signs, they must be taken to the veterinarian promptly.


5. Sweaty Paws

Just like panting helps cats cool off, sweat can indicate your cat is overheating. Sweat can also speed up the dehydration process by removing water from the body when your cat can’t spare it. Cats don’t sweat all over, but you can check their paws to see if they’re sweating. Leaving wet paw prints behind despite dry feet or damp paws might be a sign that your cat is overheating.


6. Refusal to Eat

kitten not eating
Image Credit: Happy monkey, Shutterstock

If your cat feels bad, they might react by refusing to eat. Dehydration can cause nausea and appetite loss as the body struggles to function without water. A decreased appetite can signify many problems, so you shouldn’t jump straight to dehydration. But if your cat shows other signs of needing water and refuses to eat, it might be a sign that the condition is serious.


7. Lethargy

sick cat lying on blanket
Image credit: one photo, Shutterstock

Another sign of dehydration is a lack of energy. It can be hard to diagnose because cats like to nap during hot days and conserve energy, but lethargy often goes beyond laziness. If your cat struggles to move or eat, they might not be drinking enough water.


8. Stool Changes

cat pooping on the street
Image Credit: Pathara Sanjou, Shutterstock

One more way to check for dehydration is to check the litter box. Dehydration and constipation often go hand in hand. You might see hard, dry feces and a lack of urine in the litterbox. Dehydration caused by an illness can swing the other way, leading to diarrhea, vomiting, and excessive urination that purges water from the system.

divider cat faces 2 oct 2024

What Makes Cats Dehydrated?

Overheating and heat stroke are some of the most common causes of dehydration. A lack of available water or an aversion to the water can also contribute to dehydration.

Sometimes, dehydration is a sign of an underlying problem. Illnesses that cause vomiting can lead to dehydration, and some disorders that cause excessive urination, like untreated diabetes or kidney problems, can also cause dehydration. In those cases, your cat is probably drinking enough water, but it just passes through the system too quickly to fully hydrate your cat.

Treating Cat Dehydration

In minor cases of dehydration, the most important thing is to help your cat get more fluids into their system. Provide plenty of clean, fresh water, and use a wide, shallow bowl. Some cats avoid water because it is too close to their litter box or because it doesn’t get changed frequently enough. Adding a few ice cubes on hot days can help it stay cool all day.

Some cats also struggle to drink enough water because their bodies expect to get moisture from food. Switching to a wet food or adding some chicken broth or a wet topper to their dry food can help.

Not every cat water fountain will make your life easier. This is why we recommend the well-designed Hepper Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain, which has advanced triple filtration, three different flow modes, and an automatic shutoff feature.

Hepper Stainless Steel Cat Water Fountain
  • Premium 304-Grade Stainless Steel - This metal cat water fountain is hygienic, with superior...
  • Serene & Healthy Cat Drinking Fountain Experience - With whisper-quiet pumping & an advanced...
  • Say Goodbye to Dehydration - Provide your cat with a constant source of flowing water with this...

This modern, minimalist fountain runs surprisingly quietly and is very easy to clean.

At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

divider cat faces 2 oct 2024

Final Thoughts

If your cat is already dehydrated or drinking lots of water doesn’t seem to alleviate the signs, take them to a vet. Your vet can give your cat an IV containing fluids to keep them hydrated until they’re recovered or until the underlying issue is diagnosed. With the proper treatment, dehydration is simple to reverse.


Featured Image Credit: Natata, Shutterstock

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Catster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

Do I Need to Get My Indoor Cat Vaccinated? Vet Approved Facts & Safety Guide

If your cat is an indoor cat that rarely ventures outside, their chances of injury and illness are likely lower, but does this...

Do Cats Recognize Their Owners? Vet-Verified Facts & FAQ

We won’t waste any time. Yes, cats recognize their owners—and any cat owner can attest to this. When you get home from work,...

Raas Cat: Breed Info, Facts, Pictures & Care

Raas cats are an exotic breed of cat from the Indonesian island of Raas. They’re not a common cat to see outside of...

Can Cats Have Nightmares or Bad Dreams? Vet-Reviewed Info

You’ve likely been relaxing on the couch or maybe using your laptop on the sofa with your cat lying beside you, sleeping comfortably....

More related

Cat Peeing in Front of the Litter Box? 14 Vet-Reviewed Solutions to Try

Discovering a little puddle of cat pee in front of the litter box can be frustrating, but your cat is not doing this...

5 Amazing DIY Cat Bunk Beds (With Pictures)

Cats love a cuddly place to snuggle up in, and they’ll turn just about anything cozy into a bed, whether that’s a throw...

Is Dracaena Toxic to Cats? Vet-Reviewed Houseplants Examined

Having live houseplants adds a nice touch to your home and helps to keep your air clean, but our feline companions do enjoy...

What Causes Lumps on the Rear Legs of Cats? 4 Common Causes (Vet Answer)

If you’re an experienced pet owner, you know that it is not uncommon that petting your beloved companion can reveal concerns, including lumps...

Keep reading

Why Do Some Black Cats Have Orange Eyes? Vet Approved Facts & FAQ

Black cats are gorgeous with their stunning, inky, velvet coats and expressive eyes. Because of how dark their fur is, their eyes seem to stand out even more. Most black cats will have irises with one of three colors: yellow/gold,...

Scottish Fold black cat sitting on the grass

Why Does My Cat Kick the Wall? 8 Possible Reasons

Cats are masters of odd behaviors, and it’s one of the reasons that we love them so much. But what’s so interesting about dust motes? Why are they zooming around the apartment at 3 a.m. as if their tail was...

cat lies on the sofa touching the wall with its paws

Can Cats Eat Rotisserie Chicken? Vet-Approved Risks & FAQ

Rotisserie chicken is a delicious and versatile food that many humans regularly consume. Just the smell of fresh, warm rotisserie chicken brings most cats running, but is it okay for cats to eat? While plain chicken is a healthy protein...

Can Cats Eat Rotisserie Chicken

Why Does My Cat Chew on My Fingers? 8 Vet-Verified Reasons

Cats do weird things sometimes, and if your cat has ever tried to chew on your fingers, you might be wondering what on earth has gotten into them. Some cats might choose to chew plastic; for others, their owners’ fingers...

Gray Cat bitting hand

Why Is My Cat Eating Cat Litter? 10 Vet-Reviewed Reasons

Cats are capable of doing many things that leave us feeling bewildered and scratching our heads. It’s often challenging to figure out if something that’s strange to us is actually normal for cats. When it comes to eating cat litter,...

cat sniffing cat litter in the box

Why Is My Cat’s Poop Watery? 8 Vet-Approved Reasons

Changes in bathroom habits are one of cat parents’ biggest causes of worry. Though diarrhea in cats isn’t the most unusual phenomenon, it’s crucial to figure out what may be causing it, especially if it’s regularly affecting your cat. Watery...

orange cat pooping on the grass

10 Best Diabetic Cat Foods in Australia in 2025: Reviews & Top Picks

The world of pet food is a challenging one and it’s easy to get lost in the mess. As owners, we’re just trying to pick the best food for our precious companions so they can live happy and healthy lives...

Beautiful feline cat eating on a metal bowl

9 Ways to Get Your Cat to Like Using the Litter Box – Vet Approved Methods

One of the great things about cats is that, unlike dogs, they usually don’t have to be potty-trained. Due to their instincts, they simply know how to use a litter box; covering up their waste is hardwired into them, making...

orange cat beside litter box