Why Does My Cat Lay Down to Drink Water? 6 Vet-Reviewed Reasons & Treatment

Cats will usually sit, stand, or lay on all four paws when having a drink, but there are times when you might see them having a proper lay down at the water bowl, not supported by their feet. This isn’t a ‘normal’ posture for a drinking cat, and there are a few reasons why they might have adopted it. Some are not too worrying, but others are a sign that your cat needs to be seen by a vet. If you are concerned about where, how, and how much your cat is drinking, the best thing to do is make an appointment for a check-up with your vet so they can perform a physical examination and run any tests needed to ensure your cat is fit and healthy.

Let’s take a look at some possible reasons to explain why a cat might lay down to drink.

The 6 Possible Reasons Why A Cat Lays Down To Drink

1. It May Be Normal for Some Cats

Some younger cats may occasionally drink water lying down, especially if they have just returned from an outdoor adventure or they’ve been running around the house doing zoomies. This may also happen if the weather is warm and your cat is feeling particularly tired.

Let’s look into possible medical causes for your cat drinking water from a lying down position.

2. They’re Anxious or Stressed

Just like humans, cats can suffer from anxiety or feel stressed. This may happen if there have been sudden changes in the household, such as a new pet or a baby, or building work, causing your cat to feel scared and insecure, especially in cats that haven’t been adequately socialized as kittens. Cats that are in pain or ill may also become anxious. Most cases of anxiety develop in cats younger than a year, but they can occur at any time throughout their life.

Anxiety can cause behavioral changes in your cat. They may be restless, leading to pacing, hiding, or hypervigilance. They may also drool or have a decreased appetite. Depending on the severity of the case, your cat may also display other signs such as toileting outside of their litter box, shaking, sleeping more, or overgrooming. In turn, this can lead to health issues such as urinary problems.

3. Dehydration

This may have been apparent to you, but one reason that your cat is behaving oddly around their water bowl could be that they’re dehydrated.

Hydration is vital in cats. If there is insufficient water intake, their bodies can lose regulation of several vital functions. Cats often experience weakness, lethargy, poor appetite, and dry mucous membranes when dehydrated. If you suspect your cat has not been getting enough water for whatever reason, contact your vet as soon as possible.

4. Kidney Disease

Kidneys are an essential organ system responsible for your cat’s fluid maintenance, as well as other crucial body functions. When they are suffering from kidney disease, fluid maintenance is thrown out of balance.

There are two types of kidney disease. One is known as acute kidney disease, and the other is chronic kidney disease. The cause of either of these could be several factors, such as injuries, bacterial or viral infections, toxin exposure, a consequence of a urinary blockage, cancer, or genetics.

Signs of kidney disease often include increased thirst and urination, dehydration, poor appetite, weight loss, poor coat, vomiting, lethargy, halitosis, or bad breath, while in the acute disease urine production can be severely reduced or even absent, causing the cat to feel very ill and often collapsed, while not passing much urine. A urinary blockage on the other hand, caused by stones, crystals, inflammation, or sediment, especially in male cats, leads to frequent straining in and out of the litter box, while not being able to pass any urine, or very little, which can be stained with blood. This is a life-threatening condition and requires immediate veterinary care.

5. Diabetes

If your cat has diabetes, that often means that their body and cells are not able to appropriately respond to insulin, which is referred to as Type II diabetes. Less commonly in cats, in Type I, the body is not producing enough insulin. Without enough insulin or due to an inappropriate response to it, the affected cat will not be able to balance their own blood sugar levels. Feline diabetes is relatively common. Indications that your cat may have diabetes include increased thirst, excessive urination, higher appetite, with the risk of diabetes being 4 times greater in obese cats.

If your cat’s diabetes is not treated, it can lead to a host of other serious health problems. Untreated diabetes can result in vomiting, loss of weight and appetite, dehydration, impaired motor function and nerve damage, coma, ketoacidosis, and death. If you think your cat may have diabetes, it is essential to talk to your vet as soon as possible.

6. Pain

If your cat is in pain for whatever reason, this may make it harder for them to sit down comfortably for a drink, and they may choose to lie down. You may notice them limping, being stiff, not jumping as much, or holding one of their legs up. If your cat recently had an orthopedic surgery or is wearing a bandage that may limit their normal movements, they may drink while lying down. Older cats suffering from arthritis may struggle to get comfortable, and besides drinking while lying down, they may also miss their litter box if the sides are too high. However, dehydration and underlying illness can also cause similar signs.

Final Thoughts

It is unusual for a cat to eat or drink when lying down unless they are being hand-fed. Although it may not necessarily be cause for concern, this behavior should not be ignored as it could be an indication of serious illness or injury. Assess the whole picture to get an idea of what your cat has been doing recently, and whether they have shown any signs of illness, lethargy, pain, or discomfort.

A cat that has been running around, getting hot and bothered, may lay down to drink just because they’re knackered, but it is more likely a sign that there’s a problem. If you are at all worried about your cat, contact your vet immediately, or you can even schedule an appointment to talk to one of our vets online.

• See also: Can a Cat Drink Pool Water? Vet Approved Chlorine & Saltwater Risks

Featured Image Credit: TarasBeletskiy, Shutterstock