Your pet cat should always have access to plenty of fresh drinking water.  But because the renal systems of cats are very efficient in terms of creating concentrated urine, a cat might tolerate limited periods of not having water better when compared to other animals.  The cat must be healthy, of course.  So if ever you have forgotten to fill up your pet cat’s empty drinking bowl for several hours, it might be okay.  However, do not make this a habit.              

In general, if you only feed your cat dry kibble and you fail to see them drink water for around 24 hours or so, it may be something that you have to check with your veterinarian immediately.

But if your pet cat is being fed exclusively on wet-type cat food and she is still eating well, then there is no need to worry if you do not see her drinking water for one or two days.  Keep in mind that we-type cat food’s main component is water, making hydration easier for your cat.  But if it seems that this cat is not drinking or eating for one whole day, then this is something to be concerned about.  If this pattern continues for more than two days, critical and possibly fatal dehydration could happen.

Should your cat be suffering from diabetes, advanced-stage kidney disease, or is being medicated with diuretics to manage congestive heart failure, then dehydration could happen faster and could likely become severe in a single day.  Diarrhea and vomiting could also further induce dehydration to happen much faster.

Any sign of dehydration exhibited by your pet should require a visit to your veterinary hospital Kerrville TX for proper medical attention.