Is it safe for my cat to drink sump pump water? Why does he do it?

Sweetie is doing something that is extremely common in cats. Some cats (and dogs) simply prefer to drink water that is in motion versus stagnant in a bowl. If you prefer that your cat does not drink from a dripping faucet but she refuses to drink from the regular bowl, many pet stores sell water fountains that continually cycle the water. This is often the best solution for cases like one you are describing. In terms of the safety of the water, this is hard for me to speculate about. If the water is safe enough for you or your family to drink, it is almost certainly safe enough for Sweetie. If your water source is coming from a well or spring and is not routinely tested, use of a bottled or distilled water may be a safer option.

Drinking from salt water pools is generally safe. A properly maintained “salt water” pool has about 1/10th the salt of sea water. Increased salt intake can make cats drink more and urinate more. Additionally, cats with heart disease, kidney disease, and those eating salt-restricted diets shouldn’t drink from saltwater pools. If possible, employ a pool cover or a barricade to restrict access. Always provide fresh, clean water for your cat. You can place a bowl indoors as well as on the way to the pool to deter your cat.

You have nothing to worry about, my cats are exactly the same, they will prefer every other option that seems to be fresher than their bowls, i tried a fountain bowl for a while but it never really replaced their need to drink from wherever they could.

That won't be harmful..my cat has been doing it for many years (!!) and there is no problem with it as long as the water is clear.. The only way would be to limit the access to the bathroom, but other than that is completely normal for cats to drink from different sources of water. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend not allowing the cats to drink from the tree stand; if the tree was sprayed or treated with anything while at the tree farm, it could leak into the water that they are drinking. I would gate off the tree, or cover the top of the stand with aluminum foil. Good luck!

Cats really prefer to dring from a water fountain or running water. Some (and I have two of those) will only drink from a running tap. He may be always thirsty because the tap is not running constantly and he thinks he needs to drink every time you turn it on for him. Make sure you put his water away from his food bowl (at least 6 feet) as cats do not like to drink water that was next to their food. If you think he is still drinking way too much I suggest you take him to your vet for a blood test checking kidney, liver and glucose parameters to rule out diabetes, kidney and liver disease.

Water treated with water softener is usually safe for cats and dogs to drink. However, softened water isn't recommended for pets that have a restricted or sodium-free diet. If you are not sure whether you want to use your softened water, you can use bottled water for your cat to drink.