My cat drinks well water. Is water from a softener safe for her?

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.

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.

Water softeners leave very little salt residue in the treated water. Most, not all, fish *should* do fine in softened water. Make sure you get species that does better in soft water. Use a hardness kit and monitor KH. This parameter is what can affect pH. You can set aside a gallon or two and test it after it has aged for 24-48 hours to confirm it is safe to use. Check the softener unit for a bypass valve. Some units will have one or you can get one installed. Taps/faucets outside may not be in line with the softener, so you can use water from there if necessary.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Tap water should be fine to be honest. It would not hurt to use bottled water but it is not necessary unless you are concerned about the quality of the tap water where you live. Have a good night!

Unfortunately many cats drink from places they shouldn't, it's just the way they do things. i would recommend blocking the way to the sump pump water if it is possible and buy him an electric fountain to drink from, cats usually love them.

I assume you mean the normal tap water that comes from the faucet of your house? Yes, this tap water is safe for pets to drink assuming there is not a water advisory in effect. Please feel free to post any additional questions.

Any water that is safe for humans to drink is safe for dogs. If you are feeding a normal, commercial diet dog food that is AAFCO certified, it is fortified to contain all the needed vitamins and minerals so the content in the water isn't really a concern. The vast majority of dogs drink tap water and do fine (as long as it is safe to drink). I hope this helps.