Just like us, our cat’s body is made up of 80% water so what you give your kitty to drink every day is super important. 

Have you thought about what type of water is best for your kitties?

One type of water you don’t want to give to your pets is plain tap water that hasn’t been filtered because it can contain too many impurities that can be harmful to their health. The most common of these are fluoride, chlorine, and other heavy metals like iron. Iron in large quantities can build up in the body and make our kitties sick, Other chemicals in hard water can lead to gastrointestinal and urinary health issues among other things.

So what should you give them? 

Water Types Ranked From Worst to Best

Here’s a breakdown of common water types ranked from least to most beneficial for your Sphynx:

• Raw Outdoor Water: Allowing your cat to drink from outdoor sources like puddles or streams can expose them to harmful bacteria and parasites. This is the least safe option for pet hydration because you have no idea what’s lurking in an outdoor water source.

• Unfiltered Tap Water: Although municipal tap water undergoes basic filtration to eliminate harmful bacteria and parasites, it can still contain impurities like metals, chlorine, fluoride, and pesticides, which pose risks for your cat’s health.

• Carbon-Filtered Tap Water: Common carbon filters, such as those used in Brita pitchers, mainly improve taste but don’t effectively filter out fluoride, heavy metals, chloramines, or pesticides. For more thorough purification, a different type of filter is needed.

• Distilled Water: Distilled water, made through the process of boiling and condensation, removes most impurities. The problem is that while it’s very pure, it also lacks minerals because they have all evaporated. Using distilled water occasionally as a detox can be helpful, but regular use is discouraged because generally animals are already mineral deficient and only giving them distilled water is likely to further leach minerals from your pet’s body over time, which can lead to health issues.

• Alkaline Water: Though marketed as a health miracle, the health benefits of alkaline water actually come from the hydrogen in the alkaline water (created through the process of alkalizing it), and not the higher water PH in general. The reason that alkaline water may not be ideal for pets, especially cats, is that cats, as obligate carnivores, naturally have slightly acidic urine. Drinking alkaline water can alter this balance, potentially leading to issues like bladder stones or kidney stones. It’s best to monitor urine pH closely if giving your cat alkaline water on a regular basis and discontinue if their pH rises above normal levels (7 on the home test pH strips).

• Reverse Osmosis Water: Reverse osmosis water is highly purified, removing dissolved solids, most contaminants, and many minerals (approximately 85-90%), though it does retain a small percentage of minerals compared to distilled water. For this reason, reverse osmosis water is more suitable for your cats to drink daily. While this is a good option for regular hydration, keep in mind that the reverse osmosis process can be wasteful, discarding a significant portion of water during filtration.

• Natural Spring Water: Spring water, filtered naturally by the earth, provides a clean, mineral-rich source of hydration. As rainwater seeps through soil, rocks, and mineral layers over years, it undergoes a process called infiltration, which removes impurities while enriching the water with essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. These minerals contribute to bone health, promote healthy digestion, and support overall well-being, making spring water a good choice for both pets and humans.

• Hydrogen Water: Hydrogen water is considered one of the best options for pet hydration, offering several health benefits.

          Studies suggest it may:

1. Have antioxidant properties, thereby protecting your pet from free radical damage
2. Help reduce inflammation and is a great choice for a pet with allergies or arthritic joints
3. Support skin health - hydrogen water is believed to reduce inflammation in the hair follicles which results in a shiny coat in furry pets. Since you cannot grow healthy hair without healthy skin, it stands to reason that this water will also promote skin health in hairless pets.
4. Promote faster wound healing
5. Improve gut health
6. Increase energy
7. Support cognitive health

      It’s easy to see why hydrogen water is an excellent choice for pets with                  specific health needs.

• Hydrogen-Enriched Spring Water: The best choice is spring water from a good source filtered through a hydrogen filter. This option gives your cat the benefits of purified water, essential minerals, and hydrogen's antioxidant effects.

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Also remember, one of the best ways to ensure your cat drinks plenty of water every day is to get them a water fountain to drink out of. I use this ceramic pet drinking fountain and Charlie and Stubbin love it! 

It is also a good idea to place several stainless steel bowls filled with fresh, clean, and pure water around your home to give your pet plenty of choice and opportunity to hydrate.

Keep giving your pets the best of natural life!

~PetCoachApril 

April Arguin A.S., C.P.N., M.P.H