Water supply concerns

[Ellie]

I'll be rushing out to the store tomorrow to get more bottled water--not sure what kind is right for cats--I know I read some blogs about using spring water maybe   Yesterday I noticed my cat was not drinking her water.  I put out several new bowls and no luck.  Today I did the same and even tried to coax her into drinking by patting some around her lips.  She wouldn't have it.  I grabbed some bottled water I had for the storm season and she lapped it right up, thank goodness.  Perhaps she noticed a subtle change in our tap water, which has always been drinkable, and I did not.  Either way, it's scary to think that "THEY" have ruined our pet foods, our human foods, and now maybe our drinking water.  What if the bottled water isn't safe? 

Also my parents live in a more rural area than I do, if that's possible, and they have access to artesian wells.  Does anyone know if that is good for cats.  I know people like it there as an alternative to store bought water or tap water.

[Mary K]

Hi, Ellie, Luckily I have a well from a real spring. (I never drank city water from a tap; it was always discolored and smelled like chlorine.) The problem, they say, with bottled water is that there are no regulations on it-just like pet food!! The label can say it is pure spring water and it very well might not be. For humans, the best is usually filtered/artisan spring, if you can trust it. There are several books out about water
(The Drinking Water Book by Colin Ingram; Water, by F Batmanghelidj, MD). Lots of cat lovers use water fountains for kitties, available at pet-stores. If left on their own, they prefer bird-baths and the commode    .

[garypen]

Ellie - You can install a filter, which removes most non-bacterial contaminants, such as lead, chlorine, and other chemicals. But, if your water is biologically suspect, it won't help.

You can also buy distilled water, which is different from regular bottled water. Distilled water is the condensed steam collected from boiling water. It is free of both chemical and biological contaminants. It is pure water. Not even healthy minerals are in it.

[Ellie]

Thanks guys.  I will head back to the store tomorrow for the distilled water.  Good idea on the water fountain too because Pippi loves to play in the water, wherever she finds it.