Attention CRF Kitty Parents: Have You Thought About Your Kitty's Drinking Water?

I'm mom to Blondie, a Chronic Renal Failure kitty, and something just dawned on me this morning: What's the mineral content in his drinking water? How high is the phosphate? Potassium? Calcium?

I may be late to the game when it comes to addressing drinking water (Blondie was only recently diagnosed 2 months ago) so forgive me! As CRF parents, we all now how the emphasis about phosphate levels in food is at the forefront, so it's easy to see how drinking water may escape consideration. But I just now recalled that a lot of water filters and bottled water contain minerals, especially potentially high levels of phosphate and potassium (e.g. Brita filters have tons of potassium). I've already addressed phosphate levels in food, so now I'm worried about water.

I've been giving Blondie PUR filtered water for most of his life. Now I'm wondering if PUR is okay. What are you guys giving your CRF cats for drinking water? Has anyone looked into this, and if so, are the minerals in most filtered/bottled water negligible, or do we need to avoid certain brands?

Thank you much

Emm

Interesting question.  For all three of my kidney cats, I always gave them tap water.  That is until Callie (the last one) was already half way into the disease, then I started everyone on the filtered water we buy from Water and Ice and put in 5 gallon bottles and bring home.  Same stuff WE drink.  Not even sure how we would find out what the mineral content IS in that, but you certainly raise an interesting question.

BUT, our first kidney cat drank tap water in a different state.  The second two drank from the same faucet .  Does make you wonder.  Hopefully others will be along to give their experiences, and perhaps know the mineral content.

Hi Emm !

I'm not answering your question, just offering some thoughts (and cautions) from the CRF "Oracle: http://felinecrf.org/oral_fluids.htm   (see "Choices")

Have you considered joining up with Helen's online community? I know it's been discussed there over the years. They're here: https://tanyackd.groups.io/g/support