Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Mark on February 05, 2007, 09:32:56 AM

Title: Filtered Water
Post by: Mark on February 05, 2007, 09:32:56 AM

I have been giving the cats filtered water recently but I bought a new Brita Maxtra last week (40th Anniversary offer - £15 including 3 filters!) The booklet had a warning for people with kidney problems saying that filtered water has raised pottassium levels. I guess the way to go is bottled water? (I get spring water in Lidl - 25p for 2L)

Title: Re: Filtered Water
Post by: swampmaxmum on February 05, 2007, 09:49:47 AM

Even with bottled, there's a big difference in potassium and particularly sodium and nitrate levels.  I was told (so AFAIK) that Evian is the purest?  I don't know how to find any comparisons for what's in our ordinary tap water. 

Title: Re: Filtered Water
Post by: Mark on February 05, 2007, 09:55:56 AM

I am worried as Clapton, My CRF cat drinks lots of water (about a cup a day) so want to give him water with minimal or none in it.

Title: Re: Filtered Water
Post by: Christine (Blip) on February 05, 2007, 11:38:26 AM

Oh - I've been giving Blip filtered water since she came to us seven years ago. Any chemists out there who can shed more light on this issue?

Title: Re: Filtered Water
Post by: Mark on February 05, 2007, 12:37:57 PM

I'm confused as I thought phosphorus was the no-no - but it definately said pottasium in regard to kidney disease. It said you can call their careline and get advice that you "may wish to discuss with your GP" :evillaugh: :Crazy:

What happened to the days when you gave your cats a bowl of milk and a lump of raw liver?  :evillaugh:

Title: Re: Filtered Water
Post by: Christine (Blip) on February 05, 2007, 13:30:29 PM

I've done a spot of web research over my lentil soup and found this site about CRF:

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_chronic_renal_failure.html

Mark, check out the potassium entry - it says that the failing kidney does not conserve potassium efficiently and supplementation may be needed.

That would suggest that the potassium in filtered water is OK, wouldn't it?? :scared:  :-:   :scared: I'd be really interested to hear any expert input.

Title: Re: Filtered Water
Post by: Gillian Harvey on February 05, 2007, 13:40:06 PM

Ok, not an expert, but many cats with CRF have low potassium levels, BUT, some CRF cats have high potassium levels, and that can be dangerous (whether potassium is high or low will show in the blood tests) -  but how the amounts of potassium in bottled, filtered, spring waters and even tap water affect these levels - I don't know and would be interested to find out too.

Title: Re: Filtered Water
Post by: Leanne on February 07, 2007, 10:41:18 AM

We've been giving Jess tap water is this a no no then?

Title: Re: Filtered Water
Post by: smudgepickles on February 07, 2007, 12:50:59 PM

My vet toled me that Bella with her CRF was better having bottled water as our area water contained high potassium levels. Im sure your local water authourity would be ableto tell you about your water or even your vets as mine knew about my water content


good luck

xxxxx

Title: Re: Filtered Water
Post by: Mark on February 07, 2007, 19:00:02 PM

Thanks Smudge,

In the meantime I will give them bottled water - The water I get from Lidl is spring water rather than mineral water - not sure what the difference is?

Who would have thought water could be so complicated. I even read somewhere that by filtering water, you are missing out on the calcium  :Crazy: