Water Filter Pitchers For Pets: Are They Necessary?

So, you’ve bought a new water filter pitcher and you’re pleased with the improved taste of your water. But now the human members of your family are enjoying cleaner, filtered drinking water, you might be wondering whether your pet should also be drinking water from your pitcher. 

Here, we’ve shared everything you should know about water filter pitchers for pets, including whether they’re necessary, the potential benefits and setbacks of using a water filter pitcher for pets, and whether you should bother filtering your pet’s water. 

🤔 What Is A Water Filter Pitcher?

To understand whether water filter pitchers are suitable for pets, we need to know what they are and what they do. 

A water filter pitcher is a countertop device that uses gravity filtration to remove common contaminants from tap water. 

You fill the top reservoir with water, then wait for it to filter into the bottom reservoir, where it can be poured from the jug for drinking. 

Some of the contaminants removed by a water filter pitcher include chlorine, pesticides, and heavy metals. The best water filter pitchers can remove hundreds of contaminants, producing water that’s cleaner and safer to drink. 

😺 Are Water Filter Pitchers Necessary For Pets?

Water filter pitchers aren’t vital for pets – but you may decide to filter your pet’s water because you want all your family members (humans and pets!) to enjoy cleaner, better-tasting drinking water. 

Why aren’t water filter pitchers essential for pets? Mainly because your pets will choose which water they drink, regardless of what the water contains, and there’s not a whole lot you can do about it. 

For instance, if you have a dog or an outdoor cat, you’ve probably seen your four-legged friend drinking from a puddle on at least one occasion. This water isn’t as clean as tap water, and there’s a risk of microorganisms – but your pet doesn’t really care. 

With that said, you might feel that a water filter pitcher is necessary for pets just as you feel it’s necessary for humans: to ensure that the water your pet does drink at home is safe and contaminant-free. 

If you know your tap water contains traces of chlorine, heavy metals, and other common drinking water contaminants, you may want to remove these contaminants from your pet’s drinking water – and a water filter pitcher is an affordable way to do this. 

✅ Potential Benefits Of Using A Water Filter Pitcher For Pets

Here are some of the potential benefits of filtering your pet’s drinking water with a water filter pitcher. 

Keeps Your Pet Hydrated

If your pet is notoriously picky, they may avoid drinking tap water because they don’t like the poor chlorine taste (we can relate). 

So, filtering the chlorine out of your drinking water with a water filter pitcher is a great way to encourage your pet to drink more water, keeping them hydrated. 

The simple reality is that your pet is likely to drink water if it tastes good. So, you’re less likely to have trouble trying to get your furry companion to stay hydrated, especially during the warm summer months, if you supply them with filtered water from a water filter pitcher. 

Protects Your Pet From Toxins

There are a whole host of trace contaminants found in even treated municipal water supplies. Many of these are just as dangerous to animals as they are to humans. 

Water utilities are only required to remove these contaminants down to trace levels, despite the fact that most of us would rather not put any amount of toxic substances into our bodies, regardless of how small. 

Using a water filter pitcher for your pet’s water means you can protect them from chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, nitrates, fluoride, and other concerning contaminants in your drinking water supply. 

We couldn’t find any studies that look specifically at the benefits of filtered water for pets, but it’s likely that filtering your pet’s water in a pitcher will have the same health benefits for animals as it does for humans. 

Affordable, Easy Solution

Water filter pitchers are cheaper upfront and more affordable to maintain than many other filter types, so they’re a great solution for concerned pet moms and dads with small budgets. 

You can buy one of the best water filter pitchers for less than $100, with similar annual maintenance costs. 

All you have to do is replace the filters every 2-3 months. If you want a simple, low-cost means of supplying your human and pet family with clean drinking water, a water filter pitcher is the ideal choice. 

⛔️ Potential Setbacks Of Water Filter Pitchers For Pets

There are only a couple of setbacks to using water filter pitchers for your pets:

Costs More Than Doing Nothing

Yes, a water filter pitcher is one of the most affordable water filter types out there. But using a water filter pitcher costs more money than doing nothing and simply taking water straight from your faucet. 

You need to decide whether the small upfront and annual costs are worth it for the sake of your pet’s health. 

If money is tight, you may have to wait until you’re in a more comfortable financial position and can start paying for “premium” products that will protect your family. 

Shorter Filter Lifespan

It’s advised to give your pet access to clean, fresh water every day, which means throwing out the old batch of water and replenishing it with a fresh batch. 

If you start filtering your pet’s water every day with a pitcher jug, your daily volume of filtered water will increase. That means the filter will become clogged with contaminants at a faster rate, and you’ll have to replace it more frequently. As a result, your annual maintenance costs will be slightly higher.

🧐 Should You Bother Filtering Your Pet’s Water?

Ultimately, if you think it’s essential to protect your two-legged family members from drinking water contaminants, you’ll probably think it’s worth protecting your four-legged family members, too. 

You don’t have to filter your pet’s water, but many people choose to. And with water filter pitchers being so affordable, accessible, and easy to use, they’re a common solution for folks looking for a low-cost, low-hassle solution. 

There are no dangers to filtering your pet’s water in a water filter pitcher, as long as you replace the filters on time and keep the pitcher clean. So if you do decide to invest in a water filter pitcher for your pets, there are only benefits to doing so. 

❔ FAQ

Should I filter my cat’s water?

You don’t have to filter your cat’s water, but if you’re concerned about your local water quality or you simply want to make the healthiest, safest choices for your feline friend, you can consider filtering the water that you provide in the kitty dish. Filtered water is cleaner, healthier, and tastier for your cat. 

Is it safe for pets to drink tap water?

Yes, it’s technically safe for pets to drink tap water, in the way that it’s technically safe for humans to drink tap water. Municipal water suppliers are legally obliged to remove certain contaminants down to specific “safe” concentrations and disinfect water to kill microorganisms. However, you might not want any family members – including your pets – to drink even trace amounts of chemicals, heavy metals, and other drinking water contaminants. 

Can you use pet water fountain without filter?

If your pet water fountain comes with a filter, you shouldn’t use the fountain without a filter. The filter cleans the water and removes impurities that could damage the internal components and accumulate in the cracks and crevices. It also prevents contaminants from lingering in water that sits in the fountain for a long time. However, the fountain can run without the filter, and it’s better to remove the filter than to leave the old filter to accumulate bacteria if you never change it.