Food safety

Can Cats Drink Pool Water?

Not recommended — Pool Water for cats.

Not recommended

Why: Pool water is treated with chlorine or other chemicals to keep it clean — fine for swimming, not for drinking. A few laps usually cause no more than an upset stomach, but a cat should never use a pool as a water source, and saltwater pools carry a salt-poisoning risk.

If your cat ate pool water: A few laps are not an emergency. Offer fresh water and watch for vomiting or diarrhoea. If your cat drank a lot, especially from a saltwater pool, call your vet.

Related: Salt Water, Distilled Water, Milk

Why this verdict

Pool water is treated with chlorine or other chemicals to keep it clean — fine for swimming, not for drinking. A few laps usually cause no more than an upset stomach, but a cat should never use a pool as a water source, and saltwater pools carry a salt-poisoning risk.

If your cat ate pool water

A few laps are not an emergency. Offer fresh water and watch for vomiting or diarrhoea. If your cat drank a lot, especially from a saltwater pool, call your vet.

Related foods

Salt Water, Distilled Water, Milk

Check another food

Back to the Food-Safety Checker to check all 90 foods, or see the beginner feeding guide and the feeding estimator.

Before you use the result

Use the result as a starting point for observation and planning. Cats vary by age, body condition, temperament, medical history, and household setup.

Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, and the Cornell Feline Health Center — Feeding Your Cat. Chocolate toxicity figures are approximate values from the Merck Veterinary Manual. If your cat ate something on the toxic list, call your veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.