On this article, we’ll take an in depth have a look at the connection between cats and milk, exploring milk’s dietary advantages and well being results, why cats shouldn’t drink an excessive amount of milk, and what you can provide your cat as a substitute.
Can Kittens Drink Milk?
There’s no denying it. Cats can undoubtedly drink milk. You’ve seen the illustrations of kittens clustered round a saucer of milk. You’ve seen milk-flavored cat treats. Perhaps you’ve even watched your personal cat lapping it up.
Whether or not it’s from a cow, goat, or mama cat, kittens and grownup cats can and do drink milk. There’s additionally no denying that milk is a pure a part of the feline food regimen—when it comes from Mother.
Like all mammals, kittens depend on their mom’s milk as their sole supply of vitamin. A cat’s milk has the right steadiness of important vitamins to assist kittens develop and thrive.
And like all child mammals, kittens produce an enzyme referred to as lactase. This enzyme’s main job is to digest lactose, also called milk sugar. When kittens drink their mother’s milk, these lactase enzymes go to work on the milk sugar, breaking it into glucose and galactose, two easy sugars that take in simply into the bloodstream.
With out lactase, that lactose can be indigestible.
As a substitute of breaking down and transferring easily into the physique, the milk sugar would keep intact and transfer into the colon. There, the undigested lactose would begin fermenting, draw water into the colon, and trigger the signs we affiliate with lactose intolerance—bloating, diarrhea, and fuel.
Is Milk Dangerous for Cats?
To assist them digest the milk sugars of their mother’s milk, kittens naturally produce an enzyme referred to as lactase. As they develop up, they produce much less of this enzyme and plenty of develop into lactose-intolerant.
After Kittens Are Weaned, They Begin Producing Much less Lactase. Most Turn into Lactose-Illiberal. And herein lies the issue with cats and milk. Cats are, for probably the most half, lactose-intolerant animals.
Additionally Learn: Weaning Kittens: Suggestions For Profitable Weaning
If an grownup cat tries to drink the identical quantity of milk that they had as a kitten, they’d get an upset abdomen. They only don’t have the lactase enzymes wanted to make the milk digestible.
Small quantities of milk received’t make your cat sick, however greater than a tablespoon or so may trigger digestive misery.
There are a couple of exceptions to this rule.
Cats can extra simply digest lactose-free milk and different merchandise made for lactose-intolerant individuals. They will additionally eat different low-lactose dairy merchandise, together with most onerous cheeses, yogurt, and bitter cream.
As with all meals not supposed or balanced for cats, these ought to be thought of occasional treats that make up lower than 10% of a cat’s complete energy for the day.
Cats Don’t Get A lot Dietary Worth Out of Milk.
Kittens require the distinctive steadiness of vitamins current of their mom’s milk. Something moreover this milk or a specially-formulated cat milk replacer will result in dietary deficiencies.
Nursing kittens depend on their mom’s milk to outlive, however every other kind of milk fails to ship the well-rounded vitamin your kitten or cat wants. It’s not a nutritionally full meals and even shut. When you select to present your cat milk, make it a really occasional deal with.
It’s not an alternative choice to a nutritionally full and balanced food regimen. And if you happen to’re caring for a younger kitten, by no means substitute cow’s milk for mom’s milk or kitten system.
What Can You Give Your Cat As a substitute of Milk?
In case your cat loves milk, be at liberty to give it to him as an occasional deal with. So long as you’re not giving him a lot that it triggers a response or makes an enormous dent in his every day calorie funds, milk could be a nice deal with. If you wish to play it protected with lactose intolerance, go for a lactose-free product.
Cats who love milk and wish greater than just some sips would possibly take pleasure in specially-formulated cat milk merchandise, typically discovered on the cat meals aisle of pet shops and groceries. These merchandise are lactose-free drinks made with cats in thoughts. Some are fortified with taurine for an amino acid increase.
For very younger kittens, there’s no substitute for mom’s milk or a particularly formulated kitten system. Cat milk replacers are the one protected selection for bottle-feeding a kitten.
Steadily Requested Questions
What sort of milk is protected for cats?
Cats can safely drink small quantities of any milk, whether or not it’s from a cow, goat, sheep, or different animal. Any greater than a few tablespoons, nonetheless, may trigger abdomen upset. If given in small quantities, milk substitutes like soy, almond, and cashew received’t make your cat sick, however they’re not one thing to present your cat frequently.
Why do cats love milk?
It’s one of many nice mysteries of the feline world. Milk is a cat’s first meals and, like people, that enjoyment of milk continues past infancy. Some additionally speculate that farm cats developed a style for milk as a contented complement to the mice they caught within the barn. Cats are doubtless drawn to the feel and aroma of the fats and protein in milk.
Can milk kill cats?
It’s unlikely. In distinction to some human meals which are poisonous to cats—chocolate, for instance—milk is comparatively protected and there’s little or no likelihood that even a big amount of it may kill a cat.
When ought to cats cease ingesting milk?
Kittens start the weaning course of at round 4 weeks of age and ought to be full by the point they’re eight to 10 weeks previous. When you’re bottle-feeding a kitten, they need to proceed consuming kitten system solely till they’re round 4 weeks previous, then regularly transition to strong meals.
How a lot milk can cats have?
Whereas veterinarians agree that milk will not be a full meal and ought to be given as a deal with solely, there is no consensus on how a lot milk is protected for cats. There are about 9 energy in a tablespoon of complete milk, which is about 5% of your cat’s every day calorie requirement.
Treats should not make up greater than 10% of your cat’s every day consumption, so as much as 2 tablespoons of milk could also be a protected, calorically reasonable deal with. With new treats, at all times begin small to see in case your cat tolerates it earlier than rising the quantity regularly.
What occurs if you happen to give cats milk?
Most often, nothing. When you give your cat an excessive amount of milk—as an example they drink 1 / 4 of a cup of it—they might expertise some gassiness and diarrhea.
Can cats drink lactose-free milk?
Sure. It isn’t nutritionally full and you will nonetheless should be cautious to maintain these energy below management, however lactose-free milk is a protected different for cats.
Are cats allergic to exploit?
Meals allergic reactions are unusual amongst cats, however when cats do develop allergic reactions to dietary proteins, dairy is a typical perpetrator. Indicators that your cat is allergic to exploit embrace itchiness, digestive points, hair loss, and watery eyes.
Can cats digest milk?
Sure and no. Whereas cats can digest different elements of milk, grownup felines have a restricted potential to digest the lactose (milk sugars) current in it.
Does milk give cats diarrhea?
As a result of most cats are lactose-intolerant, ingesting an excessive amount of milk can provide them diarrhea. When you discover your cat having unfastened stools after ingesting milk, reduce on the quantity you are giving them or think about a lactose-free different. Lactose-free milk or specifically formulated cat milk could give your cat the style they love with out the diarrhea that follows.
Does milk make cats poop?
Indirectly. Nevertheless, cats could poop extra or have unfastened bowel actions after ingesting milk as a result of presence of lactose, a milk sugar that almost all cats cannot digest. When this lactose strikes into your cat’s colon, it begins to ferment and will trigger bloating, gassiness, and diarrhea.
