| Should you give your cat milk? She seems to love it, | | | | safe to assume that she is lactose intolerant. While |
| and she even asks for it at times. Veterinarians | | | | most cats cannot drink milk, there are some that can. |
| recommend not giving a cat milk most of the time, but | | | | However, milk should not be given in the place of food |
| there are a few exceptions. There are also different | | | | or water. As mentioned before, giving milk to a cat |
| types of milk; some are even safe for milk-craving | | | | will not make the cat healthier. Milk should be used as |
| kitties. Whether or not you give your feline friend a | | | | a treat. It is okay to give your cat a little milk every |
| bowl of milk depends on your preference and her | | | | once in awhile, but the treat should not be abused. |
| reaction to the milk. To figure out if your cat qualifies | | | | If your cat is lactose intolerant but loves the taste of |
| to receive a cool bowl of cow’s milk, then read on! | | | | milk, then swing by a pet store on your way home |
| The first thing to realize is that milk is not an essential | | | | from work. Most pet stores carry a special “cat |
| part of a cat’s diet. There is no added health | | | | milk” that is completely safe for felines. They |
| benefit for a cat to drink milk. Most cats simply like | | | | enjoy it, and it won’t upset their digestive system. |
| the way the milk tastes; so, to them, it’s like getting | | | | If you drink lactose-free milk (found in most grocery |
| a treat. You may be wondering why cats can’t | | | | stores), then you can try giving your cat a taste of it. |
| tolerate milk even though the drink their mother’s | | | | But, still pay attention to her reaction to make sure that |
| milk as kittens. Mother’s milk and cow’s milk | | | | she can handle the milk. |
| are two different types of milk; a kitten and a calf | | | | If you find yourself with a young, motherless kitten |
| each require certain nutrients to grow but not | | | | (less than four or five weeks of age), then you need |
| necessarily the same nutrients in the same amounts. | | | | to find a way to get the kitten milk. As mentioned |
| Many owners have found that giving a cat milk only | | | | before, cow’s milk is not the same as cat’s milk, |
| upsets the cat’s system, causing diarrhea and | | | | so do not feed the kitten with cow’s milk. Most |
| stomach aches. It is not that the milk itself is bad for | | | | veterinary offices carry a milk supplement that can |
| your kitty. In reality, your cat’s digestive system | | | | take the place of the mother’s milk. Talk to the |
| cannot handle the milk. In fact, most cats are lactose | | | | vet about how often you need to provide the milk |
| intolerant. What is lactose intolerance? Well, there | | | | supplement to the kitten and how much should be |
| are enzymes, known as lactase, in the intestinal | | | | given each time. Around four weeks of age, kittens |
| system. The lactase is responsible for breaking | | | | begin to wean; so you don’t have to worry about |
| down and metabolizing lactose (a sugar found in milk | | | | supplying the supplement for a long period of time! |
| and other dairy products). When a person or | | | | Although many cats enjoy a tasty bowl of cold milk, |
| animal’s intestinal system lacks lactase completely | | | | most cats cannot actually handle the substance. If |
| (or does not have enough of it), the person or animal | | | | given at all, milk should be given as a treat. If your cat |
| can experience stomach pain, diarrhea, etc. | | | | is lactose intolerant, then look for lactose-free or |
| So, how do you determine whether or not your | | | | cat-specific milk. A baby kitten should have a diet of |
| cat’s digestive system can handle milk? Give her | | | | milk, but the milk needs to be provided by the mother |
| a small amount of milk and see what happens. Pay | | | | cat or your veterinarian. If you have any questions |
| attention to her stool. If she has diarrhea or appears | | | | about what you are feeding your cat, then don’t be |
| to be uncomfortable after drinking the milk, then it’s | | | | afraid to ask someone who knows! |