Can you give milk to a cat?

Although some cats would like to enjoy a couple of cups of warm milk, after a period of breastfeeding, a cat no longer needs it in her diet, moreover, milk consumption can contribute to serious health problems.

lactose intolerance

Like humans, most cats can be lactose intolerant (the sugar in milk). The digestive system of humans and cats requires the enzyme lactase to digest lactose. We have it in large quantities from birth, and we get this enzyme from our mother's milk. But it is normal for humans and cats to decrease lactase production as they get older. Less lactase means less ability to process lactose. It cannot freely pass from the intestinal walls into the bloodstream, intestinal bacteria appear, and the fermentation process begins with the formation of a large amount of gas. When a cat with lactose intolerance drinks milk, the undigested lactose collects water as it passes through the intestinal tract. All of these processes can cause an upset stomach in a cat and cause gas, bloating, cramps, and vomiting. But the most common symptom is diarrhea, which usually occurs within eight to twelve hours.

Diarrhea can be fatal for small kittens because it dehydrates the body very quickly.

Signs that may indicate lactose intolerance:

• diarrhea;
• vomit;
• loss of appetite and weight;
• abdominal pain and discomfort (this can be identified by decreased cat activity and increased scratching).

If the cat loves milk

Surely many of us gave milk to our four-legged friend and did not notice any problems. Why not give it if the cat likes it. But how can you tell if your cat is lactose intolerant? Give him one to two tablespoons of milk, and if you don't notice any symptoms during the day, you can give your cat milk from time to time as a special treat. Experts do not recommend giving more than five tablespoons of milk a day.

However, most veterinarians advise against giving milk at all, as cats don't need it, so the potential problems outweigh the potential benefits.

Any treats (such as tuna, cheese, meat, and other foods used by humans) should not take up more than five or ten percent of a cat's diet. For a medium-sized cat, this is no more than two to three tablespoons of 2% skim milk. But overweight cats should not be given such treats at all.

It is worth remembering that one plate of milk is equivalent to four hamburgers (based on a 4.5 kg cat and a medium-sized woman), so the smaller the better. The rest of the calories should come from high quality, nutrient-dense cat food. Of course, milk contains calcium, which is essential for teeth and bones, but you can also find it in foods specially formulated for cats. If you are not sure what food is best for your cat, it would be wiser to talk to your veterinarian.

Yogurt and cheese as an alternative

Sometimes cats with lactose intolerance may not have problems with other dairy products such as yogurt, butter, cheese, or ice cream. This is because different dairy products contain different amounts of lactose. Dairy products such as yogurt and ice cream are often mixed with water or added fat, so the microorganisms they contain break down some of the lactose. For example, cheddar cheese and cottage cheese contain small amounts of milk sugar. If you still want to give dairy products to a sensitive cat, then the possible symptoms of intolerance will be less if you give cheese, yogurt.

Cow's milk and milk substitutes

Only small kittens should drink milk. Kittens have a significantly higher ability to break down the sugar or lactose in their milk. Often, however, if kittens continue to breastfeed for a long time, they may develop similar signs of lactose intolerance between 30 and 60 days of age.

Despite many delightful story illustrations, cow's milk is completely unsuitable for small kittens.

Although there is lactase in the body of a newborn cat, it is not enough to cope with the huge amount of lactose in cow's milk. But lactose is not the only problem. The amount of casein in relation to whey is unacceptable in the diet of a cat.

If your kitten is young and needs mother's milk, you can try milk replacers made especially for kittens. Available in pet stores, cat milk replacer often contains cow's milk that has been specially modified to provide as close a nutritional profile as possible to cat's milk. This means an adjusted casein to whey ratio and a reduced amount of lactose. If you are raising a motherless kitten, a specialized milk replacer will come in handy. Adult cats can be given small amounts of milk replacer as a treat, but this is usually not necessary unless the cat has developed an unusual craving for it.

Is soy milk good for cats?

Soy milk is lactose-free and may seem like a good choice at first glance. Unfortunately, there are ingredients in soy milk that your cat may find difficult.
digest As a result, a cat fed soy milk may suffer from bloating and indigestion, just like those fed regular milk. In addition, cats are by nature carnivores that need nutrients that can only be found in meat, so neither soy milk nor regular milk can provide it.

Give the cat water

The body of a cat is 70% water, and it is very important for life processes. Water is important for the proper functioning of the kidneys and urinary tract. A cat can start drinking it from eight weeks of age. It should be clean, fresh and changed daily. Water will help your pet regulate body temperature, digest food, cleanse the body, and prevent the accumulation of salts and other electrolytes in the body. To encourage your cat to drink water, try placing bowls of different depths around the house. Many cats also love running water. So no matter how well your cat tolerates milk, the most important thing for a cat's health and well-being is water.

By the way…

Многие владельцы кошек задаются вопросом, что означает поведение кошки, когда она удобно устраивается на коленях и начинает тереться лапами о живот хозяина. Часто сопровождается довольным мурлыканьем и выпуском когтей. Чтобы объяснить это, стоит понаблюдать за маленькими котятами во время кормления – с помощью такого вида игры стимулируется приток молока. Этим взрослый кот показывает, как ему комфортно и как он счастлив — совсем как тогда, когда он был маленьким котенком на коленях у матери. Поэтому хозяину не стоит в этот момент отвергать своего четвероногого друга.