Cats Drinking Milk
We have heard the commercials about milk being great for people. Where would we be without milk and cereal? I know my cats always beg for cow’s milk, however I know well enough that giving them this milk is not a good idea.
Kitten’s grow up on their moms milk and they should have this for as long as they want. The nurturing process of kittens feeding from mom evokes a feeling of love, safety and comfort. Did you know that your cat’s milk is totally different from a cow’s? One of the main differences is that cow’s milk is full of sugar in the form of lactose.
Lactose intolerance has become a fairly hot topic lately. The majority of cat’s are lactose intolerant and cannot digest the sugar that is naturally occurring in milk. This can cause diarrhea, upset stomachs and other digestive issues.
Some people think that cats need to have milk in order to get all the necessary nutrients. This is not true. In fact, cow’s milk does nothing to meet a cat’s nutritional needs. If a cat was fed only milk, it would not be able to survive. Feral cats provide proof that cats do not need milk to be healthy, as wild cats do not usually have the opportunity to drink cow’s milk.
Your cat should be given high quality, grain free foods. The protein content should be around 50%. Of course, your cat also needs access to fresh water. Milk should never be a substitute for cat food or water. Replacing cat food or water with milk will cause nutritional deficiencies in your cats.
If the thought of never giving your cat milk just upsets you too much, consider a few of the cat treats on the market that are “cat milk”. They are made specifically meant not use KMR or kitten meal replacement as that is created to meet the nutritional requirements of newborns.
Another treat could be a lactose free milk from the grocers. Always remember though, that you are the one that chooses what your cat will eat. Your cat will never miss milk at all. Just provide her with high quality food and fresh, clean water. That combines with tons of TLC is always enough to make your cat happy!
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