Are cats lactose intolerant? Why milk is bad for your cat.

If you are a newbie cat mom or dad, chances are you probably do not know that giving milk to your cat is a bad idea. Who would have guessed it, right? We have all seen how our feline fur babies just love to lap up that saucer of milk like it’s the yummiest thing in the world. But like all concerned cat parents, you don’t want to give your cats anything that would be harmful to their health in the long run. No matter how much cats seem to be enjoying those tasty treats, their health is our number one priority.

But why do cats seem to like milk in the first place if it’s so bad for them? Well, according to Eastside Veterinary Emergency and Specialist website, cats are drawn to food with high fat or protein content. So while your cat may sniff out that you are enjoying that bowl of cereal all alone and ask for some, it won’t be wise to give it.

Being a cat parent is a full time job. Since animals cannot talk in human language, it can be harder to notice their preferences. Especially their reactions to certain foods and their health problems. So don’t feel bad if you didn’t know that milk is bad for cats. Most people don’t!

Adult cats can’t digest milk!

Milk contains a sugar called lactose. In order to digest lactose, all baby mammals require an enzyme called Lactase which is present in their digestive system. It breaks down lactose in the infant so it can be easily digested.

However, when baby mammals are separated from their mother’s milk, the amount of lactase in their bodies also decreases; according to Susan G. Wynn, DVM, CVA, CVCH, an animal nutritionist in Atlanta and co-author of the Manual of Natural Veterinary Medicine. This means that their stomach’s ability to break down milk also decreases.

Susan Wynn further says that when kittens wean, at around 4 to 6 weeks of age, their ability to break down lactose lowers and then by 6 months of age, that ability is lost completely. And then it never re-starts.

What happens if your lactose intolerant adult cat drinks milk?

According to Susan Wynn, the most common symptom of lactose intolerance in cats is diarrhea, usually within 8 to 12 hours. However, once its digested or expelled, the symptoms cease.

Other common symptoms of lactose intolerance in cats can be

• Upset stomach
• Gas
• Cramping
• Bloating
• Induced vomiting

If you are a newbie cat parent and you didn’t know this before, don’t worry or panic. When your cat starts showing mild diarrhea symptoms after having dairy products, give it lots of water (as diarrhea can cause dehydration). VCA Hospitals USA also advises to withhold food for 24 hours and give your cat light, easily digestible diet.

For more serious symptoms, please contact your local veterinary service!

Be sure to supply the cat fresh water many times a day until it recovers. Oh and please, do remove all dairy based products from its diet!

But isn’t milk necessary for cats? What about their nutritional requirement?

According to Dr. Heinze VMD, MS, DACVN, an assistant professor of nutrition at the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, cats really dont gain anything nutritionally from that milk. Other products like cheese, yogurt and ice cream should also be avoided because they aren’t necessary for the cat’s diet. Your cat can have a reaction to them too if they already have irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory gastrointestinal disease.

So give your cat a well balanced commercial diet. In other words, if you want your cat to be healthy, don’t just give it human food from your table. Buy special cat food which meets its nutritional requirements.

So what is their daily protein and fat requirement you ask? Well, according Nutrient Requirement of Dogs and Cats, a pamphlet published by National Academic Press, an adult cat weighing 9 lb, which consumes 250 calories per day, should be given no more than 12.5g of crude protein and 5.5g of total fat. Now, if you are bad at calculating these things like me, please do yourself this favor and buy good quality cat food. It already mentions the total calorie count and nutritional values.

What if your cat already likes milk and has acquired a taste for it?

I understand how pet owners want to keep their pets happy, and what better way to do that than give them what they want? If you have been feeding your cat milk for a long time and haven’t noticed that its causing symptoms and if it demands you feed it milk whenever you are having it, should you oblige?

Well, you always have the option of special lactose free milk. But if it has alot of added sugar, it can increase the calorie count, causing your cat to be obese; according to Susan Wynn. She says to give 1–2 tablespoons only as a special treat. Don’t include it in the adult cat’s diet.

More treat options for cats

Remember: treats are given occasionally, only 2–3 times per week!

Pets WebMd suggests that you can give them cooked beef, chicken, turkey and small amounts of lean deli meats. Raw meat can also make your cat sick.

Dr. Susan Wynn advises that giving your cat animal-derived protein as treats is a much better option. Give lactose free milk only to kittens who are still on mother’s milk until they are weaned. For adult cats, give it only as an occasional treat if they show interest in it.