Is It Healthy For Cats to Drink Milk Can Cats Drink Vegan Milk
Since the beginning of time, milk has been portrayed as a perfect food for cats, and popular movies, books, and cartoons have only strengthened this belief. The popular cartoon “Tom and Jerry” was created in 1940, and in numerous episodes, Tom, the titular character, drinks milk and enjoys it. Milk may be seen as a safe pet meal choice for many cat owners, especially cow’s milk. However, milk might not be the answer for all cats’ hunger. If you’re planning to feed your feline friend milk, read on first. Is Milk Safe For Cats To Drink? Milk is safe for cats, but it might have more adverse effects than positive ones. It may come as no surprise to veteran cat owners that cow’s milk, a household staple, might cause your feline companion “gastrointestinal distress.” Purina says cats can also suffer from lactose intolerance due to the high levels of lactose found in cow’s milk. Cats can experience diarrhea, bloating and flatulence due to too much lactose in our diets. A saucer of milk for your cat is the equivalent of eating a 12-inch pizza each day, according to the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals. In addition, milk is high in fat, causing your cat to gain weight. What Kind Of Milk Can Cats Drink? Whole, skim, or two-percent milk, purina says they all still have unhealthy fat content, and they can’t provide your cat with all the necessary nutrients through milk alone. Senior Cat Wellness recommends goat’s milk to some cats because it contains 20% to 30% less lactose than cow’s milk. There’s no clinical evidence that fermented dairy products, such as sour cream, yogurt, cultured buttermilk and kefir, are easier to digest for cats.