Can cats drink milk? Read this first!
There are all kinds of stereotypes about cats in our culture. They are curious, they are scared, and they are either loving or cold-hearted, depending on if you are a cat lover or cat hater. There are also other ideas about them, such as–you guessed it–that they love to drink saucers of milk. In reality, are cats lactose intolerant?
Are Cats Lactose Intolerant?
Apparently, cats are indeed lactose intolerant. More accurately, most cats are lactose intolerant. An intolerance is not the same as an allergy, although they are quite similar. In the case of most felines, they do not produce the enzyme lactase, which enables the body to digest lactose, the primary sugar in dairy products.
Kittens’ bodies produce lactase from birth until about six months of age in order to consume their mothers’ milk. One should not think that it is a good idea to substitute cat milk with cow milk or any other kind of milk; the cat mother’s milk is ideally formulated to give her kittens the lactose levels and other nutrition they need.
What Happens If Cats Drink Milk?
If a grown cat drinks cow milk, it will likely be unable to digest it properly. Instead of the body breaking down the lactose, it will send water into the digestive system, fermenting the undigested parts of the milk and causing bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and gas. In other words, a cat will likely have the same reaction to milk as a lactose-intolerant human would.
Is It Ever a Good Idea to Give Cat Milk to Drink?
In general, you can put the milk aside and offer your cat water or the other healthy, hydrating alternatives below.
Safe and Healthy Alternatives
Chicken broth or juice from tuna or sardines are excellent alternatives to milk, particularly if you want to give your cat a nutrient-rich, hydrating treat. It would be rare to find a cat that does not love these options.
Ultimately, though, water is the best way to hydrate your cat. If you have one, it’s imperative to make fresh drinking water available. If you have trouble getting your cat to hydrate, you can add the above options to your cat’s dry food or offer a tasty, moist treat.
Are you curious to learn if cats are nocturnal or if they really hate to swim? Read on!
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