Do Cats Like Milk?

Few things are more adorable than a photo of a cat happily lapping a bowl of milk. But do cats like milk to drink? Just like humans, cats are individual beings each one having different preferences. Some cats love milk, others snub it. What attracts some cats to milk is its fat content. Fats impart a pleasant taste to the milk. However, we often hear that cats and milk usually do not go well together. Is there truth to this? Is milk good or bad for cats? Do cats need milk in the first place? Let us get the lowdown on this.

Do Cats Need Milk? Or Just Cats Like Milk?

Kittens need their mother cat’s milk. The queen’s milk is the kittens’ primary source of nutrition from the time they are born until they are weaned. At birth, kittens are capable of producing the enzyme called lactase in their gut. Lactase is needed to digest Lactose, the complex sugar in milk, into its simplest components: galactose and glucose. Glucose is absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream then distributed to the different parts of the body. Cells use glucose to produce energy needed to sustain life.

How Lactase Affects Cats?

At this point, it is important to stress that even if kittens have lactase it is still not acceptable to give cow’s milk to orphaned kittens. A mother cat’s milk has a different balance of component nutrients than cow’s milk. Replacing one with the other can cause stomach upset in the newborns. It is best to get a Kitten Milk Replacer product from your veterinarian if needed. After kittens are weaned from their mother and as they grow into adult cats, the production of lactase in the gut declines. This is normal from the evolutionary standpoint because in the wild, milk is not a part of the diet of adult cats, therefore, there is no need for lactase. Domestic cats have inherited this pattern of decline in lactase production in the gut of adults. This implies that if adult cats are offered milk and they drink a lot of it, they will not be able to digest completely the lactose in the milk. This results in a serious gastrointestinal upset called Lactose Intolerance. Low lactase levels in the gut should not pose as a problem as long as adult cats do not drink milk. They have no need for milk. It is true that milk is a good source of proteins but cats can get this nutrient from other food sources without the risk of getting sick.

How Does Milk Makes Cats Sick?

Some cats like milk so much that when it is offered to them by their human parents they will drink a lot. Because of the low amount of lactase in their small intestines, adult cats cannot digest most of the lactose in milk and suffer from Lactose Intolerance within about 8-12 hours after drinking. Lactose that is undigested remains in the gut and becomes subjected to bacterial breakdown called fermentation. This process produces gas as one of its by-products. Accumulated gas in the intestine causes flatulence and bloat. This makes some cats vomit and exhibit abdominal discomfort. When too much gas has accumulated, the bowels become stretched from the pressure inside and this brings abdominal pain. Undigested and malabsorbed lactose also draws water into the gut and cause diarrhea. When diarrhea is left unmanaged for some time, it can result to fatal dehydration. Suspect diarrhea when you see your cat straining frequently. Check under kitty’s tail for signs of wet stool. It is true that some cats like milk and are better able to tolerate lactose than others. But even if your cat does not get sick when drinking milk, remember that the fat content in milk can cause weight gain. Obesity can lead to a myriad of other health complications.

What To Do In Case of Lactose Intolerance?

Don’t recommend home care when you have a cat with diarrhea. Some cats can dehydrate fast and it can very likely result in death. If possible, take kitty to the veterinarian immediately so that it has a proper diagnosis and start treatment at once. Remember that some cats like milk and can tolerate it and that diarrhoea is a very common symptom of many gastrointestinal problems. It can happen that diarrhoea is not because of lactose intolerance but by something else so correct diagnosis is very important. If for some reason you cannot take kitty to the veterinarian immediately, fasting may help to calm down the gut. When vomiting and diarrhea have abated, slowly reintroduce small amounts of bland food. Make sure the cat is drinking water to avoid dehydration.

What Can Be Better Alternatives To Milk?

Milk given in small amounts as an occasional treat for kitty is not harmful. But it should not be part of an adult cat’s daily diet. Ask your veterinarian about lactose-reduced or lactose-free milk products suitable for cats. A number of pet parents ask if soy milk is a good alternative to give to cats in place of cow’s milk. The answer would be no. Soy milk usually has added sugar to make it taste better. This places cats at even bigger risk for developing obesity. And soy is vegetable protein, not suitable for the digestive tract of carnivores. An allergic reaction to soy protein may occur. As stated earlier, adult cats like milk but do not have the need for milk in their daily diet. A well-balanced diet, be it home-made or commercial cat food, can provide all the protein that cats need. What they need to drink more of is water! This is the most important nutrient that the body needs yet it is often the most overlooked. Water is important for all the body’s vital functions and is very important to the good health of the urinary and digestive systems. Cats, however, are notorious for not drinking enough water. To encourage your cat to drink more water, get kitty an excellent quality, durable and hygienic water fountain. The fountain makes water circulate for good aeration which gives it a better taste. The flowing water of the water fountain also piques any cat’s innate curiosity and you can be sure they will drink more of it. Find us as well as many other informative pet sites on Best Animal Sites.