Many people think that cow's milk is one of the ideal foods for cats. However, it can cause certain intolerances and health problems in felines.
In movies, we have always seen cats drinking milk, among many other foods. But in reality, you don't know whether milk is as good for cats as it is shown to be in films and on television. The truth is that some felines go crazy when they see dairy products, but… Is milk good for cats? Can cats be given milk?
Can cats be given cow's milk?
Veterinarian Gina Spadafori, from the international network of veterinarians VIN, states that “adult cats do not need to consume milk. In fact, some felines, as with people, do not tolerate lactose well. For these animals, drinking a bowl of milk usually leads to gastric problems.”
Adult cats do not need to be given milk in the first place, but under no circumstances should they be given cow's milk. Laia Custodi, a veterinarian at Clínica Quevedog, states that “cats cannot consume cow's milk because of its composition.” In the case of adult cats, “they do not need milk as a dietary supplement.”
If you want to feed a cat milk, or if it is a kitten, you should “give it cat milk or milk replacer, which is powdered milk,” Laia explains.
The real reason why you should not give your cat cow's milk is its composition. Unlike cat milk, cow's milk “contains considerably more fat and less protein.” But above all, the most important factor is lactose.
Cats, like people, can be lactose intolerant or may be allergic to it. This is one of the main reasons why you cannot give your cat cow's milk, especially because you do not know whether it is intolerant or not.
What effects can giving cow's milk to cats have?
Laia points out that the main side effect cats may experience from consuming cow's milk is “diarrhea.” Therefore, if the diarrhea is severe in a small cat, it could become “dehydrated and develop very serious health problems.”
However, Laia did point out that if you are in a difficult situation and have to give it cow's milk, it should be “lactose-free and skimmed.” Above all, it should be given in small quantities and only if you are truly in a difficult situation and unable to buy cat milk.
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Laia Custodi, registered veterinarian in Madrid
Clínica Veterinaria Quevedog
Madrid 28015