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 eating milk, among many other foods. But in reality, you don't know if milk is as good for cats as it is shown in movies 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 at VIN, states that “adult cats do not need to consume milk. In fact, some felines, just like humans, do not tolerate lactose well. For these animals, drinking a bowl of milk usually implies gastric problems.”
Adult cats do not need milk, but in no case cow's milk. Laia Custodi, a veterinarian at Clínica Quevedog, assures that "cats cannot consume cow's milk due to its composition." And in the case of adult cats, "they do not need milk as a food supplement."
If you want to feed a cat milk-based, or in the case of a kitten, you have to "give them cat milk or kitten formula, which is powdered milk," Laia explains.
The real reason why you should not give your cat cow's milk is due to its composition. Cow's milk, unlike cat's milk, "has a lot more fat and less protein." But above all, the most important thing is lactose.
Cats, like people, can be lactose intolerant or have allergies. This is one of the main reasons why you cannot give your cat cow's milk, especially because you don't know if they are intolerant or not.
What effects can giving cow's milk to cats have?
Laia emphasizes that the main side effect that cats can experience when consuming cow's milk is "diarrhea". Therefore, if the diarrhea is very severe in a small cat, it could lead to "dehydration and very serious health problems."
However, Laia highlighted that if you are in a real pinch and have to give cow's milk, make sure it is "lactose-free and skimmed." And above all, in small quantities, you would have to be in a very desperate situation where you can't buy cat milk.
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Laia Custodi, registered veterinarian in Madrid
Quevedog Veterinary Clinic
Madrid 28015