is it safe to give my cat milk ?

In the movies, cats love a bowl of cold milk. In the real world, giving a cat milk can do more harm than good.

While milk might seem like a natural choice for your cat, the truth is that cow’s milk offers no nutritional value for cats, and it can cause digestive problems in many. The reason is that most cats develop intolerance to lactose shortly after they are weaned. This means that they are unable to digest the sugars that occur naturally in milk. This causes problems that include diarrhea and other unpleasant digestive problems.

Some people think that cats need to have milk in order to get all the necessary nutrients. This is not true. In fact, cow’s milk does nothing to meet a cat’s nutritional needs. If a cat was fed only milk, it would not be able to survive. Feral cats provide proof that cats do not need milk to be healthy, as wild cats do not usually have the opportunity to drink cow’s milk.

As long as your cat is eating a high quality food, and has access to clean fresh water, she is getting all that she needs. Milk alone is not a sufficient diet for any cat, and should never be given in place of food OR in place of water. Replacing a cat’s food or water with milk can cause your cat to become malnourished.

Many cats do seem to enjoy milk, and this causes a dilemma for many cat owners who love to give their cat treats that they enjoy. While most cats are lactose intolerant, some are not. For these cats, milk as an occasional treat is fine. The only way to know how your cat will react to milk is to feed her some. If she does not develop diarrhea then it is safe to assume that she is not lactose intolerant, and you can continue to give her the treat she loves. Again, milk should never be given in place of food, but as a treat.

If your cat IS lactose intolerant, but still seems to crave a bowl of milk now and then, there is a way to satisfy her without upsetting her digestive system. Milk substitute that is specially formulated for cats is sold in most pet food stores. Like regular milk, it should only be given as a treat and not as a replacement for meals. Even if you feed this "cats milk" on a regular basis, a high quality cat food and fresh water should always be available. Another option for lactose intolerant cats is to give lactose-free milk. This milk is available in the same aisle as regular milk in most grocery stores.

Can You Give Cats Milk

Kittens have their mothers milk. But most cats over a certain age, according to my vet, cannot/don't do well drinking milk. To-days milk isn't the milk that we all remember when children. When my cat had a bit of constipation, my VET. advised me to give it two teaspoons of 2% milk. Why? Because according to her, it causes diarrhea! Not a good thing for cats. Give it lots of fresh water. Cats/dogs like the smell & taste of certain "fluid" that go into car engines; yes they like it and it's poison to them. We as cat lovers can't always give our pets things to eat that THEY want; that's why we take care of them, not them allowed to drink what they want. Try water instead. She'll get the idea.

Not milk from a cow, only from their mother. Cats are actually lactose intolerant, you can get special cat/kitten milk from a shop or mix milk with water, about 1:2. Otherwise you'll be dealing with a nasty clean-up in their litter box. Good luck. xxx

Yeah, why wouldn't it be? My cat is almost 5 and he has been drinking milk ever since he was a kitten. Cats love milk.

Well, of course she drinks it... but it's not very good for them to tell you the truth :( it depends on what type of cat you have. But, there is cat-milk! :D it's safe for cats and dogs like them too, try it out! it's good for their digestive system and it doesn't make them have an upset stomach!! :D Good luck..

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RE:

is it safe to give my cat milk ?

she likes it & if it is left in a bowl she drinks it ~~~

When a cat is a baby, and it nurses off it's mother, what does the cat drink?

Yes.....its safe.

If you have to give her milk, give her goat's milk.

a little bit every once in awhile is fine, don't make it a habit though.