Here are the top five cat myths we’ve busted wide open. Some would even go as far as to argue that it’s good for them. We see cats drinking milk in cartoons all the time, a treat given to them by their animated owners. Because many cats are lactose intolerant, feeding them milk can cause diarrhea. Show
What happens if a cat drinks milk?Most cats are actually ‘lactose intolerant’ as they don’t have the enzyme (lactase) in their intestines to digest the sugar in milk (lactose), meaning that milk which contains lactose can make them poorly. They can get vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain from drinking it (just like lactose intolerance in humans). Is a cat drinking milk? If you’ve ever read children’s books where there’s a cat, you’re probably wondering, “Can cats drink milk?” The age-old myth that milk and cats go hand-in-hand has officially been debunked by veterinarians and cat experts. Why will my cat only drink milk?These adult levels are insufficient to digest milk and their bodies can no longer tolerate it. Basically, like some humans, most cats become lactose intolerant. In addition to no longer producing lactase, kittens no longer have access to their mother cat’s milk since it dries up when she stops nursing. Are black cats lactose intolerant?Cats are mammals. Just like us humans, cats drink (and need) milk after birth from the breasts of the mother. At birth any mammal will have the enzyme to break down lactose into single sugars that are easier to digest. Cats, like any other mammal (so also us humans), are lactose intolerant. Can cats drink raw milk? Because most cats lose the ability to digest lactose beyond kittenhood, drinking pasteurized cow’s milk will cause them gastrointestinal distress. Raw milk, milk formulated for lactose intolerant people, and low-lactose milk products are safe for your cat to consume. Can I drink cat licked milk?However, I would not recommend drinking the milk a stray cat licked. Strays carry many bacteria and fecal viruses on them, while boiling it should kill most of the bacteria, you should avoid drinking that milk. Can I get sick from drinking the same milk as my cat?When an adult cat drinks milk, the indigestible lactose in its gut may start to ferment, causing a stomach upset.” Turns out, this is lactose intolerance is perfectly normal for both humans and cats. Can you dilute milk for cats? Do not give your kitten cow’s milk directly as it is too hard for them to digest. You will have to dilute cow’s milk with water and if they do not get diarrhea after a day you can continue giving them diluted cow’s milk. Can a cat drink milk instead of water?Cats should only really drink one thing to stay hydrated – water. Despite popular belief, milk is not good for cats and it’s best to steer clear of dairy. Do cats actually have 9 lives?Interestingly, the myth that cats have multiple lives exists around the world. However, it’s not always nine lives – the number varies from culture to culture. In certain regions of Spain it is believed that cats have seven lives, for example. Meanwhile, some Turkish and Arabic legends say cats have six lives. What happens to cats when they drink milk? Since cats don’t have the enzyme necessary for digesting lactose, drinking milk can lead to gastrointestinal issues such as an upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite and weight, abdominal pain and discomfort, and cause behavior changes such as increased scratching. What’s the name of the cat that drank milk?Mother and her three kittens could not resist the pail of milk, recently collected from the cow, and are seen helping themselves. London, England: You can see the gears go around in te young mind of 15 months old Desnee Sampson here as she watches her cat, “Billy” drink milk… Is it OK for my Cat to drink water?“Water is incredibly important for promoting optimal organ function in cats. A great way to make sure your cat is getting enough water is by feeding him/her wet canned food. Cats are generally less keen on drinking water, so wet food is great for keeping cats hydrated.”
We have all seen the Tom & Jerry cartoons with Tom waiting for the milk deliveryman to bring a bottle of milk to the door. I can remember seeing pictures of cats drinking white milk from a bowl all my life. Do cats drink milk? The three cat owners I asked all said, “no”.  What may seem like a harmless treat can cause gastrointestinal distress for your feline companion. Our experts explain why cats crave milk and how to safely feed it to them to avoid digestive upset. When Do Kittens Stop Drinking Milk?Kittens drink their mother’s milk until the mother gradually weans them as early as 4 weeks old. Typically, kittens are eating solid foods by 8 to 10 weeks old. Although kittens can drink their mother’s milk, many cats lose the ability to process it after being weaned. According to Purina Senior Nutritionist Jan Dempsey, “Cats generally lose their ability to digest the sugar found in milk after weaning because solid food takes its place and they no longer need this ability. This varies, however, and some cats can digest milk sugar into adulthood and maybe for life.” Is Milk Healthy for Cats?When you think of giving cats milk, you’re probably thinking of cow’s milk. This type of milk isn’t healthy for most cats, especially if it’s taking the place of a balanced meal. “Consuming cow’s milk alone won’t supply all the essential nutrients needed to support your cat’s health,” Dempsey says. Whole, two percent and skim cow’s milk can also add unhealthy amounts of fat to your cat’s diet. According to Dempsey, “Too much fat can promote weight gain and contribute to an upset stomach.” Purina nutritionist Lori Mintle adds, “Loose stool can indicate lactose intolerance in your cat.” An article in Science Focus debunks the popular myth of the tomcat waiting for the milkman hoping to drink up a bottle of fresh milk, by explaining: “Like all infant mammals, kittens are born able to digest the main sugar in milk, lactose. This sugar is a very valuable source of energy for young animals, but soon after they are weaned, the enzyme that enables them to digest it, lactase, begins to disappear from the gut. When an adult cat drinks milk, the indigestible lactose in its gut may start to ferment, causing a stomach upset.” What Do Cats Drink Instead of Milk?All animals need water, including your cat. Since cats don’t always drink enough water, they may get dehydrated. If that’s the case with your cat, adding a wet food to her diet can contribute to her daily total water intake. Some cats prefer moving water rather than drinking from a bowl, so using a cat fountain may encourage her to drink more. Like all species of animals, cats have been saddled with their fair share of stereotypes. As kids, we were taught to imagine that all felines could be found frolicking daintily through the house after an errant ball of yarn, losing their minds over some catnip, or politely lapping at a dish of perfectly white milk. There are some cats, I'm sure, who can't get enough of any or all of these activities, but is it really fair to assume that they're favorites of every feline? Having grown up with cats, I, for one, have never seen one drink milk. I always wondered if our cats were the exception or the rule. Out there in the rest of the world, do cats really drink milk? Or is this just one of many not-entirely-true assumptions that we've made about cat-kind? Before I go any further, I think it's important that we establish that there's tons of diversity within the feline world. Just like individual humans, individual cats are prone to have personal preferences and dislikes, so there's no way for us to truly confirm or deny that all cats have a thing (or not) for dairy. What we can determine, I think, is whether or not felines are prone to enjoying milk... and if it's even healthy for them. Vetstreet confirms that cats are, in fact, drawn to milk. Just as dogs get a little slobbery for bones and liver treats, kitties are usually interested in tasting a bowl of dairy. Our understanding of cats as universal milk lovers, however, actually stems from the extent to which they enjoy cream. According to CatTime, cats much prefer this variety of the beverage. Traditionally, families who kept cows would give the cream that rose to the top of the cows' milk to their cats, who were mostly in it for the fat. These days, most milk is so low in fat that it lacks some appeal for felines, anyway. The real question, perhaps, is whether or not cats even should indulge in milk. While conventional wisdom has taught us that it's a perfectly normal feline treat, the online veterinary community seems to disagree. Science Focus even lists "Milk makes an ideal food for cats" as the biggest cat-related myth out there! "The milk we now buy in supermarkets contains little fat, and while some cats may like it for its taste, many do not find it easy to digest," Dr. John Bradshaw notes in Science Focus. According to Dr. Bradshaw, cats are born able to digest lactose (the primary sugar in milk), but their ability erodes over time. After kittens are weaned, the enzyme lactase — which facilitates the easy digestion — starts disappearing from their systems. As a result, according to Science Focus, adult cats may experience upset stomachs after drinking milk or cream, since the undigested lactose can begin to ferment. If this sounds similar to your own experience with dairy, you're not entirely off-base. The process I just described in which lactose doesn't properly digest in a cat's gut is basically lactose intolerance. According to CatTime, most cats are actually lactose intolerant! This makes the whole cats-love-milk generalization especially hilarious, but also kind of dangerous, since it can cause a lot of pain and discomfort for our beloved furry friends. It's not exactly exciting, but water is the best and safest drink for cats, per CatTime. If your pet is really interested in milk, you can consider buying lactose-free milk for them at the grocery store, but your cat might not even be interested in it! Since cats are mostly interested in milk and cream's fat content, Lactaid probably won't be up their alley... but it won't make them sick either. This article was originally published on May 10, 2018 |
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