Many house cats are quite wild about a bowl of fresh, cool milk. Nevertheless, you somehow have in the back of your mind that milk is not supposed to be very healthy for cats. But how bad is milk for cats really? Is Cat milk a good alternative or rather Lactose-free milk? You can find the answer to all these questions here.
Can my cat drink milk?
Especially young, growing kittens love to lick a little milk now and then, because they still know the taste from their first phase of life. It also reminds them of their mother. Nevertheless Milk for adult cats unhealthy and should be avoided. Unlike adult cats, newborns produce the enzyme lactase, which ensures that kittens can digest the milk well. However, once cats are no longer nursing, they can no longer digest the milk sugar called lactase. Due to the missing enzyme it comes to incompatibilities.
Cats love milk.
Possible side effects of milk
As a kitten gets older, lactase production decreases. This causes all kinds of side effects, such as Indigestion, flatulence, diarrhea, abdominal pain and more. the lactose content in regular cow’s milk is generally so high that even diluting it with water is not helpful. In addition, the cat absorbs much more fat through the milk and this also causes side effects.
Digestive disorders
Most cats develop a disease as they get older Lactose intolerance. As in humans, intolerance in cats can also be manifested by digestive problems. If the milk, respectively the lactose cannot be digested, the cat can get flatulence, diarrhea and even abdominal pain. In the worst case, the cats develop Digestive problems To a chronic intestinal disease or diarrhea disease.
Liver damage
As already mentioned, in cow’s milk a lot of fat contain. Sustained fat intake overloads a cat’s liver. As a result, damage to the liver can occur.
Obesity
The fat content of milk can not only lead to liver damage, but also to obesity. If the cats get milk in addition to the food, the risk increases to become overweight. The drink contains take the Fat content also Many calories, so that by the regular increase of milk from your slim cat, fast a fat, unhealthy cat can become.
Dental problems
Milk sugar, also called lactose, is contained in normal milk. Exactly this is not good for the teeth of the animal darlings however. In cats that drink milk frequently, this can lead to dental problems like caries and plaque come. The consequence of this can be tartar, gingivitis or in the worst case even the loss of teeth. In addition, an unpleasant Bad breath can occur.
Cats should drink water instead of milk.
Cat milk or lactose-free milk?
If you do not want to or cannot withhold the delicious milk from your velvet paw, there are alternatives to choose from: There are on the one hand the lactose-free cow’s milk and on the other hand specially produced Cat milk. But whether this is really healthy for a cat, is also questionable.
Lactose-free milk can be better digested and tolerated by cats, but still does not contribute to a healthy diet for your pets. Cow’s milk contains more fat than mother’s milk. This can lead to obesity in the velvet paws. Also included in the milk Less protein than in the milk that cats know from their mothers. Lactose-free milk is therefore not harmful, but it is also not necessary for adult cats, because they get all the necessary nutrients through the intake of their food.
The manufacturer special Cat milk advertise that their products are adapted to the needs of cats. Royal Canin for example, has a "Babycat Milk" in its assortment, which is recommended for kittens up to the second month of life. The powder, which is soluble in water, is intended to slowly accustom kittens to the new food. Once they accept the new food, however, the milk supplement is no longer necessary. Whiskas, on the other hand, recommends giving the cat milk as a supplementary feed. The Whiskas cat milk is, according to the manufacturer, suitable for cats from the age of six months and is said to be easily digestible due to a very low lactose content. But even if the cat’s milk has a low lactose content, it often contains many calories and Additives.
Conclusion
Neither normal nor lactose-free milk or cat milk is the optimal drink for a cat. What is really healthy and contributes to a balanced diet Water. cat milk contains no or only a little lactose and is therefore certainly better than milk containing lactose. So if your cat really demands milk, you should reach for such alternatives. However, it is recommended to give special milk only from time to time, as a treat. Then you will not have to fear any bad side effects.