Is it ok to give cats cows milk?

Question

I heard that it can make them ill or give them worms....i cant remember which though

Answer 1

milk actually plays havoc with their digestive system, it can cause health problems when they are older if given regularly. my mom is a bit of a cat lover and has read umpteen books on them. we hand fed a kitten condensed cream back in the 80s but since milk made for cats has been made thats all we buy. it has added good stuff that really benifits cats and they don't know the difference. it is usually around .50p -.75p for a small 150ml bottle, which should last for about 3 to 4 days for one cat.

Answer 2

First of all, to those who ask "what other milk is there besides cow's milk" - there is also goat milk and sheep milk, which are _commonly_ drunk, although far less marketed than cow's milk (as they tend to smell a little different; but, for humans, goat's milk is considered actually the best, as its composition is closest to mother's breast milk). There is also, as pointed out, lactose-cleared cat's milk.

What I have read, and adhere to, is that milk is not recommended for cats. Mine likes it, so while I was feeding him dry food (I switched him on all-canned food more than a month ago and he is loving it!), I would sometimes (like once a month), wet his kibble with a veeery tiny bit of milk - nothing like a dishful, more like a couple of sips.
Cream, on the other hand, is more often recommended (although how that fits with lactose-intolerance I have no idea... ). I do give treats of a teaspoon of cream, although also very seldom.

Answer 3

It can upset the stomach in some cats, particularly pedigree breeds. As milk can go off easily, it is best to leave water down. You can buy formulated milk for cats, Whiskas make one, which is less rich but not all cats like it. Milk doesn't give a cat worms!

Answer 4

Many cats won't be able to tolerate cows milk yet while your cat does not have a situation with it, this is tremendous. in case you're making it a typical practice and feed him milk greater suitable than on or 2 cases a month he maximum in all hazard gets abdomen upsets.

Answer 5

I just don't get the worms thing at all and people are always mentioning it. Pasteurized milk doesn't have worms in it for heaven's sake.

Not all cats are lactose intolerant. My Kinsey like to lap up milk from the bottom of my cereal bowl. Of my five here now he is the only one who cares for it.

After a cat is weaned they have no need for milk nor does it have any nutritional value (except for moisture) for them. It's just very dangerous to give to a young kitten as you can't know till you try it if the kitten can tolerate it. Diarrhea in kittens can be life-threatening.

Cats love cream because of the fat in it. Licking the bottom of your ice cream bowl can be a real treat for a cat.

Answer 6

Milk is not very good for cats, because they are usually lactose intolerant. It will generally give them the runs. Their digestive systems are not designed to handle anything past their mothers milk when they are kittens. It's not a good idea. Just stick to cat food to keep them healthy and some greens, like grass, to aid with digestion.

Answer 7

They are lactose intolerant so it can mess up their digestion a bit. But ok as an occasional treat. For regular milk-drinking cats the specially made cat milk should be used.

Answer 8

No don`t give them cows milk especially pedigree cats,give them water or cat`s milk from pet store.

Answer 9

Don't give them cow's milk, it upsets their stomachs. Why give an animal the milk from a different animal? This would never happen naturally and they don't need it. Just give them water.

Answer 10

Hi yes cows milk is fine but only give them it every so often. as it contains lactose and it can either upset there stomach or make them sick. But people for years have give cats cows milk, my cats love evaporated milk. But they make cat milk no with no lactose or less lactose. It smells exactly like evaprated milk and they love it and its good for them.