I heard that giving cats a teaspoon of plain yogurt is good for them. My cat Zoey refused to taste plain yogurt when she was seven months old. Now she is over a year old. I offered her a little bit of my strawberry yogurt and she liked it. Should I give her plain yogurt instead?
2006-11-21 08:44:23 · 6 answers · asked by Emma L 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Actually, yogurt IS recommended in some circumstances for cats, mostly for flatulence due to them eating something gross, and for IBS, but it's really only the live cultrures that's important in those cases. You can buy a Lactobacillus Acidophilus supplement that works just as well, if not better, but I'm not recommending any of this. I think yogurt is recommended because most cats really LIKE dairy, and it's just an easier way to get it in them.
As far as dairy goes, yes, they don't recommend dairy for cats, but I've had cats my whole life that have never been bothered by a little bit of dairy. A tiny saucer of milk is still an occasional treat in my house, but every cat is different. And I had a cat for years that loved to share my dish of ice cream with me. Kittens can become dehydrated very easily, and dairy has a tendency to give them a major case of the hershey squirts. If your cat gets diarrhea, don't feed 'em dairy.
As an aside, it's recently been discovered that cats cannot taste SWEET, at ALL, so the sweet yogurt wouldn't have anything to do with it. Maybe some other odor, but they can't taste the sugar.
Long story short, my advice, do what you want. As long as a small amount of dairy doesn't seem to have an adverse affect on your cat, I don't see the harm in it. I don't think I'd make it a daily ritual, but I see no harm in sharing the occasional treat with your cat every so often.
My two cents.
Cave
2006-11-21 09:24:03 · answer #1 · answered by caveman 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
No dairy products based on cow's milk are advised. not yogurt, not milk, not icecream. Goats milk products seem to work ok, different protein structure. Stick to a high quality cat food, cat treats, and occasionally small amounts of chopped cooked meat or a bit of egg unless a condition comes up and your vet or experienced animal care giver advises otherwise ( even then be cautious and gradual).
2006-11-21 17:03:58 · answer #2 · answered by character 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have no idea why people give their cats yogurt. Sometimes to replace good bacteria that have been killed off by a course of antibiotics and there is not enough in our yogurt to really do that.
It is really of no benefit to her dietwise and if she likes it with a little sugary fruit in it, why not? It is not going to harm her.
2006-11-21 16:52:12 · answer #3 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's not advised to give cats dairy products. Cats are lactose intolerant; dairy products from cows milk can cause digestive problems. There is no problem with giving your kitty fruit and vegetables if she will eat them; I have one cat who likes raspberries; one who likes corn and one who will steal peas off your plate if you're not careful. Talk to your vet about alternatives to dairy products.
2006-11-21 17:16:26 · answer #4 · answered by Gallifrey's Gone 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely - I feed only flavored yogurt. Just make sure there's no sugar added and it's low in fat.
2006-11-21 16:51:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
My Shadow is 21 and his favorite is strawberry. A couple of licks of yogurt is a nice treat and won't kill him, as evidenced by my Shadow. How nice of you to share.
2006-11-21 17:53:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋