Cats are lactose-intolerant?!? I thought they loved milk?

Question

Call me stupid...but that's what I keep reading on other questions...

Answer 1

Cats and cream, cats and milk is an old wives tale. Most cats are lactose intolerant and although they still love cream and milk its not good for them. It usually gives them diarrhea. Water is all they should be drinking. There is the odd cat who can tolerate but they are in the minority.

Answer 2

It's an old wives tale, like mice eating cheese or elephants eating peanuts. Cats should not have any dairy products at all. Most mammals lose the enzymes in their body that digest milk shortly after weaning (8-10 weeks old) and can never again digest milk products. Also, cow milk is not even remotely close to cat milk, so even a nursing kitten will get sick from drinking cow milk.

Yes, cats do love the taste of milk, but it's still very bad for them.

And just a tidbit, someone above mentioned that only humans can drink milk all their lives. This is actually not true either. Studies show that if a human stops drinking milk for a period of time, and then tries to start again, they will usually not be able to digest it anymore. More and more people are becoming lactose intolerant, and research shows we really don't need milk in our diet. It's very high in fat and cholesterol, and it doesn't provide us with anything we can't get from other, healthier sources. Just food for thought!

Answer 3

It's a myth, and you shouldn't be giving cats milk to drink. Just water. What we "love" isn't always good for us -- I love milk, but I'm lactose intolerant as well! There's nothing wrong, though, with giving the cat the tablespoon of milk or so left at the bottom of your cereal bowl, once in a while.

Answer 4

Cats and milk is a myth that just won't die...

Yes, cats like milk but it's not what they are SUPPOSED to drink. All animals drink water. Some cats can drink milk, some are lactose intolerant, just like people.

Someone told me that you should feed milk to very young kittens and that will prevent them from becoming intolerant...that is TOTALLY wrong! It's such a shame that so much MISinformation is out there!

Answer 5

Not all cat are latose intolerant and cats have drunk milk for a long time as people have always given milk and cream to their cats.

When cats are weaned their bodies don't have much further use for milk. That's true of all mammals. Humans are the only animal that may drink milk all their lives.

It is especially dangerous to give cow's milk to a very young kitten and many people make this mistake when they rescue very young kittens and want to feed them. Kittens can get diarrhea from cow's milk and it can be fatal for them.

Answer 6

My cat loves milk, and it never makes her sick. When I am eating my morning cereal, she will sneak up behind me and try to stick her face in the bowl for the milk!! I occassionally let her drink some (after I'm done, of course). Coincidentally, she also loves when I give her the Whiskas Cat Milk that you buy in the store. She goes crazy for it. So I think it just depends on the cat... also it could be because she was a stray and scavenged for food... maybe people put out milk for her and she developed a taste for it.

Answer 7

definite you are able to. If u have a clutter tray you should verify to work out the way it impacts her abdomen/bowel after merely in case as some cats can get the runs after cows milk! Dont supply her too a lot at a time only a small splash in the bowl. surely one of my cats like it and one takes no interest lol humorous. Noy effective in case you're conscious yet there are manufacturers of Cat Milk you are able to get in supermarkets that are meant to be somewhat more convenient on their digestive gadget :)

Answer 8

I love beer. Alcohol is a poison. My brain is bigger than a cats. I still drink beer. Go figure.
Cats only need water, and not that much per day, but they do like the taste of milk. Yes, it is not that good for them, but most survive ok. It's not recommended to give your cat milk. There is special "milk" for cats if you really want to give it to them, but why bother ?

Answer 9

some cats are, but i've been reading ''kittens for dummies'' and it says that once kittens are weaned off of their mother's milk they no longer make a proper enzyme to digest the milk.

Answer 10

Yes, they loved milk, when my cat was small I feed him milk cause she don't know how to eat rice or fish bone so I fed him witch milk then I think she loved it. after one month I feed him a fice with soups or a sardines then after 2 1 week I teach him how to eat a fish bone so...... now she is fat ^^)