why is cow milk bad for cats?

Question

in 1 of the questions i ask before it said dat cow milk is bad for cats

Answer 1

In one word .....lactose.

Answer 2

Milk Bad For Cats

Answer 3

It is generally not a good idea to give cats cow milk because many cats digestive systems are lactose-intolerant, and it will give them diarrhea. If you've been giving your cat milk for a long time, and it doesn't seem to bother him, then every once in a while as a treat would probably be alright. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Cow's milk offers no nutritional value for cat's. Often, cat's become lactose intolerant shortly after being weaned from their mother's milk. They are unable to digest the sugars that occur natually in milk, thus causing diarrhea or other digestive problems. However, some cats can tolerate milk ok, in these cases giving them milk as a occasional treat shouldn't be a problem. Just like in humans, some thing are better in moderation than in large quanities.

Answer 5

Actually cow's milk is not good for any species other than cows. In humans, rather than adding calcium to the bones(as it has been falsely publisized) it takes away. Making bone density shrink, which is why when milk is consumed in great portions a person may appear to loose weight. Mother nature's intentions was for all humans to be lactose intolerant, people who can accept lactose without a reaction have undergone a mutation. Cats have not gone through this mutation and do not accept lactose well. Their bodies do not break down the sugars in milk and therefore must expell it which causes the diarreah you see after feeding a cat milk.

Answer 6

Must kittens and cats drink milk? This is one of those cat questions that confuse most new cat owners as well as the general public. Kittens need to drink THEIR MOTHER'S milk while they are nursing. It is full of the fat and protein that they need to grow rapidly and survive.

Cats and kittens can drink COW's milk OCCASIONALLY but they do not need to drink it. A cat can easily live its whole life without ever having cow's milk. Most feral or wild cats never have cow's milk.

Like humans, many cats and kittens are lactose intolerant. They cannot digest cow's milk properly and they get diarrhea or gastric upset when they drink it. Kittens that become lactose intolerant usually only become intolerant after they are about 3 months of age, so THEIR mother's milk shouldn't cause any gastric upset. If your cat or kitten gets diarrhea as a result of drinking cow's milk, stop giving it milk and it should pass. Some cat owners who have lactose intolerant cats that are 'milkaholics' do occasionally give them lactose free milk. You can find lactose free milk in pet stores. If your cat digests milk without a problem then you can give it the occasional milk treat.

Remember - Cow's milk should never be the primary or regular food source for any cat or kitten since it is missing many essential ingredients to keep your feline healthy.

Answer 7

D@tcrAzY is right. Cat's (as well as all the other mammals) become lactose intolerant when weaned. Human mutations HAVE in fact allowed us to continue drinking milk when finished breast feeding. Cats on the other hand do not have the proteins required to break down the 'lactose' sugars found in milk. This then sits in the stomach and ferments, causing the diarrhoea

Answer 8

Reread your question. Cows' milk is for baby COWS, not for cats, not for dogs, not for humans. Cats' milk is for baby kittens, and once a kitten is weaned, he will never drink milk again. Don't give your kitty cows' milk. There is lactose-free milk for cats if you MUST give your cats milk. My cat likes soy milk (acually the dribs of soy ice cream after I've had a bowl), and the vet says a very small amount won't hurt her.

Answer 9

Because most cats are naturally lactose intolerant.

Leads to diarrhea and gas. That is how the myth got started that milk gives cats worms. People were giving cats milk, and they got diarrhea. They also happen to find out that the cat had worms, and thought it came from the milk.

Answer 10

it's not so much that it's milk as that it's cow milk. a cat's body is not able to process that sort of lactose. hence the diarrhea.

Answer 11

It will eventually dehydrate them, because it is hard to digest and gives them diarrhea. They will die if they drink too much. Get them goat's milk, near the evaporated milk in the store.