We’ve all heard of people who give their cats cream or milk, but is this something safe? Dairy is a complicated food for humans and animals. Lactose intolerance isn’t just for humans. Most cats are lactose intolerant and will experience the typical unpleasant side effects of being so. However, that doesn’t stop them from trying. Let’s take a look and see if any dairy products are acceptable to give your precious kitty. We will also explore some just-as-satisfying dairy alternatives that your cat might just fall in love with.
Which Dairy Products Are Unsafe for Cats?
Dairy products aren’t recommended for cats due to lactose intolerance. Certain dairy products can cause digestive upset, including vomiting, diarrhea, and gas. Here are the dairy products your cat should avoid:
Flavored Sweetened Yogurt
Most of us love flavored yogurt. The selection of flavors is vast, with many being delicious to humans but harmful to cats. The flavored yogurt tends to be sweetened and sometimes has fruit chunks throughout, neither of which your cat needs. It also contains lactose, which will not end well for the majority of cats in the world since felines are lactose intolerant. It’s also highly likely that the additives to flavor the yogurt can upset your cat’s stomach.
Milk
Too often, we hear about well-meaning people finding hungry newborn kittens and offering them cow’s milk as a replacement for their mother’s milk. This can kill tiny kittens by causing severe stomach upset, which leads to severe dehydration, anorexia, and death. Now, if you choose to make the poor choice of offering your adult cat milk, you may be cleaning up a mess later. If you provide any milk, offer lactose-free milk.
Soft Cheese
Hard cheese, like cheddar and Swiss, contains lower levels of lactose than soft cheese types like brie. A tiny piece is okay if you know your cat can handle a smidgin of lactose. If not, break out the aged cheddar. Cats typically love cheddar cheese more than the soft “fancy” cheese available at gourmet stores.
Cream
That’s all that needs to be said. It is massively fattening but has slightly fewer calories than some of the other dairy products on this list. It is possible to buy lactose-free cream, but if you purchase something specifically for your cat, check pet stores for cat milk. Cats hate diets just as much as the rest of us.
Ice Cream
This one should be obvious, but some people still want to share their ice cream cones with their cats. Don’t. Ice cream is made of milk and sugar, neither of which are your cat’s friends. Between the high calories and tons of carbs from sugar and fat, you will need to enjoy your ice cream cat-free.
Whipped Cream
Another delicious, sugar-filled, and fattening treat is whipped cream. Like ice cream, this one needs to be for you only. The fat, calorie, and sugar content can lead to severe diarrhea and dehydration in cats. Lactose-free whipped creams exist, but the calories and fat will still cause an upset tummy in your cat.
Which Dairy Products are Safe Alternatives for Cats?
Hard Cheese
Most cats will beg like crazy for a piece of cheese, and who’s to blame them? It’s okay to let the little furry cheese junkie have a small amount from time to time. It does contain some lactose, depending on the type of cheese, but it is easier to digest. Look for aged hard cheese, like cheddar. The aging process lowers lactose, and cheddar is naturally lower than some cheese in lactose.
Greek Yogurt
Cats typically love unflavored, unsweetened Greek yogurt. It is high in protein and vitamins like B12, which cats need. It’s lower in lactose than milk and somewhat easier to digest since it contains gut-enhancing probiotics. Never feed sweet, flavored yogurt; as always, feed in moderation.
Almond, Oat, and Soy Milk
Almond, oat, and soy milk shouldn’t be given frequently or more than a few spoonfuls at a time, but overall, it is much safer than anything containing dairy. One thing to look out for is milk substitutes’ fat and calorie content. Cats typically have deficient fat diets yet cannot resist the temptation of high-fat treats. An average cat only needs 200 calories daily, so adding another 200 calories frequently will put your cat at risk for obesity. Always give milk substitutes in moderation and avoid anything flavored or sweetened.
Sour Cream
Like some other safe suggestions when offering your cat a treat, sour cream isn’t terrible unless they eat a large amount. Offering a tiny dab will not hurt but might cause stomach upset in some extra-sensitive cats.
Cat and Kitten Milk Replacement
The safest option when it comes to giving your cat milk is to offer actual milk that is specifically made for cats. Some brands that offer replacement milk are KMR, Cat Sip, Whiskas, PetAg, and NutriVet. Do not give kittens milk suitable for adults, like Cat Sip or Whiskas. Instead, offer them a small amount of KRM or other kitten replacement milk. If you are fostering kittens who are too young to eat solid food and do not have a mama cat, feeding this milk replacement is how the kittens stay strong and healthy. Cats tend to be extra lovey when you’re mixing some KMR up as a treat.
In Conclusion
Keeping your cat happy is as important as keeping them healthy. Just like we all check the ingredients in our food before deciding to purchase them, it’s essential to be hyper-vigilant when keeping lactose, fat, additives, and high calories away from your cat. If you decide to have a cat, you must also choose to care for it properly, which means keeping their tummies happy. For ideas while shopping, check out the great selection of cat milk on Amazon. We hope your cat has a long, happy life.
