Giving Cats Milk

[Mystikal kitten]

I have 3 cats in my home ( 1 belongs to an Uncle and the other 2 belong to his son, my cousin). Two of the cats are almost 2 and the third is a little younger than 1. Every so often I will give Tyge ( that's the younger one) a little milk but if he doesn't drink it all Midnight and Rigby end up drinking it. At what age, should they not be allowed to have milk? I only give it to Tyge seeing how he is growing length wise so it doesn't look like he eats but he's always at the food bowl crunching and munching away.

 

[LTS3]

What kind of milk? Cow's milk shouldn't be given to cats because it can cause an upset stomach. Cats lack the digestive enzyme needed to break down lactose in cow's milk. Goat's milk, kitten milk replacer, and milk-like liquid cat treats (like Cat Sip) are ok to give on occasion.

 

[Mystikal kitten]

Store bought milk. It's not full strength though seeing how I only do maybe a 1/3 cup of milk to 1 1/4 cups water.

 

[abyeb]

What kind of store bought milk? As LTS3 said, cow's milk upsets a cat's GI system, but there are suitable alternatives. These should just be used as a treat, though, not a cat's main meal.

 

[talkingpeanut]

Cow's milk should not be given to cats. They can't digest it. Skip it.

 

[Mystikal kitten]

No, no. I didn't mean it to sound like I only give the cats milk as meals. It is a treat seeing how they only get it once a week.

 

[LTS3]

If it's store bought milk, then it's cow's milk unless the label on the carton / bottle says goat.

Cats don't need milk at all. As as treat milk is ok. Diluted cow's milk may still cause an upset tummy in some cats.

 

[talkingpeanut]

No, no. I didn't mean it to sound like I only give the cats milk as meals. It is a treat seeing how they only get it once a week.

Yeah, they don't need it as a treat either. You can get appropriate cat treats.

How is it going with getting the cats spayed and neutered? Did you give one away?

 

[Kieka]

No, no. I didn't mean it to sound like I only give the cats milk as meals. It is a treat seeing how they only get it once a week.

Treat or a meal cows milk is inapporpriate for cats. Goats milk, kitten replacement milk or the cat milk you can buy in grocery stores should be the only milk cats get. Giving them milk (even watered down) as a treat would be like giving a kid who is lactose intolerant ice cream. They may enjoy it in the moment but the tummy problems are just not worth it but they don't understand why their tummy hurts so they will keep on trying to eat it.

 

[IndyJones]

Rather than milk my vet said Libertè goat milk yogurt was good for cats. Plus it has good cultures in it.

Hector got a bit as a treat sometimes and also it enticed her to eat when she was ill.

 

[IndyJones]

She recommended the 10% one since Hector needed the extra fat because she wasn't eating.

 

[Mystikal kitten]

I've had plenty of family members who has or had cats and their cats have never had any tummy problems because of Cows milk.

 

[talkingpeanut]

Everyone here is telling you otherwise. Cats can't digest lactose. Do what you want, but your cats have no need for milk, and it actually is harmful.

As others have said, cats are excellent at hiding discomfort.

 

[ReallySleepy]

I've had plenty of family members who has or had cats and their cats have never had any tummy problems because of Cows milk.

That's my experience too. The cat we had 40 years ago drank milk every day with no problems that I was aware of. My present cat has hardly tasted milk, but two years ago I had to give him some fluid medicine, and mixing it with cow milk was the only thing that worked. No problem. (I tried Whiskas cat milk, but he does not like that.)

Everyone here is telling you otherwise. Cats can't digest lactose. Do what you want, but your cats have no need for milk, and it actually is harmful.

This topic comes up every now and then on cat forums, and the general consensus seems to be that it depends on genes and what they are used to drink from an early age. Some cats handle cow milk just fine.

 

[daisyd]

My kitten has been sick after drinking specialised milk for cats so we immediately stopped. yet now and again licks the left overs of my partners cereal with cows milk and she's never had a problem !

 

[raysmyheart]

I don't give my Speedy milk, just because I have heard it is not appropriate for a cat's system. What I am about to say is not meant to say that cats can have milk, or that it is good for them. I mean to simply relay my story.

When I was a young girl in the 1960's we got our milk (whole) from a farm that is in walking distance from my house. The milk was delivered in bottles to our door and it was the milk from that mornings' milking. While I had my breakfast, my mother would break up bread in a saucer of milk for the cats and it went on for years. My mother raised her cats like that from the 1920s onward. Our cats would have dry food and canned food, too but our cats never had any digestive problems. My father also told stories of his cats getting fresh milk from the cows when he grew up on a small farm.

Nevertheless, I don't give Speedy milk, but I don't trust the vitamins added more than I don't trust the milk.

 

[talkingpeanut]

This is all anecdotal evidence of cats being given milk and not having any obvious problems. I do suspect that there are more issues with overly processed milk in the US, though.

Regardless, cats don't need milk, even as a treat.

 

[Kieka]

Just to point out, whole milk straight from the cow or a local dairy with minimal processing is different from the milk at everyday grocery store. The pasteurization process does change the milk. There is a whole group of people out there who say that they can't tolerate milk from the store but can tolerate whole milk unpasteurized. Cats could be the same that the chemical changes between the two make a difference.

My cats won't get milk because they can't tell me that it causes them discomfort even if it is only select ones who do. I am developing a lactose intolerance and my Dad is lactose intolerant. We know when we eat dairy what's causing the tummy issues (or in my case at this point minor discomfort) my cats, who trust me, wouldn't know any better and would hide their symptoms better then I do. They trust me and rely on me to provide them with something that is good for them; I am not taking a chance on something that may make them feel crappy when there are lots of other options for treats. Relying on them to make the link between milk that tastes good and tummy hurting is like expecting your two year old to realize that the food you give them makes them sick.

My parents 30+ years ago didn't spay/neuter and didn't get shots for the cats. They fed food we here would all gasp at today. Over time, our information and education changes so saying it was good before doesn't mean it is good now. Even human food knowledge changes just look at the debate over GMOs and the changes in diet fads over the years. Current research says milk can cause problems and isn't good for a cat. That's good enough for me to not give it to my cats.

I respect everyone else's opinions but disagree with those who do feed milk today.

 

[raysmyheart]

I agree, that is why I don't give Speedy milk, I do put my trust in the most current research, I only meant to relay experience that I had growing up. Because I am not an expert, the best I can do is to go with the experts on what they are saying. This is all very interesting to consider. Does anyone know the best sources to trust on cat nutrition? Is a lot of time and money spent on cat health research? I can google topics, but I don't know who to trust or cannot find vast amounts of info on cat nutrition.

 

[ReallySleepy]

This is all anecdotal evidence of cats being given milk and not having any obvious problems. I do suspect that there are more issues with overly processed milk in the US, though.

The milk here is pasteurized and homogenized, and the same is probably true of the milk where you live. So, are there different ways of pasteurizing and homogenizing? Just wondering.

Regardless, cats don't need milk, even as a treat.

You are probably right about that. I still wonder if it could have some beneficial effect to keep them lactose tolerant by giving them some cow milk regularly from an early age. I don't really expect a scientific answer to that question in this thread, though. Good night.