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Why Do Cats Like Milk – Everything You Need To Know

Why Do Cats Like Milk – Everything You Need To Know

If you have milk in the house, you might have noticed your cat looks at you expectantly as you pour your cereal in the morning. You think about giving your cat a taste of milk, just like in popular culture, but you think you’ve heard that milk isn’t good for cats. But surely a few licks of milk couldn’t hurt your cat, right? So, why do cats like milk? 

Cats like milk because it feels like a treat to them. However, cats are lactose intolerant, which means that milk will give them stomachache, diarrhea, or cause vomiting.

Even though it is tempting, you should avoid giving human milk to cats because they are lactose intolerant. A small amount of milk may not hurt your cat, but it may lead to digestive issues if you consistently give your cat milk. So, let’s talk about why milk isn’t the best for cats and what may happen to your cat if your cat drinks milk.  

Is Milk Bad for Cats

Milk is bad for cats because they cannot digest milk. 

Like some humans, cats are lactose intolerant, which means that they can’t drink milk without adverse side effects. The most common side effects are an upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting. If you or a friend is lactose intolerant, then you probably know these side effects well. 

Therefore, you can say milk is bad for cats, even if you feel tempted to give your cat a little splash while making your cereal in the morning. I know it’s hard to resist, but you should to prevent your cat from getting sick. 

Why Do Cats Like Milk If It’s Bad For Them

Cats are animals, so they may not realize that it is the milk that makes them sick.

As much as we love to call our cats, our children, cats are indeed animals. If you put milk in front of your cat, they may drink it every time, even if it gives them a stomachache. Unlike humans, your cat may not understand that it is the milk that it is making them sick.

As a cat owner, it is up to you to step in to prevent your cat from doing things that may hurt it. You might think it would be obvious for cats not to eat something that makes them sick, but it is not. 

What Happens If You Give Milk To A Cat

If you give your cat milk, there is a good chance that it could lead to your cat getting an upset stomach and/or diarrhea. 

Since your cat can’t digest milk like popular media makes us think they could, your cat may end up with a stomachache or diarrhea. Sometimes, your cat may even throw up, though this is less common.

Your cat cannot digest milk, and even though you might think this is not a big deal, it can lead to your cat getting sick. The sickness will pass, especially if your cat drinks only a small amount of milk, but there is still potential to get sick. 

What Kind Of Milk Is Safe For Cats

The safest kind of milk that is safe for cats is milk specially made for cats or their mothers’ milk.

Think non-fat milk is the better choice for your cat? Think again.

If you walk the aisles of the local pet store, you may see milk made for cats. Some of it comes as powder that you add water too, but you can also find it as a liquid too. You’ll probably see it most often for kittens as a substitute for their mothers’ milk.

Their mothers’ milk leads us to the next point. Without a doubt, the safest type of milk for cats and kittens is the milk from their mother. Kittens, however, may get separated from their mother or will eventually ween off her. 

How Much Milk Is OK For Cats

You should give a cat a few tablespoons of milk. You should not give your cat any more than this, even as a treat. 

If you really want to give your cat some milk, give your cat a tablespoon or two of milk. This may seem like a small amount, but since milk is not part of your cat’s regular diet, a small amount like this will be better for your cat.

Giving your cat even a small amount of milk may upset your cat’s stomach, so if you notice any adverse side effects, stop giving your cat milk.

Is It OK To Give Cats Milk Once In A While

If you want to give your cat a little milk every now and then, you can do so, as long as it does not become a staple of your cat’s diet.

I know you’ve been there before. Your cat is eyeing up the carton of milk, and you know it’ll be the cutest Facebook picture if you snap a picture of your cat drinking its milk. 

A small amount of milk once in a while shouldn’t be too harmful to your cat. A few licks won’t be enough to hurt your cat’s stomach.

As with anything, though, if you notice that your cat is not feeling well, make sure to stop giving your cat milk, no matter how cute you think it might be.

How Much Milk Can A Cat Drink

Cats should only drink a few tablespoons of milk, at most.

I know, I know. You may think you should give your cat a whole bowl of milk. Just like cartoons, right?

While it might seem tempting to do, your cat does not need that much milk. Giving your cat that much milk is a surefire way of upsetting its stomach. So next time you decide to give your cat some milk, only give her a few tablespoons.

If you don’t feel like measuring out tablespoons, give your cat enough milk to fill the bottom of its bowl. 

Can Milk Kill Cats

Milk is not toxic to cats, so giving your cat milk will not kill your cat.

Nothing in milk could kill your cat; however, that still doesn’t mean it’s something good to give your cat. Even though your cat might not die from having milk, your cat will experience the adverse effects that I discussed earlier. 

So, continuing to give your milk is really up to you. The milk you give your cat won’t kill him, but he’ll need to leave with the stomachaches and diarrhea that the milk gives him. The worst-case scenario won’t happen, but your cat will still be sick.

Will Milk Help My Cat Poop

Milk will not help your cat poop, but it may lead your cat to have diarrhea.

Since you now know that milk may make your cat go to the bathroom, you may be prone to thinking that milk can work as a laxative for your if you notice your cat might be constipated. That is not true, however.

Milk might help your cat poop, but it is not doing so naturally because a stomachache may accompany your cat’s pooping. Diarrhea also means that your cat can become dehydrated, which is also not good.

If you think your cat may need a laxative, speak with your vet first.

What Is A Good Substitute For Kitten Milk

If you want to substitute kitten milk, you have options that are not gallon milk like from the grocery store.

If you plan to substitute other things for kitten milk, here are some options that are usually mixed with water or eggs. You can find more specific recipes online:

  • Whole goat’s milk
  • Homogenized whole milk
  • Evaporated milk

Even though there are substitutes for kitten milk, you might notice that these milk substitutes are harder to find than kitten formula or even regular dairy milk from the grocery store. 

Milk Alternatives For Cats

If you’re looking for milk alternatives for cats on Amazon, you can find milk substitutes from companies like Whiskas and Cat-Sip. 

Whiskas and Cat-Sip cat milk come in small cartons that have a few ounces of milk each. These cartons of milk are safe for cats, so you don’t have to worry about how much to give your cat or if the milk will upset your cat’s stomach. 

Specialty cat milk is also easy to digest and is full of protein, which your cats can benefit from in its diet. Cat milk is similar to human milk, but it is better for your cat than regular dairy milk that humans are used to. 

Is Whiskas Cat Milk Healthy

Whiskas cat milk is healthy because it has reduced lactose and is full of protein

One of the biggest problems with dairy milk is that it has lactose, which your cat is unable to digest. Whiskas cat milk, on the other hand, has a reduced amount of lactose, so it will not upset your cat’s stomach.

As an added bonus, cat milk also has a higher amount of protein, which cats can also benefit from in its diet. That means that the cat milk is not empty calories for your cat. It will not completely replace other parts of your cat’s diet, but it becomes a healthy snack for your cat. 

Does Whiskas Cat Milk Need To Be Refrigerated

Whiskas cat milk does not need to be refrigerated until you open it

If you find yourself buying Whiskas cat milk by bulk for your kitty, don’t worry about sticking all of the cartons in your fridge. Whiskas cat milk does not need to be refrigerated until you open it. Until then, you can keep it in a cabinet and out of the way. 

Once you open a carton of Whiskas cat milk, you can expect that it will stay fresh in the fridge for about four days. If your cat doesn’t finish an entire carton quickly, you’ll want to be careful, so you don’t end up wasting money!

Is PetAg Milk Replacer Good For Kittens 

PetAg Milk Replacer is good for kittens because it has vitamins that kittens need to grow

Since PetAg Milk Replacer has vitamins and minerals, the milk replacer is a good choice for kittens. Ingredients in PetAg Milk Replacer supports heart and eye health, as well as your kitten’s growth.

As an added bonus, PetAg Milk Replacer is easy for your kitten to digest, so you won’t have to worry about your kitten ending up with a stomachache or diarrhea. 

Compared to dairy milk from the grocery store, PetAg Milk Replacer is a good option for your new kitten.

Pop culture makes us believe that milk is great for cats because you commonly see them lapping it up on television. In reality, though, cats are lactose intolerant and cannot digest milk products. Small amounts of milk may be okay for your cat, but too much milk can lead to an upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting. Darn pop culture for making us think that cats love some milk!