Post by Admin on Apr 29, 2015 11:55:58 GMT
An important thing to take note of is that most cats are lactose intolerant because they lack the enzyme lactase (helps in digesting lactose).
How to check if your cat is lactose intolerant: Try offering your cat a tablespoon or two of milk. If you don’t see symptoms within a day, chances are good your cat will do fine with milk as an occasional treat.
Can I give my kitten milk?
Yes and no. Obviously kittens need milk to survive but only prior to the weaning process (introduction to solid food) which is about four weeks prior to that. The only milk kittens need during this period is their mother's milk. However, should you need to feed your kitten milk, opt for lactose-free milk from the pet store.
Why not cow's milk then?
Though kittens have lactase in their system, there’s just not enough of it to tackle the lactose overload found in cow’s milk. [souce]
What about raw goat's milk? Can my cat drink that?
Goat's milk is definitely easier to digest that cow's milk.
So yes, should you feel the strong need to give your cats milk, raw goat's milk is your safest bet. That said, it's still best to feed your feline friends a small amount and check for any negative symptoms before proceeding to provide goat's milk as an occasional treat.
As undigested lactose passes through the cat's digestive system it draws water from the intestines. Lactose cannot pass easily through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream, so it remains in the intestines. Next, gut bacteria invade and fermentation sets in causing large amounts of gas to form. The result is pain and diarrhea for your cat. [source]
How to check if your cat is lactose intolerant: Try offering your cat a tablespoon or two of milk. If you don’t see symptoms within a day, chances are good your cat will do fine with milk as an occasional treat.
Can I give my kitten milk?
Yes and no. Obviously kittens need milk to survive but only prior to the weaning process (introduction to solid food) which is about four weeks prior to that. The only milk kittens need during this period is their mother's milk. However, should you need to feed your kitten milk, opt for lactose-free milk from the pet store.
Why not cow's milk then?
Though kittens have lactase in their system, there’s just not enough of it to tackle the lactose overload found in cow’s milk. [souce]
What about raw goat's milk? Can my cat drink that?
Goat's milk is definitely easier to digest that cow's milk.
It requires very little work from your cat’s digestive system to break it down because it has small proteins and fat molecules. As for the lactose - goat’s milk is rich in lactase, the enzyme required to digest lactose, so the limited amount of lactose in goat’s milk is easily digested and causes no negative reactions when a cat ingests it – even those with sensitive digestive systems. [source]
So yes, should you feel the strong need to give your cats milk, raw goat's milk is your safest bet. That said, it's still best to feed your feline friends a small amount and check for any negative symptoms before proceeding to provide goat's milk as an occasional treat.
