Some people ask the question, should cats drink milk? While in the wild, cats have no access to cow’s udder. Humans put down a saucer of milk for their feline friends. While some adult cats can tolerate milk, many others are lactose intolerant. It’s best to stick to fresh, clean water for your cat. There’s no harm in giving your cat a taste of milk every now and then, but it is best to avoid the risk of any problems.
Lactose in cow’s milk causes stomach pain
While cats can digest some of the lactose found in cow’s milk, they cannot digest it fully. Cats lose their ability to make lactase as they grow and eventually stop producing it. As a result, the undigested sugars in milk draw water into the intestines and ferment. This causes stomach pain for your cat, along with gas, bloating, and pain. The symptoms may appear within eight to 12 hours.
Gas
Should cats drink milk? This question may seem a little silly, but milk is a common cause of gas in adult cats. Adult cats cannot properly digest milk because they do not produce the enzyme lactase. When milk is consumed, this enzyme is inactivated, and undigested milk particles pass through the intestines. Undigested milk causes gas, bloating, and upset stomach. If your cat experiences this problem, he may also show signs of intestinal discomfort, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Diarrhoea
Cats can get lactose intolerance by drinking milk. The milk sugar can get stuck in their digestive tract, where bacteria can capitalise on it and cause fermentation. Milk also contains high fat, which cats love to drink. Even if it causes an upset stomach, they’ll continue to drink milk. A balanced diet should supply enough fat for your cat. This article explores some of the most common causes of diarrhoea in cats drinking milk.
Itching
A simple blood test or skin test may not detect a food allergy. However, a hypoallergenic diet trial can be helpful in ruling out other causes. It should be prepared with protein your pet has never tasted before. The hypoallergenic diet should be fed to your pet for a week to see if it relieves the itching. You can also ask your veterinarian about Elizabethan collars, which can prevent your cat from over-grooming and scratching its face. Ultimately, treating your cat’s allergy is the best way to prevent the disease from returning.
Skin rashes
The first step in determining whether your cat is allergic to milk is to identify the underlying cause of the problem. In most cases, milk allergies show up in the form of gastrointestinal distress, dermatological hives, or redness. In some cases, milk allergy can cause severe gastrointestinal and skin problems, as well as increased plasma cells and hemorrhage. If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, you should avoid feeding it milk.
Obesity
It is possible for cats to tolerate lactose-free milk and will not exhibit any unpleasant symptoms after drinking it. However, cats are still likely to become obese if milk is the only food they consume. In addition to contributing to their weight gain, cats may also develop many undesirable health problems. Cats that are obese often live shortened lives and suffer from several unpleasant ailments. If you think your cat enjoys milk, you should add a glass of water to its diet as much as possible. Cats also enjoy wet food like cat treats and water-packed canned fish.
