Is milk bad for your cat?
We all have believed once that cats love nothing more than a bowl of milk, but did you know that cats are actually lactose intolerant?
Watching cartoons and reading picture books from a young age we all learned about cats’ love of milk. Even though some cats may enjoy the treat, it turns out that milk isn’t a great food for cats. Cats can’t eat lactose, their bodies can’t process lactose in general so before putting down a bowl of milk, find out more about how it might affect your pet.
Why is that?
According to Sara Witherell, a board-certified associate veterinarian at Animal Kind Veterinary Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, milk contains lactose, a carbohydrate that is a disaccharide sugar made up of galactose and glucose. Lactose can be found in all kinds of milk, but its proportions vary by species. Like other young mammals, kittens are born with the ability to break down lactose because their bodies produce the enzyme lactase and this enzyme breaks down lactose into single sugars, making it easier for them to digest.
According to Witherell, as they get older, all species lose some ability to break down lactose. He also says that when kittens wean, which occurs between the ages of 4 and 6 weeks, their ability to break down lactose decreases.
She explains, “They have lost this ability to produce the enzyme lactase and break down lactose between weaning and six months of age.”When lactase production decreases, the body’s ability to digest lactose decreases, and symptoms of lactose intolerance may appear.
According to Ann Hill, a board-certified veterinarian at Canfield Vet, Dog, and Cat Hospital in Pittsford, New York, when a lactose-intolerant cat consumes dairy, bacteria ferment the undigested sugars and the undigested lactose pulls a lot of water into the intestines. In most cases, within eight to twelve hours of ingesting the dairy product, the symptoms of upset stomach, gas, cramping, bloating, and diarrhoea may occur.
This is not the same as an allergic reaction or allergy to cat food. With sensitivities, the body sees a substance as a trespasser and the resistant framework assaults. The side effects for the most part appear on the skin as rashes and irritation and each time the body is exposed to that allergen, the response also gets stronger. Symptoms of intolerance only persist as long as the substance — lactose in this instance — is present in the body and the symptoms go away when the food is digested or excreted.
“My cat drinks milk all the time and they are never sick”
Regardless of whether your cat drinks milk and doesn’t become ill like people, a few felines can deal with milk better. But there are no beneficial advantages to giving cats milk. After being weaned, cats lose the ability to process lactose, even though they consume their mother’s milk as kittens. Experts like to remind pet owners that just because their cat likes a certain food doesn’t mean they have to give it to them. Also, Some studies have shown that cats may be able to digest cheese and other dairy products easier.
What to give them instead?
The food your cat needs is pretty straightforward. Since cats are obligate carnivores, which means that their diet must contain meat, they must consume nutritionally appropriate cat food containing animal proteins and drink clean, fresh water every day. Giving your cat milk as a treat isn’t so bad but keep it in small amounts.
Thank you so much for reading :)
References :
https://be.chewy.com/are-cats-lactose-intolerant/
https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/cat-nutrition/cat-food/cats-lactose-intolerant
