Lactose is a form of sugar found in milk and milk products. Some people and cats cannot digest lactose or milk sugar found in all milk and milk products. Lactose intolerant people and their cats may tolerate drinking milk a few times before it causes problems. Before you give your cat any milk, it is advisable to speak with your vet first.
Some adults, let alone cats, cannot consume even a teaspoonful of milk before issues arise. When lactose intolerant people drink milk, the lactose in the milk does not digest in the colon. Lactose simply sits in the colon and builds up, eventually acting much like a laxative.
Lactose issues are stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Cats suffer from much the same effect when they drink milk. However, some pet owners deny that their cat gets ill when drinking milk. The only thing your cat needs to drink every day is an abundance of water. Filtered water is the best option. If you want to give your cat any type of milk, please speak with your vet first.
Can Adult Cats Drink Kitten Milk?
- Adult cats can drink kitten milk, especially if your cats need to gain some weight.
- Many cat parents use kitten milk for their adult cats, and cats love the smell of kitten milk.
- You can buy kitten milk wherever pet food is sold, in specialty pet stores, and through the internet.
- If your cat is overweight or even within its ideal weight range, you probably should not give them kitten milk due to the high-fat content.
I have, on occasion, given an adult cat kitten milk if they are ill and they do not want to eat. My vet agreed that it was worth a try. Cats that are really ill may refuse water, kitten milk, and food. In these
There are at least eight varieties of kitten milk.
- Nutri-Vet Kitten Milk Replacement Powder
- PetAg KMR Kitten Milk Replacement Liquid
- Goatalac Goat Milk Replacer
- Hartz Kitten Milk Replacer Powder
- Whiskas Kitten Milk
- Catsip Kitten Milk
- Revival Animal Health Breeder’s Edge Foster Care Feline
- Tailspring Milk Replacer for Kittens
- PetAg PetLac Liquid for Kittens
- Simply Kid Hearted Cat Milk Replacement for Kittens
How Long Do Cats Drink Kitten Milk?
If a mother cat feeds her baby, the mother will wean the kitten at six to eight weeks of age. If the kitten is abandoned or the mother dies, the same rule applies, and you will feed the kitten, kitten milk until six to eight weeks of age. Kittens need milk, about eight times a day through a kitten bottle. Kittens are like newborn babies. You must get up during the night to feed the baby. The same holds true for kittens. Kitten formula will last about 48 hours if you refrigerate the formula. If you leave the formula to sit out, it only lasts for two hours, and then you must throw it away.
No one likes to do this; however, it is vital to make sure the kitten eats during the night. As the baby ages, they lose the ability to process the mother’s milk. Kittens are ready to eat solid food by eight weeks of age. As you start the kitten on solid pate food, mix a small amount with some kitten milk, so it can get used to a new texture.
Can Adult Cats Drink Any Milk?
It all depends on what kind of milk you give your cat. Any sort of human-grade milk is not suitable for cats. This is undoubtedly contrary to what you have heard in the past that cats love milk (they do), and it is good for them (it is not).
Kitten Milk for Adult Cats?
Before giving your adult cat kitten milk because it is high in fat content to help kittens gain weight, if you have an adult cat that is thin and needs to gain weight, it is best to speak with your vet first to determine if giving your adult cat kitten milk is the best option.
Soy Milk for Adult Cats?
You see soy milk everywhere when you are at the store. It seems like more people are buying soy milk, so if this is what you have in your refrigerator, you probably wonder if soy milk will harm your cat? I found that soy milk and soy in cat foods were scary for me to discover because I thought soy was this super-healthy food. Soy is healthy in some respects, while soy can also cause some damage, such as,
- Soy can contribute to allergy problems.
- Soy provides more empty calories than your pet needs.
- Feeding soy to your cat is an excellent way to help your pet put on extra weight.
I have never given my cats soy milk. However, I now buy moist and dry food free of soy, all grains, additives, preservatives, and dyes over the last couple of years. I buy a couple of different holistic and natural food brands because I notice that my cats get tired of eating the same food every day, so I change their food every couple of weeks. I give none of my fur babies milk of any kind.
I only consider kitten milk if I have an ill cat who is not interested in eating while recovering from a health problem. I have also given kitten milk to a few cats who suffered from cancer. I stress that you need to talk this over with your vet first.
It is advisable to learn to read food labels. Many food items and cat foods contain soy supplements to introduce more protein in the cat food. This being said, soy is safe for your cat. But there is a downside. Soy also adds calories, thus adding pounds to your pet. Obesity is not a good thing; perhaps this is the problem if you see your cat gaining weight. Speak with your vet. These calories are considered empty calories in soy milk or foods containing soy.
If your cat, especially your dog, has allergies, it is recommended to stay away from soy. Soy also adds calories, thus adding pounds to your pet. Obesity is not a good thing; perhaps this is the problem if you see your cat gaining weight. Speak with your vet. These calories are considered to be empty calories.
Human Grade Milk for Adult Cats?
Whole, 2%, 1%, and skim all have lactose or milk sugar. Cats cannot digest this type of sugar and will cause stomach upset. Cats sure like the way it tastes. However, it can cause nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. The effects of drinking milk can make your furry friend feel awful. While some cat owners give their cat milk occasionally and see no ill effects, please speak to your vet first and follow your vet’s recommendations regarding an occasional milk treat.
Chocolate Milk
Do not even let this option cross your mind! Absolutely, positively do not give any animal chocolate milk or anything with chocolate! There is nothing more toxic than chocolate of any sort and in any food, no matter how small. Chocolate can make your pet extremely ill or cause its death. I cannot stress enough that you can not give any sort of chocolate to a cat.
Almond Milk
Some pet owners think that perhaps another form of milk is better, such as almond milk. You can give almond milk to your cat on occasion; however, it cannot have any flavorings, additives, preservatives, or sweeteners in it. For example, a host of ingredients is toxic to cats, and any sweetener is toxic to cats and can make them very ill. If the almond milk has a flavor such as vanilla, it undoubtedly has a sweetener in it as well. Cats must not have sweeteners of any kind or, as a matter of fact, sugar of any kind.
You can give almond milk to your cat in moderation, and you will find that your cat loves this milk. Almond milk contains no dairy, thus no lactose. Plain almond milk does not contain any ingredients that are toxic to cats.
The Different Types of Milk
Never give your cat any of the following milk unless you speak with your doctor first.
- Dairy Milk
- Almond Milk
- Soy Milk
- Cashew Milk
- Rice Milk
- Coconut Milk
- Kitten Milk
- Lactose-Free Milk (speak with your vet about offering lactose-free cat milk for your pet)