Oh, how heavenly it is for your cat to lick up leftover cereal milk from your bowl. It has been said that cats love milk and many pet owners give their furry friend milk. I have heard many cat owners say,
Q. “Well, I always thought that cats love to drink milk, and milk was good for them?
A. Cats do love to drink milk. However, once your cat is no longer a kitten, they do not need to drink milk. Once you allow your cat to lap up leftover cereal milk, you have started a habit that will be tough to break. Your cat will demand more in the days to come. Your cat will beg and beg for you to leave them a bit of milk each time you sit down for a bowl of cereal. Cat parents usually give in to those sad, begging eyes for just one more bit of milk.
Never give your cat milk as it is terrible for them, and your wallet will suffer as you hand money to your vet to figure out what is wrong with your kitty. I have been caring for felines for over 30 years, and I am here to tell you, “Please do not give your cat any kind of milk product.”
H-2 Can Cats Have Cereal Milk?
Cats do pretty much what they want to do. Of course, cats can have cereal milk! But, you need to ask yourself a couple of questions first.
Q. Am I prepared to see my beloved cat get sick?
Q. Am I prepared to take the extra time and spend extra money on a vet call when Fluffy starts to have health problems?
Q. Who is the boss in this relationship, Fluffy or me?
Another consideration is, Fluffy cannot lick up leftover milk if you do not give it to them. Your cat’s digestive system is different. Yet, their system runs parallel to some people who cannot digest milk sugar called lactose.
When cats and some individuals drink milk or eat food products made from milk, the lactose or milk sugar cannot digest in the colon. Lactose sits there and eventually acts as a laxative, causing diarrhea, nausea, and sometimes vomiting, along with weight loss and ongoing colon inflammation. It takes quite a long time for your vet to reverse the damage done to your kitty’s digestive system.
Meanwhile, your kitty does not understand what is happening or why you no longer let them have your leftover cereal milk. You feel as if you are being cruel to Fluffy.
Q. Will your beloved furry friend die?
A. Probably not; however, they will not feel at the height of good health.
Q. Can you give your kitty lactose-free milk?
A. No
Can Cats Eat Cereal?
Like I said prior, “Yes, cats can do and eat anything they please, but they are not going to eat anything they should not have unless you give it to them. It is unwise to let your cat eat any type of human food or beverage, including cereal.
Many ingredients in cereal are not suitable for humans, let alone your kitty. Ingredients such as sugar, additives, preservatives, food dyes, and more prevent your cat from living a long healthy life. It is up to you what you allow your cat to eat.
A small amount of cereal and milk once in a great while probably will not show any ill side effects, and if they do eat a small amount of your cereal and milk, there is no need to rush them to the vet. But, once you start your cat on cereal and milk, they will expect it every time.
Cereals have no nutritional value for cats, and it is best to keep your cat on a grain-free diet. Cats are natural carnivores.
Can Cats Have Chocolate Cereal Milk?
A. No, No, No!
Many pet owners do not understand how harmful, destructive, and dangerous chocolate milk is to a cat. There are many different types of milk in the marketplace, and you should never give your cat any of these milk types, including chocolate milk.
Please read on to find out why milk alternatives are not a good thing to feed your cat.
Any kind of human milk is not suitable for your cat, especially chocolate cereal milk. As said prior, cats should not eat or drink human foods and beverages because their digestive systems are different from humans’. Many ingredients in human foods are toxic to a cat, and chocolate is toxic. All types of chocolate, including chocolate milk, are poison to cats.
Chocolate can cause your cat to have a severe reaction such as seizures and respiratory issues. Obesity in your cat is another side effect that causes health problems all their lives and, in the end, can cause their death.
It is wise to research the toxicity of plants, foods, herbs, extracts, seasonings, and beverages harmful and downright dangerous to a cat. However, you never have to worry about ingredients being toxic to your cat if you simply do not give them any type of human food. For example, the sugar, caffeine, and Theobromine in chocolate make it a toxic substance, causing your cat to become ill or die.
Pet food companies have thousands of foods and beverages designed and produced specifically for cats. Never give your cat any type of chocolate, including but not limited to chocolate cereal milk. I realize that I have repeated myself several times, but I cannot stress enough to never give your cat milk for the following reasons.
- Cats are lactose intolerant. Chocolate milk causes long-term nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and more.
- Your cat can display bad and harmful side effects.
- Your cat can develop obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and high blood pressure as much as you can.
- You are failing in your attempts to take good care of your furry friends by allowing them to have cereal or any kind of milk. This is not a safe practice.
- Chocolate is toxic. Toxins mean poison to a cat.
What Type of Milk Can Cats Have?
After a kitten reaches two months, its body no longer requires milk. Water is the crucial beverage of choice. If you can give your cat filtered water, that is even better. If you insist on giving your cat milk because they enjoy it so much, there are some options. However, please do not consider these options as your cat does not need them.
Rice Milk
This is an alternative for lactose-intolerant humans as well as a cat. Rice milk still contains a lot of sugar, which is still not suitable for a cat. Offering your kitty a small spoonful of rice milk once in a great while probably will not send them to the vet or make them sick. However, rice milk is still not good for a cat.
Chocolate Milk
This is a definite no. Do not give chocolate milk to your cat. If you discover that your cat drank chocolate milk,
- Call your vet and follow the doctor’s recommendations.
- Watch your cat for possible ill side effects.
- Do not let your cat outside, no matter how badly it wants to go out. You cannot monitor them.
- If your cat starts to vomit, this is a good thing because they are getting rid of something that is not good in their system.
Coconut Milk
Like a human’s digestive system, a cat’s digestive system can be sensitive to nuts. Coconut, while not a nut, can still cause ill side effects. Even though coconut milk does not contain lactose, it does contain excess amounts of fat and oils, which is dangerous to a cat.
Soy Milk
Many humans who are lactose intolerant turn to soy milk. Soy is made from plant protein. Some proteins prove harmful to cats. A possible side effect in cats who drink soy milk can be hyperthyroidism.
Goat’s Milk
This type of milk contains lactose sugar. Goat’s milk has less lactose than cow’s milk, so it may be easier on a cat’s digestive system. However, it does not take much goat’s milk to cause ill side effects in your cat. Your cat may be able to tolerate a tiny amount, but why take this possible risk?
Almond Milk
This milk does not contain lactose, but it is made from nuts, and some cats have nut sensitivity. This milk contains high levels of proteins, oils, and fats, as do all types of nuts, and your cat can react badly. Almond milk contains less sugar than the other types listed. This milk is not suitable for some cats who have health problems. Out of all milk types, almond milk may be your cat’s best option. If you insist on letting your cat drink a tiny bit of almond milk, do it once in a great while.
Kitten Milk
Pet stores generally sell a few different varieties of kitten milk. When I had an ill cat who did not want to eat or drink, I tried giving them a few teaspoons of kitten milk. I figured it would not hurt them and was my go-to product for added nutrients for a sick kitty.
Kittens two months or younger need this type of milk if they do not have a mom cat around or the mother refuses to feed them. Kitten milk never seemed to have any adverse side effects on my ill adult cats. However, if a cat does not want to eat or drink, it probably will not drink kitten milk. I had to make a vet visit to have the vet administer hydration until it felt more like drinking on its own.
*Milk of any type is not a good option for a cat’s digestive system. So, it is better not to give your cat any of the above types of milk, including all types of human food.