Hmmm...in all the 18 years of her life, she’s never gotten sick from drinking it.
This is why I avoided giving milk to my cats when I had two. The times when one would drink a few drinks of my cereal milk, they’d get sick later.
I was told they are intolerant, so I avoided it. I’m pretty sure they are too. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that some aren’t. Maybe some even gain a tolerance for it if they are given enough. But the runs and vomiting wasn’t worth it to me to try and make them tolerant.
Especially since they don’t need it anyway.
While milk might seem like a natural choice for your cat, the truth is that cow’s milk offers no nutritional value for cats, and it can cause digestive problems in many. The reason is that most cats develop intolerance to lactose shortly after they are weaned. This means that they are unable to digest the sugars that occur naturally in milk. This causes problems that include diarrhea and other unpleasant digestive problems.
Some people think that cats need to have milk in order to get all the necessary nutrients. This is not true. In fact, cow’s milk does nothing to meet a cat’s nutritional needs. If a cat was fed only milk, it would not be able to survive. Feral cats provide proof that cats do not need milk to be healthy, as wild cats do not usually have the opportunity to drink cow’s milk.
As long as your cat is eating a high quality food, and has access to clean fresh water, she is getting all that she needs. Milk alone is not a sufficient diet for any cat, and should never be given in place of food OR in place of water. Replacing a cat’s food or water with milk can cause your cat to become malnourished.
Many cats do seem to enjoy milk, and this causes a dilemma for many cat owners who love to give their cat treats that they enjoy. While most cats are lactose intolerant, some are not. For these cats, milk as an occasional treat is fine. The only way to know how your cat will react to milk is to feed her some. If she does not develop diarrhea then it is safe to assume that she is not lactose intolerant, and you can continue to give her the treat she loves. Again, milk should never be given in place of food, but as a treat.
If your cat IS lactose intolerant, but still seems to crave a bowl of milk now and then, there is a way to satisfy her without upsetting her digestive system. Milk substitute that is specially formulated for cats is sold in most pet food stores. Like regular milk, it should only be given as a treat and not as a replacement for meals. Even if you feed this "cats milk" on a regular basis, a high quality cat food and fresh water should always be available. Another option for lactose intolerant cats is to give lactose-free milk. This milk is available in the same aisle as regular milk in most grocery stores.
Yes, if you keep feeding a kitten milk as it grows, the enzyme (lactobacillus) that digests the lactose stays active, and the cat can always drink milk.
Try a half teaspoon of cream for a treat. My Miss Hissy-Slashy (Bobbie) loves it, and the fat is good for her skin.