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So are you a cat person? If your answer is Yes, you need to know about this aspect to ensure that your cat remains healthy and fit. You might often feel tempted to give your feline friend the odd milky treat; however, it might surprise you to know that this is not actually good for their health. In fact, you must have already noticed that they often suffer from stomach upsets after having milk products.
So are cats lactose intolerant? Well, your thought is not wrong. However, there is nothing to be tense about it if you remain aware. It means that their body has difficulty digesting the lactose in the milk and other dairy products, which causes stomach upset. Now let us delve deeper into this topic in this article.
Are Cats Intolerant to Milk Products?
If you have a furry friend in your home, it is highly essential you know about these things. This will help you better understand when to avoid giving your cat milk and other dairy treats. Well, you are at the right place, as we will cover everything you need to know about the lactose intolerance of cats here.
Even though they are lactose intolerant, occasional treats won’t be a problem. It is universally known that cats and milk have been synonymous over the years. So now, many of our readers might feel why all of a sudden they should not give their cats milk regularly. This is because your kitty becomes lactose intolerant once they stop taking their mother’s milk. So from this time, you need to keep milk products away from them, or they might suffer from serious indigestion issues.
Moreover, it is not just milk that they are intolerant to, but other milk products like cheese, ice cream, cottage cheese, and other products that use cow milk. At the same time, also keep in mind that your cat does not take products using goat milk.
From What Age Does Cat Become Lactose Intolerant?
Many of you might have this question on your mind, isn’t it? Well, let us share all the relevant details about it. As we mentioned earlier, cats become lactose intolerant once they have been weaned from their mother after weeks.
Well, do you know the reason behind it? It is because their body stops processing the lactose in milk products. However, during this period, the cats will continue to ask for milky treats like blue cheese as they love eating them. But do not be considerate in this case since this can lead to your cat suffering from severe abdominal pains and other indigestion issues.
You have to avoid any type of milk as it will cause your feline friend the same problems. However, you can treat them on an occasional basis. You should also be aware that those dairy products might have high-fat content, so make sure you give low-fat products. This can cause weight issues if they consume these milk products in a large quantity.
What Happens If A Cat Happens To Consume Lactose?
If you have a pet cat in your home, you must indeed know about these things to remain prepared. So if your cat consumes too much lactose, it might start to display symptoms of an upset tummy. In fact, it can also result in serious health issues like diarrhoea, abdominal pains, vomiting, or other signs of distress.
So you need to always keep in mind to feed your cats with milk products at a moderate level. For instance, you can occasionally give them a small bite of cheese. This will make sure they don’t suffer from gastrointestinal issues. The more milk, cheese, or other dairy products you feed your cat, the worse their health.
How Can You Figure Out If Your Cat Is Lactose Intolerant?
There are several easy ways that will help you determine if your cat is lactose intolerant. Firstly, you need to note that whenever you give them a lot of milk products like cheese, cream or milk, they might suffer from diarrhoea, vomiting or other digestive issues.
At times, your cat might not show signs of lactose intolerance; however, they might be still intolerant. This is because it is universal and common among all cats. Therefore, it applies to all cats. So if you find your cat thirsty, you can give them a bowl of fresh water instead of milk.
So it is always better to avoid giving them human foods like blue cheese, cottage cheese, cream and cow milk. Instead, you can offer them special, specially-designed treats, keeping their health in mind.
Can You Give A Little Cheese To Your Cats?
As we mentioned earlier, giving your cat a little amount of cheese won’t cause any harm to them. However, just give them a little piece at a time so that it does not overwhelm their digestive system.
Giving your feline friends foods like blue cheese, cheddar cheese, or cottage cheese regularly will have a detrimental impact on their digestive system. In fact, it can also result in gastrointestinal illnesses. So if you do not want to see your cat in pain, keep this in mind and avoid giving them dairy products regularly.
Instead of those dairy products, you can opt for several cat foods specially produced by top companies keeping in mind their health conditions. This will ensure that your furry friend does not suffer from stomach upset and remains healthy and fine.
At the same time, avoid giving them foods from people unknown to you, as they might contain elements that can cause health issues for your cat. If the situation goes out of hand and you can’t figure out what to do, visit your nearest vet and take their advice.
Ending Note
So as we conclude, we can say that cats are lactose intolerant; therefore, make sure you do not give them a bowl of milk or cheese or other dairy products regularly. Needless to say, cow milk can also be bad for your cat’s health, along with goat milk or sheep milk. This is because they have a high quantity of lactose in them.
So if you do not want your cat to suffer from abdominal pains or other tummy issues, make sure you give them foods specially produced for them.
Also read: Money-Saving Tips for Dog Owners
