Is Cat Milk Good for Older Cats?

Every animal loves to drink milk. On being born, an animal starts its life by drinking its mother’s milk. So there is no doubt that milk is a natural part of life. Like all mammals, kittens rely on mother’s milk for good growth and health. But is cat milk good for older cats?

No doubt, older cats can drink milk in moderation. But, when a cat grows into an adult, cats gradually lose the capability to digest the sugar and lactose found in milk. So it’s a misconception to give milk to your cat regularly. Milk can harm older cats and cause serious illness to the stomach.

In this article, we will clear all the myths about cats and milk. Is milk bad for older cats? If yes, why so? What can you give your cat instead of milk?

Is Milk Sour for Older Cats?

Cats like the taste of milk so much they will clean the bowl. It is because milk is full of fat. Kittens need milk for good growth. As the kitten grows, the digestion function changes.

Yes, milk is bad for older cats. Milk contains fat and sugar as well. Sugar present in milk is called lactose. To digest lactose found in milk, lactase enzymes are needed. In the case of cats, senior cats don’t have the lactase enzymes in their intestines to digest.

If lactose in milk does not digest, it may cause stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. So giving milk to your senior cat may cause illness. Also, not all cats will be harmed. It’s better to avoid giving milk.

Why are cats lactose-intolerant?

Lactose is found in the milk. Milk is good only for those animals who have enzymes lactase. Since senior cats lack the enzymes lactase, it’s challenging to consume the sugar present in milk. When sugar is unprocessed, sugar makes its way and mixes in water from the intestines.

But, lactose does not pass through the wall of the intestines into the bloodstream. It takes a lot of time to pass through the intestinal wall. This process causes stomach pain and diarrhea. That’s why senior cats are lactose intolerant.

Why Can’t Cats Have Cow’s milk?

You probably think about cow’s milk when you provide milk to your cat. Well, most cat owners offer cow’s milk to their cats.

Since milk is like comfort food for cats, But your cat can’t have cow’s milk. Many cat owners also believe that milk is enough to provide all essential nutrition for a cat’s diet. It is not valid. Milk is not enough to support a cat’s health. Too much milk may cause an upset stomach as well.

Especially for senior cats, milk is bad for older cats due to the presence of lactose in milk. Also, too much fat in milk adds to the cat’s weight.

What Kind of Milk is Good for Older Cats?

As an occasional treat, feel free to offer milk to your cat. As long as it is not so much that might result in an upset stomach to your older cat. Raw milk is the best drink for your cat since it contains the appropriate amount of lactose.

Also, to avoid illness, it is better not to provide milk containing lactose. There are also specially formulated cat milk in the market. These products are free from lactose and added taurine for amino acid boost.

One of the products recommended by experts is fancy feast creamy delights so that your cat is satisfied with the touch of milk. This way, your senior cat won’t get sick and will be healthy.

Is Milk Dangerous for Senior Cats?

Giving milk to your senior cat is not dangerous. Unfortunately, milk is not the healthiest drink for senior cats. It can cause severe illnesses like diarrhea, cramps, and other diseases related to the stomach.

Since the senior cats are lactose intolerant due to the absence of lactase enzymes, other than raw milk is bad for the health of aging cats. Although milk is not poisonous for cats, and cats also like to drink a lot of milk, milk is not digestible.

Are Cats Allergic to Milk?

It’s uncommon if the cat is allergic to food. If cats develop an allergy to a food, it must be a dairy product. Cats like to eat dairy products due to their fat content. But dairy products have some nutrition that is not suitable for cats.

Milk is not allergic to cats but is also not good for health. The indicators that show allergy are itchiness, hair loss, and watery eyes. Milk makes the cat’s stomach upset.

What can I give my cat instead of milk?

While your cat may seem perfectly well after drinking a bowl of milk, it is not good for your senior cat and has after-effects.

All animals need water to get hydrated. Since cats don’t drink enough water, adding wet cat food to the cat’s diet is the best way to complete daily water intake.

Similarly, senior cats crave milk due to the unforgettable flavor and scent of milk. Also, you can provide wet cat food with milk flavor. For this problem, fancy feast offers a solution with its creamy delights products.

Can I Add Milk to Cat Food?

It seems like a good idea. But it may be a wrong assumption. On pouring milk into cat food, it doesn’t mean that lactose is canceled out. Lactose can still be found in cat food. It may also cause gastrointestinal problems.

The result could be fatal if cats eat cat food by pouring milk. Some experts advise cream is better than milk due to less lactose presence. Still, avoid adding milk to the cat food.

Conclusions

In short, available milk is not suitable for senior cats. Milk may cause digestion issues like diarrhea. Cats are also not allergic to milk. Pouring milk into cat food is also not a solution. Lactose-free milk is available on the market for your cat’s good health.

We hope this article helps understand the relationship between senior cats and milk. If anything is not suitable in this article, please let us know through comment or mail us.