Can cats drink milk?

Most cats are actually lactose intolerant. As cats lack the lactose digestive enzymes and lactase, the lactose in milk cannot be digested by the body because it cannot be fermented in the stomach and intestines, so it is best not to let cats drink milk.

This means that there is no lactase enzyme in the body to digest and break down the lactose, especially in pre-weaned kittens and puppies, and the undigested lactose will cause bacteria to multiply, which in turn will absorb water and cause indigestion and diarrhea.

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What are the problems with cats drinking milk?

The indigestible lactose can cause bacteria to multiply, triggering symptoms such as indigestion and diarrhea, which may result in malabsorption of nutrients or severe dysentery.

The blood vessels of young kittens are relatively thin and not easy to be put on an IV, and they can easily die from dehydration. Therefore, if you are feeding a kitten, you should avoid using milk, and if the cat's mother is present, the cat will be fed by the mother; if you are nursing artificially, it would be better to use a commercially available substitute milk powder.

If the cat has diarrhea after drinking milk, it should be brought to the emergency hospital immediately.

Common Misconceptions

It is common in cartoons to see owners pouring milk for their dogs and cats to drink, but this is actually not the correct concept!

New Taipei City Animal Protection Office pointed out that milk contains a high proportion of lactose, can not meet the nutritional needs, and too high a proportion of lactose, is likely to lead to the pups and kittens can not be digested, the symptoms of diarrhea, the pups and kittens have to drink dogs and cats special nutritional milk powder soaked milk.

Adult dogs and cats have their own individual differences, and some will suffer from indigestion due to milk, while others will adapt well. It is recommended that if you want to supplement your fur babies with milk, you should do so in small amounts so that they do not get sick, and you should pay attention to whether your fur babies suffer from indigestion or not, so that your fur babies do not get sick.

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Can milk cats drink milk instead of breast milk

Newborn cats are very particular about their food, and generally on can only drink breast milk. However, if you have a kitten that has long since left its mother, then the owner will need to buy kitten formula for the pet. Some owners, in order to save money, take the liberty of brewing children's milk powder or buying fresh milk from the supermarket for their kittens, which is totally wrong!

Cats, like dogs, can't drink milk. Most cats suffer from lactose intolerance, and drinking too much milk can cause indigestion and diarrhea! If you can't buy formula for a while, use full-fat goat's milk instead.

Adding to the knowledge of milk cats

Kittens need to drink milk for about four weeks, during which time the owner will need to bottle-feed it with formula or water, as newborn cats have very blurred vision and can't lick things. In addition to the bottle feeding method, you can also use a syringe to drip the milk, this method can ensure that the kitten will not choke on the milk, and after feeding the milk you have to gently pat the back of the cat to make it burp.

As for the frequency of feeding, basically every 2 to 4 hours, the amount of feeding is at your own discretion, or you can follow the formula for the amount of feeding. If you find that your kitten's belly is bulging, it's time to stop feeding; if your kitten is still purring after feeding, it's not getting enough to eat.

Feeding posture is also very important, because improper feeding posture may cause milk to flow into the lungs. The kitten should be down on its back when drinking milk, so that a 45-degree tilt of the kitten's head is sufficient. Never let them lie on their backs facing the sky like you would feed a baby, as this could easily choke them and cause death.

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When can milk cats be weaned

After four weeks, the kittens are in the weaning stage and ready to be weaned, and owners can let them learn to eat kitten food. At this time their teeth are not yet complete, not very good at chewing cat food, and kittens who are used to drinking milk may not be able to accept the taste of cat food. Therefore, owners need to use goat's milk or formula milk to soften the cat food before giving it to them.

Additionally, kittens may not be very good at licking food, so owners need to guide them slowly, but be careful not to let them choke. At this stage, owners can feed the kittens every 4 to 6 hours, and the amount of food is at their own discretion. After all, every cat's appetite is different, so owners need to make their own observations.

After about 2 to 3 months, kittens can finally eat solid food, and there is no need to drink milk at this time. In addition to preparing cat food and canned cat food, you can also feed them some small snacks. In addition, owners can also mix some meat such as beef and chicken into the cat food. Kitten food contains more energy than adult cat food, because kittens need more energy and nutrients to grow their bodies, so you can't replace kitten food with adult cat food, and only when the kitten becomes an adult (about 10 -12 months) can it eat adult cat food.