Can Cats Tolerate Milk?

Cats and milk are a frequently discussed topic among pet owners. The answer isn’t black and white, as some cats can break down milk in their bodies, while others cannot.

Below, you can learn more about cats and their tolerance to lactose, and get insights into which milk replacement products to choose for both adult cats and young kittens.

Why Lactose Intolerance Occurs in Cats

Lactose allergy or lactose intolerance are two terms for the same condition. It’s an allergy and hypersensitivity to lactose, the main component in milk. Just like humans, cats can also develop this sensitivity. If you have a lactose allergy, it’s because your body lacks an enzyme (lactase) that enables you to process milk.

If you are lactose intolerant and consume milk or dairy products, you will experience stomach pain and digestive issues. The same applies to your cat if it lacks the enzyme lactase.

How a Cat with Lactose Allergy Reacts to Milk

If you’ve given your cat milk and it develops diarrhea shortly after, this is a sign of lactose intolerance. The intensity and duration of the stomach issues can vary depending on how much milk your cat has consumed. In small amounts, the reaction is usually harmless, and your pet will recover completely within a few days. The best thing you can do is to provide your cat with lactose-free food, which in most cases will stop the diarrhea.

In the worst cases, where a cat has consumed a large amount of milk, it can be life-threatening.

If you’ve observed a negative reaction to milk even once, you should stop giving your pet milk or dairy products altogether. Always check the ingredient label on your pet food to ensure there are no traces of lactose. This can cause the same side effects as regular liquid milk.

When shopping for pet food from a high-quality webshop offering the best products for cats, you can choose from various food options.

Do Cats Need Milk?

Cats, unlike humans, do not need milk in adulthood. Only kittens require milk to grow big and strong. In most cases, kittens will get what they need by nursing from their mother. If you have an orphaned kitten or if the mother cat cannot produce enough milk, you should use specially produced milk replacement products for your kitten.

These products come in powdered form and are mixed with water. The powder is nutrient-rich and formulated specifically to meet the growth and developmental needs of kittens.

Newborn kittens have a unique enzyme in their bodies that allows them to tolerate and digest milk. Over time, this enzyme stops functioning, which is why the majority of adult cats develop a lactose allergy.

If your adult cat needs a temporary milk supplement, replacement milk is available.

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.