Are Cats Lactose Intolerant?

Lactose Intolerance In Cats

Contrary to what many people may believe or have seen in the media, many cats just like people, actually have trouble properly digesting milk due to its lactose (milk sugar) content. The result? Violent diarrhea and/or stomach upset and a not so happy kitty.

According to cat nutritionists and veterinarians the only time animals are exposed to lactose is when they are babies – in their mother’s milk. In order to digest lactose, both the human and feline digestive systems must contain the enzyme lactase. While we have plenty of this enzyme in our systems at birth and it helps us thrive on our mother’s milk, as we get older and start growing up, it is completely normal for people and even cats to begin producing less lactase. What this means is that we begin to lose our capability to properly digest lactose. Eventually possibly leading to lactose intolerance.

What Happens When A Cat Drinks Milk?

When a lactose intolerant cat drinks milk, the undigested lactose passes through the intestinal tract, drawing water in with it. Bacteria in the colon also ferment the undigested milk sugars, thus producing volatile fatty acids and leading to upset stomach, diarrhea and possibly even vomiting. The most common symptom in lactose intolerant cats is diarrhea, and usually occurs within 8 to 12 hours after ingesting the milk.

If you are reading all of these facts and wondering why Mr. Boots has never shown any signs of distress when you fed him a bit of milk in the past it could just be because your cat can tolerate milk just fine. Some cats have a higher tolerance for lactose than others, it really just depends on the cat, but in any case milk should only be given to cats sparingly and as a very special treat every now and then.

What If I’m Not Sure Of My Cat’s Tolerance For Milk?

If you are not sure whether or not milk is a good idea for your cat, the best way to check your cat’s milk tolerance is to try offering him or her a tablespoon or two of milk. If you do not see any symptoms within a day, chances are good that your cat will do just fine with a bit of milk as an occasional treat. Just keep in mind that this should be just that, an occasional treat. In fact, most veterinarians do not recommend giving your feline milk. Cats do not need it, and the potential problems that come along with it actually outweigh the benefits.

An important rule of thumb to follow is that treats of all sorts whether it be milk, tuna, meat, cheese, or other foods that we humans consume on a daily basis, should make up no more than 5 to 10% of your cat’s diet. The rest of your cat’s calories should come from a high quality, nutritionally complete cat food.

If you are not exactly sure what this means for your cat, you should speak with your veterinarian or a pet nutritionist. It is also important to remember that offering your cat table food can often teach them to be finicky.

Lactose In Other Forms

Sometimes a cat that can’t tolerate lactose in milk may be able to eat other forms of dairy such as yogurt, cheese, butter, cream or ice cream and/or vice versa. This is because different forms of dairy foods contain varying amounts of lactose. There are two reasons for this. Foods like yogurts and ice creams are often diluted with other ingredients, such as water or added fats. In addition, they may also be cultured, meaning microorganisms have digested part of the lactose. Therefore, if you want to give a sensitive feline a bit of dairy, the chances of intolerance reaction are a lot less likely with cheese products, yogurts, and/or other cultured dairy.

Other Things To Consider

Kittens And Milk

Technically speaking, cow’s milk is inadequate for kittens. Though kitty’s have lactase in their system, simply speaking there is just not enough of it to properly digest the overload of lactose that is found in cow’s milk. However, the lactose is not the only problem. The casein to whey proportions are also a cause for concern when it comes to cats.

If your kitten is still a youngster and needs it’s mother’s milk, there are plenty of milk replacements on the market today that are made specifically for kittens to safely and properly consume and digest. These types of products can often be found being sold at your local veterinarian clinic or pet store.

These milk replacements often contain cow’s milk; however it has been modified to approach as closely as possible the nutrient composition of a mother cat’s milk. This means that the casein and whey rations have been adjusted and the amount of lactose has also usually been reduced significantly. If you are raising an orphaned kitten, milk replacements formulated specifically for kittens are definitely your best bet as far as milk products go.

Adult Cats And Milk Replacements

When it comes to adult cats and milk replacements on the other hand, these milk replacement products are just like any other dairy product. They can and should only be offered in small amounts as the occasional treat. The same goes for any dairy substitute designed for humans, and yes this even includes soy and lactose free milk products. They can be given to kitty as treats, but generally speaking, there is no other reason to use them.

Cats And Water

One last but very important thing to keep in mind is that milk should never be used as a substitute for water. Your cat will always require plenty of fresh, clean water. Water not only keeps your cat hydrated, it also helps your cat regulate body temperature, digest food, eliminate waste, lubricate tissue, and allows salt and other electrolytes to pass through the body with ease.
To encourage your cat to drink water, try placing several bowls all at different depths around the house. Many cats love flowing water. There are plenty of pet stores out there that sell fresh flowing kitty fountains for a decent price. The best thing about these products? They are usually dishwasher safe and come with replaceable filters, making them easy to keep clean and giving your kitty only the best quality H20.