Can cats be milked and what are the restrictions?

The debate over whether it is okay to give milk to cats has been going on among veterinarians and breeders since time immemorial. In the minds of most people, it is the most beloved product of the Feline family. Can milk harm the health of an animal? Should you add it to your cat's diet, and what should you consider when doing this?

As soon as a small mustachioed pet appears in the house, the newly-made owners immediately try to give him milk. Almost no animal refuses such a treat, which once again convinces the owners of the correctness of their actions. Here it is worth taking a closer look at all sides of the issue concerning the benefits and harms that this product has on the animal's body.

Natural milk contains not only lactose, which is otherwise called milk sugar, but also substances such as:

• amino acids;
• B vitamins, as well as riboflavin and thiamine;
• macronutrients (calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium);
• trace elements (selenium, iodine, zinc);
• low molecular weight proteins;
• enzymes.

These substances, which are contained in milk, are essential for the animal's body. They affect energy processes, are involved in metabolism, the formation of bones and soft tissues.

In this regard, the benefits of milk in relation to the health of the cat can be called obvious.

However, there are some negative aspects that can arise when feeding a pet with milk. Being an absolute predator, in the wild, cats consume breast milk only in the first months of life. During infancy, kittens' bodies produce a special enzyme called lactase. It is necessary for the processing of milk sugar - lactose, which is found in breast milk. Over time, the production of lactase in the animal's body stops, after which the grown individual switches to food that is more suitable for her.

Thus, despite the fact that many adult cats and cats continue to love milk until old age, it is not always able to be assimilated by their body.

Painful colic can occur due to the accumulation of gases in the intestines of the animal.

Another nuance that owners who regularly treat their cats with milk should consider is the risk of developing obesity. It is known that the average calorie content of natural milk can vary from 60 to 85 calories per 100 grams of product. Such indicators of fat content can pose a danger to sedentary animals prone to overweight. In particular, this applies to neutered and neutered cats and cats. If you regularly give milk with a high calorie content to your pet after sterilization, you can provoke the development of obesity in him.

Obesity, in turn, can trigger the development of concomitant diseases. These include diseases of the cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory and urinary systems, as well as disorders of the musculoskeletal system and joint problems.

If the pet prefers to feast on milk from time to time, but at the same time he has not noticed any problems with its assimilation, you can somewhat diversify the cat's diet. Most often, the owners treat unsterilized domestic cats and cats with cow and goat milk, less often they give the pets store-bought and even dry diluted milk.

Goat milk is a product with a high content of riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin B1 and vitamin A. It is notable for its low fat content, it is easier and faster absorbed by the cat's body. It has been established that intolerance to the proteins contained in goat milk occurs in animals much less frequently. Sheep milk has about the same properties.

Cow's milk is a high-calorie product with a high nutritional value. It is allowed to treat them to representatives of the Feline family only if the animals do not have an intolerance to the protein contained in this product.

Powdered milk is a high-calorie product obtained from pasteurized cow's milk. It is not forbidden to give it to animals only if the recommended dosages were observed when diluting the powder with water. In this case, the pet should not have lactose intolerance. You should not abuse such a treat due to the increased calorie content of the product.

Store-bought milk from a bag is one of the few products that not every cat will drink. In terms of nutritional value and taste, a store product usually loses to natural milk. However, it is allowed to occasionally treat them to an animal (of course, in the absence of lactose intolerance).

If the animal does not suffer from lactose intolerance and drinks milk with pleasure, it should be treated based on some criteria, in particular age and lifestyle.

As already mentioned, the kitten's body is capable of producing enzymes required for milk processing. However, the composition of cat, cow and goat milk is very different from each other.

A cow product for babies is considered too heavy food, difficult to digest.

Older kittens (at the age of 1.5-2 months) are allowed to be fed with cow's milk, alternating with special wet food. At the age of 2.5-3 months, babies can begin to gradually switch to regular cat food.

Sedentary, as well as spayed and neutered cats and cats, it is better not to treat a product with a high fat content. The recommended intake for healthy, unsterilized animals is about 13 ml per kg of body weight. If the animal does not show signs of lactose intolerance, it should be treated with milk with caution, observing the proposed standards.

Signs that your cat or cat has serious problems processing milk sugar (lactose) include the following symptoms:

• diarrhea;
• bloating;
• changes in behavior (anxiety, fussiness).

Even if the animal normally tolerates milk, it is often impossible to give it this product in large quantities. Many veterinarians even recommend treating pets with milk sporadically, and use pieces of meat or minced meat as a constant treat.

Milk is an independent product that should not be combined with anything. It is a common mistake for some aspiring cat owners to mix dry cat food with milk.

In addition to it, you can only use clean fresh water, which should always be freely available to your pet.

According to veterinarians, mixing dry food with milk can lead to extremely unpleasant consequences. Often this combination leads to the development of diseases of the urinary system, diseases and liver dysfunctions in animals.

Milk should not be combined with regular products that make up the pet's menu. It is also important to monitor the animal's diet throughout the day. It should not contain any milk antagonist products, the combination with which may cause diarrhea or make your pet feel unwell.

For owners of bottle-fed kittens, modern manufacturers offer a wide range of milk replacers. There are numerous types of substitutes currently on the market that have been developed for animals of various ages and breeds. The composition of the products contains valuable nutrients and components necessary for the full development of animals. These components include fats and proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals, micro- and macroelements, as well as taurine - an essential amino acid for the feline body.

Kitty Milk from Beaphar is one of the best balanced substitutes for bottle-fed kittens. The product is produced by a well-known Dutch company specializing in the manufacture of products and pet food. This substitute contains a full set of micro and macro elements, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats. Recommended for use from the first days of birth.Also, the product can be used for feeding pregnant and lactating cats.

Cat Milk from the German company Gimpet is a fortified substitute recommended for artificial feeding of weak and sick kittens. The mixture is enriched with taurine, micro- and macroelements, minerals. It can be used for feeding lactating and pregnant cats, elderly and weakened animals.

Babycat Milk is a high-calorie milk replacer from the French company Royal Canin. The product contains a full range of nutrients, vitamins and minerals that ensure the full development of kittens from the first days of life. The strictly balanced composition of this substitute allows the product to be easily and quickly absorbed.

Some inexperienced cat owners who prefer milk to all other foods often make milk a staple of their diet. Experts remind that in this case, such changes in the cat's menu can lead to unpleasant consequences: from gastrointestinal upset and ending with rapid weight gain.

It is strongly not recommended to treat your pet with milk a short time after the main meal. Even if a cat or cat has a snack with a portion of dry food, it takes time for their body to digest the food. At this stage, milk can negatively affect the digestion process.

It is not allowed to treat the animal with a product of dubious origin, which may contain harmful bacilli, strains of Escherichia coli, growth hormones, antibiotics. Only fresh and high-quality products can bring benefits to the animal: steamed, pasteurized, baked (up to 3.5% fat) or lactose-free milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, natural yogurt without food colors, flavors and additives. It is strictly not allowed to feed cats and cats with expired dairy and fermented milk products. These products include stale cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, kefir (everything that is older than 3 days from the date of manufacture), as well as yoghurts, curds, curd masses with synthetic additives.

A common mistake many inexperienced cat owners make is neglecting the heat treatment of milk. You can protect the product from possible sources of danger (bacilli, bacteria, strains) using pasteurization, boiling and sterilization. However, it is important to consider here that after heat treatment, the beneficial properties of milk will be significantly lower.

For more information on the benefits and dangers of milk in the diet of cats, see below.