Disputes about whether it is possible to give milk to cats are being conducted among veterinarians and breeders from time immemorial. In the view of most people, it is the most favorite product of the representatives of the Feline family. Can milk harm an animal's health? Is it worth it to add to the cat's diet and what needs to be taken into account?
Benefit and harm
As soon as the little mustache pet appears in the house, the newly-made owners immediately try to give him milk to drink. Virtually no animals refuse such treats, which once again convinces the owners of the correctness of their actions. Here it is worth a closer look at all aspects of the issue of 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 important for the animal. They affect energy processes, are involved in metabolism, the formation of bones and soft tissues.
Their deficiency causes a weakening of the pet's health, leads to a decrease in its immunity and resistance to the development of diseases and injury.
In this regard, the benefits of milk in relation to the health of the cat can be called obvious.
However, there are some negative points that can occur when feeding a pet with milk. Being an absolute predator, cats in the wild consume mother's milk only in the first months of life. In the period of infancy, the body of kittens produces a special enzyme called lactase. It is necessary for the processing of milk sugar - lactose, which is contained in breast milk. Over time, the production of lactase in the body of the animal stops, after which the grown-up individual moves to more suitable food for it.
Thus, despite the fact that many adult cats and cats until old age continue to love milk, it is not always able to be absorbed by their body.
The lack of the necessary enzymes required for the processing of lactose, in this case, can lead to unpleasant consequences: indigestion, severe diarrhea, bloating.
Due to the accumulation of gas in the intestines of an animal, painful colic may occur.
Another nuance that owners who regularly treat their cats with milk must take into account is the risk of developing obesity. It is known that on average, the caloric content of natural milk can vary from 60 to 85 calories per 100 grams of product. Such indicators of fat content can be dangerous for sedentary animals that are prone to corpulence. In particular, this applies to neutered and sterilized cats and cats. If you regularly drink milk with a high calorie pet after sterilization, you can provoke the development of obesity in him.
Obesity, in turn, can trigger the development of associated diseases.These include diseases of the cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory and urinary systems, as well as disorders of the musculoskeletal system and problems with the joints.
Food depending on the type
If the pet from time to time prefers to feast on milk, but at the same time it has not noticed any problems with its absorption, it is possible to somewhat diversify the feline diet. The owners most often unsterilized domestic cats and cats treat cow and goat milk, less often - they give pets a store and even dry diluted.
Goat
Goat milk is a product with a high content of riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin B1 and vitamin A. It is characterized by a low fat content, easier and faster absorbed by the cat's body. It is established that intolerance to proteins contained in goat milk, occurs in animals much less. Sheep milk has approximately the same properties.
Cow
Cow's milk is a high-calorie product with high nutritional value. To treat them to the representatives of the Feline family is allowed only if the animals do not have an intolerance to the protein contained in this product.
Dry
Powdered milk is a high-calorie product derived 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 be lactose intolerant. Abuse such food should not be due to the increased caloric content of the product.
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Store milk from the package is one of the few products that every cat will not drink. Both in nutritional value and taste characteristics, the store product usually loses to natural milk. However, occasionally treat them to an animal is allowed (of course, in the absence of lactose intolerance).
Does age affect?
If an animal does not suffer from lactose intolerance and drinks milk with pleasure, it should be treated based on certain criteria, in particular age and lifestyle.
The state of health of the pet and its daily diet are also of great importance.
For kittens
As already mentioned, the body of a kitten is able to produce the enzymes required for the processing of milk. However, the composition of cat, cow and goat's milk are very different from each other.
In the case when there is a need to feed up the milk of a tiny kitten left without a mother, it is better to give preference to goat milk diluted with water.
The cow product for babies is considered too heavy food, difficult to assimilate.
Older kittens (at the age of 1.5-2 months) are allowed to be fed with cow's milk, alternating it with a special wet food. At the age of 2.5-3 months, babies can begin to gradually transfer to the usual cat food.
For adults
Sedentary, as well as sterilized and neutered cats and cats is better not to treat the product with high fat content. The recommended intake rate for healthy unsterilized animals is about 13 ml per 1 kg of weight. If the animal does not show signs of lactose intolerance, it is necessary to treat it with milk with care, observing the proposed guidelines.
It is important to follow the behavior of the pet after drinking milk. If the animal behaves calmly, does not show anxiety, then there should be no cause for concern.
Symptoms that a cat or cat has serious problems with the processing of milk sugar (lactose) are the following symptoms:
- diarrhea;
- bloating;
- changes in behavior (anxiety, fussiness).
Even if the animal normally carries milk, it is impossible to give this product often and in large quantities to it. Many veterinarians even recommend to treat pets with milk occasionally, and as a constant delicacy to use pieces of meat or mince.
Compatible feed with milk
Milk is an independent product that should not be combined with anything. Some novice cat owners often make a common mistake when mixing dry cat food with milk.
It is not necessary to do this, because dry food itself is an independent product with a well-thought-out and balanced composition.
In addition to it, you can use only pure fresh water, which should always be freely available to the pet.
According to veterinarians, mixing dry food with milk can result in extremely unpleasant consequences. Often, this combination leads to the development of diseases of the urinary system, diseases and disorders of the liver in animals.
Do not combine milk with regular products that make up the pet menu. It is also important to control the diet of the animal during the day. It should not contain milk-antagonist products, a combination with which may cause diarrhea or a pet's poor health.
What are the substitutes?
For artificial-fed kitten owners, modern manufacturers offer a wide range of milk replacers. Currently on sale there are numerous types of substitutes developed for animals of various ages and breeds. The composition of the products includes valuable nutrients and components necessary for the full development of animals. Such components include fats and proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals, micro- and macroelements, as well as taurine - an amino acid essential for the cat's body.
Kitty Milk from the company Beaphar - one of the best balanced substitutes, designed for kittens that are artificially fed. The product is produced by a well-known Dutch company specializing in the manufacture of pet food and feed. This substitute contains a complete 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 vitamin substitute recommended for artificial feeding of weak and sick kittens. The mixture is enriched with taurine, micro- and macro-elements, minerals. It can be used for feeding lactating and pregnant cats, elderly and weak animals.
Babycat Milk is a high-calorie milk substitute 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.
Common mistakes
Some inexperienced owners of cats who prefer milk to all other products often make it the basis of their diet. Experts remind that in this case, such changes in the cat menu can lead to unpleasant consequences: starting with a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract and ending with a quick weight gain.
It is strongly not recommended to treat your pet with milk a short time after ingestion of the main meal. Even if a cat or a cat had a snack in a portion of dry food, it takes time for the body to digest food. Milk at this stage can negatively affect the digestive process.
You can not give your pet cold, hot, sterilized, skimmed, condensed and raw milk.
It is not allowed to treat an animal with a product of doubtful origin, which may contain harmful bacilli, Escherichia coli strains, growth hormones, antibiotics.Benefit for the animal can bring only fresh and high-quality products: fresh, pasteurized, baked (up to 3.5% fat) or lactose-free milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, natural yogurt without food coloring, flavors and additives. It is strictly not allowed to feed cats and cats with expired milk and dairy products. Such products include stale cottage cheese, ryazhenka, kefir (anything that is older than 3 days from the date of production), as well as yoghurts, cheese curds, curd with synthetic additives.
A common mistake of many inexperienced cat owners is neglecting the heat treatment of milk. It is possible to protect the product from possible sources of danger (bacilli, bacteria, strains) by means of pasteurization, boiling and sterilization. However, it is important to bear in mind here that after heat treatment, the beneficial properties of milk will be significantly lower.
For more information about the benefits and dangers of milk in feeding cats, see below.
