Is Milk Bad or Good for Cats?

Is milk bad for cats?

Q: I've heard it's bad to give cats milk to drink. Is this true?

A: Adult cats do not require milk as a part of their diet. Young kittens require their mothers' milk only while they are still nursing. This milk contains nutrients and antibodies that help kittens grow and stay healthy.

Once cats mature, many become lactose intolerant. This makes cow's milk a poor choice to use as a treat for your cat. Milk can cause your pet to have stomach ailments and indigestion since they are not used to it. In some cases milk can actually make your cat very ill and cause vomiting and/or diarrhea.

If you really want to give your cat milk, most pet stores carry lactose free milk made especially for cats. This can provide a good substitute to cows' milk and can be a good treat.

Author's profile photo
Dr. Lauren Brickman Dr. Brickman started as a veterinary technician at Garden City Park in 1997 and went on to…

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Comments (5)

madean (Unverified)
my cats have been drinking milk for months and sit patiently by their bowls.I think they are addicted.
Chuckie
Is there any liquid food that can be given to a cat who will drink but won't eat any food? Our Siamese, who has feline dermatitis, is on day three without eating anything; she'll only drink water. Also, is milk bad as a substitute for food?
madison (Unverified)

she is so cuet i have one also her name is meme is five mounths old and she is cuet like yous
madison and meme

Kay Holmes (Unverified)

How often and how much do I feed a 10 or 11 week old kitten?

Anonymous (Unverified)

Funny, she mentions that kittens drink their mothers milk for nutrients and antibodies, just like human babies do, yet when humans grow up, unlike her advise with kittens, humans are told that we need to drink milk daily. Yet we drink cows milk, not milk from other humans or our mother. Her claim is that cats "become" lactose intolerant suddendly at maturity. Sounds like a load of liberal BS. Probably in bed with the FDA as well or on their payroll. Ever wondered why humans drink milk from cows and not any other animals.........SUPPLY (it isn't because of Vitamin D, we can get that directly from the sun). They fill the cows with steriods and chemicals to increase production beyond the already larger than any other animals' production and THIS is why milk is not good for your cat. Just like it is NOT good for you either. Humans DO NOT need milk after breast feeding from our mothers, just like kittens and puppies and rats and cows.........we just like the taste of it and in moderation it is just fine, just like it is for cats. It's not meant to be a meal for them or a substitute for watering your pet. It's a treat, just like it is for humans. Keep in mind they put CHLORINE in your drinking water, imagine what chemicals and steriods are in cows milk. Are you OK with giving that to your pets? If so, rest assured that it won't kill your pet, unless of course it's "lactose intolerant" and you have it on daily doses of "Ritalin" also.

Anonymous (Unverified)
Apparently you didn't read very carefully, did you? She said "Once cats mature, MANY become lactose intolerant." Not all cats. She's absolutely correct. As for why humans drink milk from a cow, you've ignored a major reason for milk consumption. The majority of humans, especially uninformed ones, drink milk thinking it is an excellent source of calcium which is good for bone health....A total myth, btw. We barely absorb the calcium in cow’s milk (especially if pasteurized). Milk acidifies the body pH which in turn triggers a biological correction. Calcium is an excellent acid nuetralizer and the greatest concentration of calcium in our body is in the bones. Once calcium is pulled out of the bones, it leaves the body via the urine, so that the surprising net result after this is an actual calcium deficit.
Anonymous (Unverified)
Actually it is true. Most mammals including cats become lactose intolerant after weaning. The reason why some humans can drink milk in adulthood is because of a gene mutation that allows lactose persistence in humans. Apparently the mutation came about during the rise of dairy farming when people began to drink milk.