Mary Allen
Fortunately, the days when domestic cats were mainly fed with leftover food and milk are largely over. The awareness grows to feed the house tiger in a species-appropriate manner, tailored to its individual needs. Numerous products are available on the market as complete or additional feed as well as various snacks and treats. A whole industry is concerned with food for the spoiled palate. But what about the traditional bowl of milk that you want to “treat” your cat to? What is wrong with the fact that cats are not allowed to drink milk and what about special cat milk?
Bellyache After the White Treat
In fact, many cats like to lick some milk and don’t seem to have any problems with it. Gourmets among them even nibble on fatty cream and look forward to the tasty snack. However, what you as a holder often cannot tell at first glance is whether the little sweet tooth is paying for the white delicacy with a stomach ache or at least a more or less pronounced grumble in the intestines. Some of them even get diarrhea after consuming dairy products.
Causes of the Discomfort
Milk or milk products contain a type of sugar that cats cannot metabolize well: milk sugar or “lactose”. Lactose is digested in the body with the help of a specific enzyme called lactase. The enzyme is located in the small intestine, breaks down the double sugar lactose, and thus helps with its utilization. If the enzyme is missing or in insufficient quantities, the lactose initially migrates undigested to the large intestine, where it is absorbed and fermented by bacteria. Among other things, gases are produced, which are then expressed, for example, by flatulence. In severe cases, diarrhea can occur. Abdominal cramps and a feeling of fullness occur. One speaks of lactose intolerance – which we humans also have in different ways.
Where Does Lactose Intolerance Come From?
Basically, lactose is a natural substance that occurs in the breast milk of mammals, not only that of cows but also in feline breast milk or in that of humans. However, nature did not envisage that mammals also consume this natural product in adulthood and regulate the body in such a way that it curbs the production of lactase as they grow up – some more, some less. It is assumed that cats that have regularly consumed cow’s milk on farms for generations and have thus become accustomed to it over a long period of time tend to be able to digest lactose better than others even in adulthood. However, there are no valid scientific studies on this and are probably difficult to control. The symptoms of lactose intolerance can vary in severity and are often difficult to recognize in cats. You should therefore not take the risk of overlooking your cat’s stomach ache after licking milk and completely refrain from feeding lactose-containing products.
Alternatives to Dairy Products are Better Tolerated
Lactose-free products, which are now available on the market from various manufacturers, are more sensible and just as tasty for most. The milk contained was prepared in special cat milk. The milk sugar was split industrially and is therefore harmless to the cat’s intestines. Sometimes other substances are added to the products, and this is where it is worth taking a second look for you. While the addition of the essential (i.e. vital) amino acid taurine can be quite useful, other carbohydrates and especially sugar are only added as fillers or for the human eye (namely for a prettier color of the product). In the best-case scenario, they give the cat unnecessary calories. The cat cannot even taste sugar and is therefore completely worthless to them.
It is also possible to switch to lactose-free products made by humans. This milk or cream can also be consumed by us humans and tastes a little sweeter to us than “normal” milk. Don’t worry, there is no added sugar added. The sweet taste is caused by the lactose that has already been broken down and is harmless.
By the way, you can usually feed fermented dairy products such as yogurt or cheese safely. As a result of the fermentation process that has taken place, the products also contain little or no lactose. However, you should dose carefully, as cheese, for example, contains a higher proportion of phosphate, which is a burden on the cat’s kidneys.
Warning – Calorie Bomb
Cream, in particular, but also fatty cow’s milk are small calorie bombs and should only be fed in small quantities. It’s best to test whether and how much your cat likes the white treat with a dash of water. The more water you can add, the better.
As is so often the case: It’s all about the quantity and so lactose-free dairy products should only be a treat for your feline connoisseur.