Mary Allen
Most cats love yogurt, but is it healthy for four-legged friends? As long as your cat mainly gets high-quality meat food, there is nothing wrong with the treat. Nevertheless, there are a few points to consider.
Calcium, protein, and vitamins in yogurt are healthy for cats. The lactic acid bacteria in it can have a positive effect on the feline intestine. If you follow a few basic rules when it comes to cat nutrition, you can occasionally treat your velvet paw to the delicacy.
Cat Nutrition: Yogurt Yes, Milk No
Cats are only allowed to eat yogurt because it contains almost no lactose. The house tiger does not normally tolerate this. As a rule, the animals react with diarrhea and other digestive problems after drinking cow’s milk, for example. The cats suffer from innate lactose intolerance, so to speak. In yogurt, however, the lactose was broken down during the fermentation process.
It All Depends on the Yogurt
However, your fur nose may only enjoy natural yogurt without additives. If you want to be on the safe side, make your own natural yogurt from UHT milk and special lactic acid bacteria cultures in the yogurt maker. Then he is definitely suitable for cats. Alternatively, you can give your cat lactose-free yogurt to eat. However, don’t let your velvet paw eat more than one or two tablespoons a day.
Cats are Primarily Carnivores
In addition, feeding cats yogurt should be the exception, not the rule. Because the house cats are primarily carnivores and therefore have to be fed primarily with meat.
High-quality ready-made food usually contains all the nutrients that a healthy cat needs. Above all, the amino acid taurine is vital for the kittens, as they cannot produce it themselves. This nutrient is mainly found in meat, so the cat must not do without it.
However, purring gourmets certainly do not spurn a spoonful of yogurt as a treat from time to time. For example, as an important source of proteins and vitamins, it can be a good supplement to BARF. More and more cat owners are discovering raw meat feeding for their animals.
Cats & Yogurt: Beware of Kidney Damage!
However, if you have a cat at home that suffers from chronic renal failure, it is better not to feed it yogurt. The reason: In the case of kidney damage, the animals should keep to a diet and only eat a reduced amount of protein. Since this is contained in yogurt, even if only in small amounts, your cat should not eat it if possible.