In cinemas and cartoons especially in the “Tom and Jerry” cartoon, we have seen Tom (the cat) drinking milk. And from there we assume that milk is a vital food for our furry friends, correct?
But, unfortunately, though milk is super healthy for humans, it is not that good for cats, be it cold or warm. So, if you are thinking of providing milk for your cat, then hold on!
Mind you, cats can drink warm milk but it will serve no benefit. Rather, it will cause problematic situations.
Want to know more? Let’s jump into the article to fulfill your thirst for your pet’s diet.
Can Cats Drink Warm Milk? (Detailed)
As cats are lactose intolerant, milk is not suitable for them let alone warm milk. Warm milk causes gastrointestinal problems for them.
Moreover, cats lack the lactase enzyme which is responsible for digesting the lactose in milk. Bear in mind that, in the absence of lactase enzymes, lactose takes water from the intestine. And that’s why the cat becomes dehydrated.
Plus, even after taking water from the intestine, the cat’s digestive system can’t digest milk properly resulting in huge gas and eventually leading to diarrhea.
Also, cats can’t take all the nutrients from other foods if they are given too much milk. Because it upsets their stomach and thus your feline friends can’t take a balanced diet.
But if you are thinking about whether your cat likes warm milk or cold, then let me tell you that they are fond of cold milk although it’s not a good idea to serve milk in front of them.
Cold milk gives refreshment to your four-legged friends as they find it cool and fresh. But cats don’t show any interest in warm milk.
However, kittens can drink milk from their mother and it’s somewhat warm just because of the body temperature of the mother cat but it’s not too hot.
In the initial stage of their lives, the kitten gets all the essential nutrients from their mother’s milk. As soon as the kitten turns into a mature cat, you need to prohibit him from drinking milk.
But, if your cat is eager for milk, then you can offer lactose-free cold milk, but it’s a big NO for warm milk.
Can Cats Drink Cow Milk?
Another query you must be thinking is: can cats drink cow milk?
Well, it’s a myth that cats must be given milk. But, in reality, milk creates serious health issues for your furry friends, no matter if the milk is from a cow.
First of all, cats are lactose intolerant (as mentioned earlier). That’s why it’s quite difficult for them to digest the sugar present in the milk.
Like other types of milk, cow’s milk also causes diarrhea, gas, and digestive problems in your feline friends’ tummy.
Another reason why cow’s milk is bad for your cat is that this type of milk is full of fat. And too much fat may ruin their health.
Remember that a saucer of cow milk is equal to eating a 12″ pizza by an individual all alone. Now imagine how much it can affect your cat’s body!
Hence, providing cow milk to your furry friend may lead to weight gain.
Can Cats Drink Oat Milk?
As a pet owner, you never want to disappoint your cats. Whenever your sweet little furry friend demands milk from you with their round, innocent eyes, it’s more like blackmailing, isn’t it?
At that point, you must be thinking of oat milk and assuming, can cats drink oat milk? Well, yes, cats can drink oat milk as it is lactose-free milk that comes from a plant source. It’s relieving, ain’t it?
Now, let’s get to know the making procedure of oat milk. The whole process includes soaking, blending, and straining oats to achieve a creamy liquid texture and that’s how you get oat milk. See it’s so easy!
There are various options of oat milk that are present in the market like vanilla oat milk, and coconut oat milk and you can choose any one of them that suits your cat’s taste and also your pocket.
Apart from this, you can also go for homemade oat milk. There are several recipes for making this milk at home!
Remember, though oat milk, your feline prince/princess can get various nutritional values like potassium (389 mg), Iron (0.288 mg), Calcium (350 mg), vitamin D (79 IU), etc.
Potassium helps your cat to keep his blood pressure normal and Iron boosts their immune system. On the other hand, Calcium and vitamin D work as the savior of bones for your furry friend.
Last but not the least, giving an ample amount of oat milk to your furry friend is not a good idea! As it may cause diarrhea and vomiting and may also upset his stomach. So, you must give him small doses of oat milk.
Benefits ✅
Warm milk gives warmth to the body of your cat which releases its body. Apart from that, there is no benefit of warm milk for your furry friends.
Risks ❌
There are several risks of warm milk for your feline friends, such as:
- Upset stomach
- Diarrhea
- Massive gas problem
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
Considering all these risks, you must keep your furry friends away from the intake of milk.
Servings 🍽️
As cats are lactose intolerant, they should be given only a small amount of milk but it’s best to not serve milk in front of them.
Takeaway:
Well, there you have it, people. Now that I hope you’ve got a clear idea regarding this query, can cats drink warm milk?
To wrap it all up, warm milk serves no major benefit for your four-legged friend. But you can provide lactose-free milk to your cats like Feline Natural Lactose-Free Cat Milk, oat milk, etc.
Milk is an essential beverage for humans but it’s not the healthiest beverage for your furry friend. And you must keep an eye on it if your cat drinks milk as he craves dairy products.
Have a nice day and peace out!
Hi, This is Parvez Khan. I’m the owner and chief editor of The PetLiker. I have couple of dogs as well as a cat. I’m observing those pets so closely over the years. On this website, I prefer to share all the experiences I gathered with my pets. Here I also like to explore the information that is relevant to pets.
Also, I write reviews about pet food and offer the best advice for keeping your pet healthy and active.
Reading your article has greatly helped me, and I agree with you. But I still have some questions. Can you help me? I will pay attention to your answer. thank you.