It’s a timeless image: a beloved cat stooping low, drinking a bowl of milk, lapping it up greedily, safe and warm inside the house.
However, much like many images of pets, these preconceived notions are wrong. Worse, feeding a cat some types of milk can be detrimental to its health. When a kitten is being nursed, there’s nothing better (and nothing else it should have before it’s weaned) than it’s mother’s milk. Of course milk holds many health benefits – which is why as humans we imbibe it on a regular, daily basis.
But as a cat gets older, and starts to eat solid food, it’s important to draw the line and take into consideration appropriate foodstuffs to give your beloved pet. They rely on you to feed them, and thus you must have their best interests at heart.
In this article:
- Cow’s milk
- Almond milk
- Rice milk
- Coconut milk
- Soya milk
- Special milk products for cats
Milk can play a role in the diet of a cat, but as an owner you should be careful. The kinds of milk you can give your cat are few and far between – and even those should be given sparingly.
Cow’s Milk, or anything with lactose
When asking ‘what kind of milk can I give my cat?’, people most commonly assume the things in their fridge are a good starting point. But, just like most food, commercial, supermarket milk is not geared towards a cat’s digestive system.
Cow’s milk contains lactose, which requires a certain enzyme (lactase) to be broken down correctly. While humans have this, cats lack it, and thus the lactose passes through their system intact. Because it is undigested, it can sit and ferment in a cat’s intestines, drawing water, and causing dehydration and diarrhea. In young cats, this can be fatal, but it is surely miserable for them whatever age.
On top of this, milk contains more fat than cats are recommended to have in their diet, and the sugary content of lactose means that they will consume a massive amount of calories (relative to them) from even the smallest amount of skim milk (80-140 calories per cup).
What kind of milk can I give my cat: Alternative types of milk
Knowing what kind of milk you can give your cat means also knowing what kind of milk you cannot give your cat. As dietary options, preferences, and choices expand for human palettes, more questions about lactose-free milk options abound.
Here’s a rundown of some of those types:
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Almond Milk
Lacking the lactose of cow’s milk, almond milk is a viable option for someone who wants to feed their cat milk. Although cats are carnivores, and thus would never eat a nut if it was placed on front of them, almond milk is a suitable option as it contains a high level of protein. The levels of protein can’t compete with a cat’s needs, of course, and will still need to be supplemented by a balanced diet.
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Rice Milk
Another alternative aimed at people who are also lactose intolerant, rice milk is something that many cat owners purport to give to their cats on a regular basis. As a product of brown rice, it contains a lot of sugar that can really mess with your cat’s blood sugar levels – seeing as how cats cannot taste sweetness, this is an unnecessary payoff. If it has to be given at all, it should be done so as a treat, and sparingly.
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Coconut Milk
A little more unconventional, coconut milk (and coconut oil strangely enough) are sometimes given to cats as a treat. Bear in mind, however, that just like the other milks on this list, coconut milk is not to be given in anything other than moderation or on occasion. It contains an incredibly high amount of fat, which may be okay for human consumption but should cause concern in cats.
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Soya Milk
A lot of owners look to this as the most common replacement for cow’s milk in a human diet, and indeed it does fulfil the same role for a lot of people looking for a way to cut lactose out of their life. But does the same ring true for cats? Sadly not. While yes it provides a lactose-free solution, processed soya milk also contains a lot of other ingredients and hormones that can have nasty side-effects. For instance, proto-estrogen, which can lead to conditions like hyperthyroidism. Hormones and chemicals like this can cause problems in the long-term even in humans, and thus should be avoided for cats definitely!
So, What Kind of Milk Can I Give My Cat?
If you are looking to add milk to your cat’s diet, in order to provide a degree of variety, or just a treat, you would be far better at looking at special products aimed directly at a cat’s sensitive digestive system.
Many cat milk brands invest in creating kinds of milk you can give your cat. Special milk for cats will provide them with the nutrition they require.
Whiskas Catmilk is a specially balanced product that is lactose-reduced but suitable for kittens and cats in small amounts. While it does retain the calorific intake of dairy milk, some owners find this is beneficial for older or weaker cats who have lost weight, and need to regain strength in a safe and healthy way.
Kittens who have not moved onto solid foods have a whole extra set of requirements. They drink exclusively milk, but this must be specially formulated to account for the carbohydrates, fat, and protein they need.
Kittens without nursing mothers can be fed on special formulas such as KMR – Kitten Milk Replacer. Thanks to a whole host of ingredients ranging from whey protein to egg yolks, this temporary stopgap solution is by far the best kind of milk you can give a cat who is still nursing to replicate breast milk.
Final Thoughts: What Kind of Milk Can I Give My Cat?
Cats bodies do not tolerate their milk-loving youth. While as kittens (and thus young mammals), it is all that they drink, as soon as they are weaned from their mothers milk onto solid foods, their ability to digest milk drops sharply, leading many if not most cats to become incredible lactose intolerant.
Dairy products, like cow’s milk, and yogurt have a special process and formula to suit our needs. As you may know, humans do not naturally drink cow’s milk either.
When asking ‘what kind of milk can I give my cat?’, the answer is: very few kinds. Rather, it is far better to invest in properly formulated products which both avoid nasty ingredients that they can’t handle, but also provides a nutritional balance that they need.
Lucille Lawwill
Sunday 30th of June 2019
I cannot get to a place where I can buy the replacement milk. I have a kitten the mother is no longer able to feed. Can I give the kitten diluted canned evaporated milk? Please let me know ASAP, because the kitten is getting very weak.
Brittany, Paul, & Yoda =^^=
Monday 1st of July 2019
Hi Lucille, I am not a vet, but I did read the following from PetMD about: "If it is after hours at your local animal hospital, your short-term solution will be to mix an egg yolk with a can of evaporated milk (make sure it is not the sweetened condensed milk). This is only a temporary "solution" and should only be used for a couple of feedings."
I hope this helps. The kitten can quickly become hypoglycemic if they haven't eaten for more than 6 hours. The above serves just as a temporary solution so try to call a vet or local animal hospital for best suggestions. Thanks and we wish you good luck!
Nat Lockwood
Thursday 18th of April 2019
Cats can taste sugar & to go in about all the reasons they can’t have various milk only to advertise cat milk- all of which DO have lactose in & have made some of my cats very sick- even ones that can have cows milk! Talk about fake media!
Brittany, Paul, & Yoda =^^=
Wednesday 24th of April 2019
Hi Nat! I'm sorry I don't quite understand what you mean! What brand of kitten milk did you use and you said it made your kittens sick? Is that right?
sherena
Tuesday 4th of September 2018
hi everybody,i found a kitten she is 3 weeks old,there is kittens formula these days in my country so i feed her free lactose human milk i have no other option,is that dangerous n wht can i do plz
Brittany, Paul, & Yoda =^^=
Thursday 6th of September 2018
Hi Sherena, it would be better if you went to a veterinarian, they could probably provide you with appropriate kitten formula, or at least be able to recommend you on what to do for the next steps. Where are you from? The thing is the "human milk" is not very beneficial for a growing kitten, it lacks all the nutrients that would normally be provided by a mother cat's milk or in specially-formulated kitten milk. Try to go visit a veterinarian! Thanks for stopping by and best of luck!
Ritu kende
Sunday 17th of December 2017
I bought my male Persian kitten when he was of around 50 days. Now he approx 3 months old. I feed him cat dry food (royal canin kitten food). He perfectly fine and happily eats it. But when he is sleepy be in at night or in the afternoon, he again and again comes to me shouting making a sad noise, trying to explain something.. what i feel is that he wants his mother's milk while sleeping. Is it the problem? Is it the reason he shouts while he is sleepy? I asked docters they said its not necessary to give him milk. The dry food is fine for him. Infact milk will not be that good for him. But i feel like he should be given some amount of milk a day. It that okay if i feed him the packet mil which is mentioned above in this article?
Brittany, Paul, & Yoda =^^=
Monday 18th of December 2017
Hello Ritu, Thanks for reaching out to us! 7 weeks old is a week or so early for kittens to be taken from their mum, so it's possible this 'craving' for milk is just a symptom of still being a kitten. Our previous kitten Max used to suckle on my fingers or skin. The habit will wear off. But we don't think your Persian needs milk. Like the vet said, milk is not good for cats, and indeed you should try to ween your kitten away from fabricated cat mothers milk. It's really designed for nursing kittens, rather than for kittens above 8 weeks. It would be best to continue on the dry/wet food diet. Your kitten's meowing is more likely a sign of boredom or calling out for attention. If he's meowing while actually sleeping, it's probably kitten dreams. This is normal, but doesn't mean the kitten needs to be back on milk. When he comes to you meowing, try to spend 15 minutes of active playtime using toys, lasers, or just cuddles. We hope this will help! Best of luck :)
Anna
Thursday 7th of September 2017
OK so I have a question please, what are the health concerns about giving cats coconut milk? I have older cats who are mad about coconut milk. They are regularly weighed and we assess treats based on how they are getting on.
Brittany
Friday 8th of September 2017
Hi Anna! Thanks for reaching out. Coconut milk is very high in fat, which is not great per say for your kitties. It is safe to give in moderation or as a treat, however. Just keep an eye on their overall weight and health, because too much of a good thing can become a bad thing. ;) Especially as your kitties are older, they may have trouble digesting and breaking down the coconut milk. Try not to spoil them too much, hehe. Best of luck!