Cats and Milk Really Don’t Mix

This week Live Science asks, “Is it safe to give cats milk?” The answer is unequivocal: nope.

Kittens start their lives on mother’s milk but most lose the ability to digest lactose as they age. Milk has limited nutritive value, is fatty, and contains phosphates, which are especially hard on cats with kidney issues.

“For most cats, the ability to digest lactose declines after weaning,” Nathalie Dowgray, head of the International Society of Feline Medicine in the United Kingdom, told Live Science. “As a result, milk can cause digestive issues in cats and lead to symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting.”

The UK’s People's Dispensary for Sick Animals has been on an anti-milk campaign for a couple years. “Another reason not to give your cat cows’ milk is because it’s full of fat, which is why they like the taste so much!” says the PDSA website.

 “A saucer of milk for your cat is like you eating an entire 12-inch pizza.”

Some pet stores offer lactose-free milk substitutes, but the PDSA advises to tread lightly. “While they’re less likely to make your cat poorly, their fat content is often just as high as any other milk so it’s still bad for their waistline!” The best liquid for your cat’s needs are, no surprise, clean fresh water.

What made us think we should be giving cats saucers of milk in the first place? That might be the fault of French painter Alfred-Arthur Brunel de Neuville, whose images of cats with bowls of cream were very popular in the late 19th century. That and the fact cats usually lap it up with gusto.

Photo credit: Art.Salon.com