Disputes about whether milk can be given cats, they are conducted among vet and breeders from time immemorial. In the presentation of most people, it is the most favorite product of the representatives of the Feline family. Is milk able to harm animal health? Is it worth adding it to a feline diet and what needs to be taken into account?
Benefit and harm
Barely in the house there is a little pretty pet, the newly minted owners immediately try to drink it with milk. Almost no animal refuses such a treat, which once again convinces the owners in the correctness of their actions. It costs to carefully consider all aspects of the issue regarding benefits and harm that this product is on the animal organism.
In natural milk, it contains not only lactose, which is otherwise called milk sugar, but also substances such as:
- amino acids;
- Vitamins of group B, as well as riboflavin and thiamine;
- Macroelements (calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium);
- trace elements (selenium, iodine, zinc);
- low molecular weight proteins;
- Enzymes.
These substances that are contained in milk are important for the organism of the animal. They affect energy processes, participate in the metabolism, the formation of bones and soft tissues.
Their deficiency causes a weakening of pet health, leads to a decrease in its immunity and stability before developing diseases and injury.
In this regard, the benefits of milk in relation to the health of the cat can be called apparent.
However, there are some negative moments that can occur when feeding pet milk. Being an unconditional predator, in the wild cats consume maternal milk only in the first months of life. During the infancy, the body of kittens produces a special enzyme called lactase. It is necessary for processing dairy sugar - lactose, which is contained in maternal milk. Over time, in the body of the animal, the lactase production stops, after which the grained person goes to a more suitable food.
Thus, despite the fact that many adult cats and cats before older years continue to love milk, it is not always able to be worried about their organism.
The absence of the necessary enzymes required for the processing of lactose in this case can turn into unpleasant consequences: a stomach disorder, strong diarrhea, bloating.
Due to the accumulation of gases in the intestine of the animal, painful colic may occur.
Another nuance that should take the owners who regularly treat their cats with milk is in the risk of obesity. It is known that on average, the caloric content of natural milk is able to vary from 60 to 85 calories per 100 grams of the product. Such fatty indicators may be dangerous for sedental animals, inclined to completeness. In particular, it concerns neutered and sterilized cats and cats. If you regularly ride milk with high calorie pets after sterilization, you can provoke this development of obesity.
Obesity, in turn, can launch the development of concomitant diseases. These include diseases of cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory and urinary systems, as well as disorders of the musculoskeletal system and joint problems.
Power depending on the type
If the pet from time to time prefers to be fell into milk, but at the same time he has not been noticed with his assimilation, you can somewhat diversify a feline ration. Most often, unsterilized home cats and cats owners treat cow and goat milk, less often give pets shop and even dry diluted.Goat
Goat Milk - a product with a high content of riboflavin (vitamin B2), vitamin B1 and vitamin A. It is distinguished by low fatty, it is easier and faster than the organism of the cat. It has been established that the intolerance of the proteins contained in the goat milk arises in animals much less often. Approximately the same properties have sheep milk.
Cow
Cow's milk is a high nutritional calorie product. Representatives of the Feline family are allowed only if animals do not have the intolerance to the protein contained in this product.Dry
Dry milk is a high-calorie product obtained from pasteurized cow's milk. It is not allowed to give it to animals only if the recommended dosages was respected with water powder with water. At the same time, the pet should not be lactose intolerance. It should not be abused by such a treats due to the increased calorie content of the product.
Shopping
Shop milk from the package is one of the few products, to drink which will not have every cat. And by nutritional value, and in taste characteristics, the store product usually loses natural milk. However, episodically treat them the animal is allowed (of course, in the absence of lactose intolerance).Is age influence?
If the animal does not suffer from the intolerance to lactose and with pleasure, milk drinks, it should be treated, based on some criteria, in particular age and lifestyle.
The state of the health of the pet, and his daily diet has a huge meaning.
For kittens
As mentioned, the kitten's body is able to produce enzymes required for milk processing. However, according to the composition of the cat, the cow and the goat milk is very different from each other.
In the case when the need arises to focus with the milk of a tiny kitten left without mom, preference is better to give the goat milk, diluted water.
A cow product for kids is considered too heavy food, difficult to assimilate.
Older kittens (aged 1.5-2 months) is allowed to feed cow milk, alternating it with a special wet feed. At the age of 2.5-3 months, kids can be started to gradually translate into ordinary cat food.
For adults
Lovely, as well as sterilized and neutered cats and cats, it is better not to treat the product with high fatty. The recommended consumption rate for healthy intolerated animals is about 13 ml per 1 kg of weight. If the animal does not have signs of lactose intolerance, it should be treated with milk with caution, observing the proposed standards.
It is important to trace the behavior of a pet after the use of milk. If the animal behaves calmly, does not show anxiety, then there should be no reasons for anxiety.
Signs that a cat or cat has serious problems with the processing of dairy sugar (lactose), the following symptoms are:
- diarrhea;
- bloating;
- Changes in behavior (concern, fussiness).
Even if the animal normally transfers milk, this product gives it often and in large quantities it is impossible. Many veterinarians are advised at all to treat pets with milk episodically, and as a permanent delicacy, use pieces of meat or minced meat.
Food compatibility with milk
Milk is an independent product that should not be combined with anything. Some novice cats frequently allow a common error, mixing dry feline food with milk.
It is not necessary to do this, because the dry food itself is an independent product with a thoughtful and balanced composition.
In addition to it, you can only use clean fresh water, which should always be a pet in free access.
According to veterinary doctors, mixing dry feed with milk can turn into extremely unpleasant consequences. Often, such a combination leads to the development of diseases of the urinary system, diseases and violations of the functions of the liver in animals.
You should not combine milk and with conventional products that make up the pet menus. It is also important to monitor the diet of the animal during the day. It should not be present by milk antagonists, a combination with which can cause diarrhea or poor nurse well-being.
What are substitutes?
For owners of kittens located on artificial feeding, modern manufacturers offer a wide range of milk substitutes. Currently, there are numerous types of substitutes designed for animals of various ages and breeds. The product includes valuable nutrients and components necessary for the full development of animals. Such components include fats and proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals, micro- and macroelements, as well as Taurine - indispensable for the amino acid feline body.
Kitty Milk from Beaphar is one of the best balanced substitutes designed for kittens that are on artificial feeding. The product was issued by the famous Netherlands company specializing in the manufacture of goods and feed for pets. This substitute contains a complete set of micro and macroelements, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats. Recommended for use from the first birthdays. Also, the product can be used for the feeding of pregnant and nursing cats.
Cat Milk from the German company Gimpet is a vitaminized substitute recommended for artificial feeding of weak and sick kittens. The mixture is enriched with taurine, micro- and macroelements, minerals. It can be applied to lactating and pregnant cats, elderly and weakened animals.
Babycat Milk is a high-calorie milk substitute from the French company Royal Canin. The product contains a full range of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, providing a full-fledged development of kittens from the first days of life. Strictly balanced composition of this substitute allows the product easily and quickly absorbed.
Common mistakes
Some inexperienced cat owners preferring milk to all other products often make it the basis of the diet. Experts remind that in this case, such changes in the feline menu can lead to unpleasant consequences: ranging from the digestion and ending with a rapid range of excess weight.
It is ultimately not recommended to treat his pets with milk after a minor time after taking the main food. Even if the cat or cat snapped in a portion of dry feed, their body is required to digest food. Milk at this stage can negatively affect the process of digestion.
It is impossible to give a pet cold, hot, sterilized, skimmed, condensed and raw milk.
It is not allowed to treat an animal and a product of dubious origin, which may contain malicious bacillus, self-stick strains, growth hormones, antibiotics. The benefit for the animal is able to bring only fresh and high-quality products: paired, pasteurized, foam (up to 3.5% fat) or lactose milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, natural yogurt without food dyes, flavors and additives. It is strictly allowed to feed cats and cats overdue dairy and fermented milk products. Such products include nonstable cottage cheese, ripples, kefir (all that over 3 days from the date of manufacture), as well as yoghurts, raw materials, cottage cheese masses with synthetic additives.
A common mistake of many inexperienced cat owners is neglecting thermal processing of milk. Contain the product from possible sources of danger (bacilli, bacteria, strains) using pasteurization, boiling and sterilization. However, it is important here to take into account that after thermal processing, the useful properties of milk will be significantly lower.
Learn more about the benefits and danger of milk in the nutrition of cats, see below.