If you were to ask anyone on the street what a cat’s favorite drink is, most people would say milk. It’s a common misconception, but still used on television and commercials that cats like to drink milk, however, most cats are actually lactose intolerant. This means that many cats will have a problem digesting the sugars that are found in milk. As beneficial as milk is for humans, there is little to no nutritional value for cats. You can even go as far as to say a cat may die of malnutrition if it was continually fed milk.
So why are so many people showing that cats drink milk? If you put a bowl of milk in front of a cat, it’s likely that they will start drinking it. Just like a cat goes crazy for cat nip, they also love the taste of milk, even though it isn’t healthy for them.
Instead of feeding your cat milk, you should stick to water, as that’s what most other pets drink and would have as their main source of liquids if they were out in the wild. You can still offer your cat the occasional milk serving, but only if you have confirmed with your vet that they are not lactose intolerant. Since cats love milk, you can serve it to them as a treat. If your cat is lactose intolerant, there are other options such as kitty milk substitutes which can be found in your local pet stores. This milk substitute is good for any cat, as it loaded with more nutrients and vitamins.
Can cats drink soy milk?
Another question that may come across your mind is, can my cat drink soy milk? Soy milk can be considered the same as regular milk, and depending on the health and lactose issues with your cat, you may have different experiences. Just like cats love the taste of regular milk, many will also enjoy the taste of soy milk.
It’s important to remember that both regular milk and soy milk should not be given to your cat regularly, but instead as a treat.