Can Cats Eat Cheese?
Cats may not exactly be the cuddliest of pets, but that doesn’t stop us from loving the little furballs. Any cat-parent (more accurately cat-slave) will tell you they want what’s best for their feline. And what can be more important than your furry friend’s dietary needs?
But, here’s the thing. We may have been lied to — for all of our lives. Cartoons, books, heck, the media at large have duped people into believing that cats and dairy products are best friends. Yeah, cats like eating milk by-products, but should they be eating them? If, like me, you’re on the hunt for an answer to the question — can cats eat cheese — then you’ve come to the right place. Follow me on my quest to uncover the truth behind the cheesy feline propaganda.
Are Cats Lactose Intolerant?
Let’s hit the nail right on the head and start with whether cats are lactose intolerant or not? As I said earlier, no one’s escaped the ‘cats love a bowl of milk’ myth, and that’s led to several people discovering the actual truth the hard way.
Cats are unable to digest dairy products. I repeat - cats are lactose intolerant. Sounds incredulous, doesn’t it? But several pet experts can attest to this fact. Even Cornell University’s Feline Health Center maintains that cats are, by and large, lactose intolerant.
You see, cats need to have the lactase enzyme present in their digestive systems to be able to break down lactose. Humans and felines have an abundance of lactase at birth, and that’s why babies and kittens can tolerate and thrive on their mothers’ milk. However, as dependence on milk reduces over time, your cat’s system cuts back on producing lactase — and Wham! Suddenly your kitty cat is no longer milk-friendly.
In short, this means that feeding your cat anything that contains a sizeable amount of lactose can result in your kitty developing mild to severe gastrointestinal issues. These include vomiting, flatulence, diarrhea, and even constipation.
A small percentage of cats can also have allergic reactions to milk products, especially cheese. Allergies caused by cheese consumption can lead to digestive problems or may also adversely affect your feline’s immune system.
Typical symptoms of an allergic reaction caused by the ingestion of dairy products include hair loss, itchy skin, vomiting, gas, etc.
So, if you’ve been feeding your pet milk or cheese without any ill effects, consider yourself lucky, and maybe quit while you’re ahead. But, for the rest of us and our regular non-mutant kitties, the truth is, your cat should not eat cheese.
When I realized I couldn’t or shouldn’t feed my cat cheese, I felt a little guilty. I’m sure that’s what most of you are feeling right now. That’s because cats may not be able to digest cheese, but that sure as hell doesn’t stop them from loving it.
So, the next logical question cat owners generally ask after discovering the unpalatable truth, is can I feed my cat cheese occasionally at least?
I can’t blame you for that. I asked that same, and here’s what I found.
Before you all go remorseful, you need to understand why felines love eating cheese. And, here’s the good news — it’s got nothing to do with the way it tastes. Yay! In fact, pet nutritionists (they exist) think that your cat’s inclination for a cheesy treat has more to do with its protein and fat content.
Basically, when cats eat cheese (remember the high caloric intake), their system perks up a little, and the brain goes, ‘hmmm, that’s nice.’ It’s the age-old response all living things have to high-calorie food, and it’s linked to the even more ancient survival instinct. That’s why some cats will continue to chow down on cheese even when their next stop happens to be the kitty litter.
Long story short, you can switch your cat’s cheese intake with an equally nutritious treat (that’s also infinitely more digestible) and not worry or feel guilty about depriving your cat in any way. Additionally, you’ll find there’s no shortage of delectable treats for your furball on the market.
Can Cats Have Dairy-Free Cheese? Pretty please…
I know what some of you are thinking. If cat + lactose = bad, then what about cat + dairy-free cheese? You, Sherlock, you.
Alas, when it comes to dairy-free cheese, the important question isn’t whether cats can have it, but should cats have it? Remember, cats don’t like cheese because they’re so taken with its taste. It’s more about the calorie content.
Furthermore, dairy-free cheese may contain high levels of sodium and additives like chives or garlic (to enhance flavor) that can be toxic for cats.
The plain fact of the matter is, there is absolutely no benefit your cat can gain from ingesting non-dairy cheese, and plenty of problems can arise because of one awry ingredient. So, the more pertinent question for a cat parent is — should I even bother with cheese at all — in any shape or form? Nope, you shouldn’t.
Can I Give My Baby Kitten Milk?
If you’ve been paying attention thus far, and I hope you have, you’ll know that kittens can drink their mother’s milk without any problems.
But, if you’ve got a bottle-baby on your hands, then feeding the kitten cow milk is a no-no. Some brands make kitten formula milk that’s designed to suit a kitten’s delicate system until it can be weaned at approximately nine weeks of age.
Kittens require the appropriate balance of nutrients for optimal development, and the colostrum present in cat milk also helps build their immunity. That’s why if you’re rearing an orphaned kitten, it’s best to ask your vet for the best formula option for your little ward.
Oh, and before someone out there wonders, do not try feeding your kitten cheese when it’s able to eat solid food either. Apart from the fact that cheese is made from cow’s milk, a kitten’s system naturally reduces lactase production after four weeks. This means that a kitten’s ability to digest cheese will be compromised and could lead to diarrhea — which can be fatal for kittens in extreme situations.
Bonus
Three Human Foods That Are Safe For Your Cat
If you’re completely bummed out by the fact that you won’t be able to share some cheesy goodness with your feline furball — don’t stress. Here are three human foods you can share with your kitty-cat without worrying about negative side effects.
- Eggs
If you’ve been bothering Google with the query — can cats eat eggs — you’ll be happy to know cats can eat eggs and derive a bunch of nutrients from the process. Eggs are jam-packed with proteins, vitamins, and minerals that’ll make your feline feel good.
However, the caveat is it’s best to treat cooked eggs as a treat for your kitty-cat (especially if it's becoming a little too chubby), and never-ever feed your feline raw eggs. Raw eggs contain nasties like E.coli and salmonella, which can do your little cat all sorts of harm.
2. Rice
For feline parents asking if cats can eat rice — the answer’s yes! Felines are obligate carnivores, which means rice won’t provide much sustenance protein, but it’ll help pump up your kitty’s carb intake.
Additionally, kittens or cats suffering from diarrhea and tummy issues can benefit from a diet of boiled chicken and rice because it's filling and easy to digest.
3. Pumpkin Puree
Say what? Did I just say cats can eat pumpkin puree because it’s good for ‘em? I sure did, and I regret nothing. Mostly because pumpkin puree contains goodies like beta-carotene, vitamin A, iron, potassium, etc., and its fiber content is off the charts.
In fact, you can feed your pet pumpkin puree when it's suffering constipation or diarrhea — because it’s beneficial in both conditions. Oh, and pumpkin puree is also brilliant for urinary tract health (looking at you male cat parents) and kitty weight loss.
Finis
I can only hope I’ve managed to answer every one of your feline dairy consumption questions because writing this piece was quite a lot of fun, and you should get something out of reading the whole thing too.
I also think this slight obsession with feeding our cats milk or cheese is an extension of some childish fantasy fueled by all those Tom and Jerry cartoons we rot our brains with. That, or maybe it’s all those subliminal messages that everyone insists the media keeps throwing at us.
Whatever the case may be, I think we’ve managed to lay this particular cat saga to rest. It’s time we moved on to the next myth reigning supreme in the pet world, but that’s for another time.
Till then, have a purr-tastic Halloween.
