Wait, Cats Aren't Supposed To Drink Milk?

Wait, cats aren’t supposed to drink milk? No doubt you’ve seen it before: the iconic image of a cat lapping at a shallow dish of milk. Cats have often been portrayed drinking milk in old folk tales, movies, and picture books. So that means milk is good for cats, right? Contrary to popular belief, the answer is a resounding no, regardless of the age or breed of the cat. Think again before you offer a kitty a bowl of milk. Like humans, cats are lactose intolerant, which means they cannot digest the lactose in cow’s milk. What happens when a cat drinks milk? After consuming milk, cheese, or any significant amount of dairy products, the undigested lactose will remain in a cat’s intestines and start to ferment. This leads to tummy troubles and diarrhea about 8 to 12 hours later—no fun for you or your cat! Read more >