Can cats eat lactose-free milk? 🐱🥛

Can cats eat lactose-free milk, and why?

Lactose-free cat milk is much easier to digest than cow’s milk and is a safe occasional treat. Still high in calories; only special lactose-reduced milk, never normal cow’s milk.

Cats are obligate carnivores: they must get most of their nutrition from meat and need nutrients such as taurine that only animal products provide. They lack some enzymes for processing plants and carbohydrates, so fruit and veg offer little benefit and can upset their stomach; many cats are also lactose intolerant.

How to feed lactose-free milk to cats

• •How much: A small saucer occasionally as a treat, not as a replacement for water.
• •How often: An occasional treat, not a daily food. Any treat should be occasional and tiny — no more than about 10% of daily calories — and never replace a balanced cat food.
• •Young pets: Kittens have sensitive digestion and high growth needs, so introduce new foods cautiously and ask your vet.
• •Preparation: Always wash fresh produce, remove any pips, stones, seeds, peel or tough skin where relevant, and serve it plain — never with salt, sugar, oil, butter or seasoning.

More foods cats might eat

Make treat time better

Handy kit for feeding cats well:

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