Contrary to what cartoons and films tell us, cats do not actually need Milk and in fact laying out for a cat a ceramic bowl or saucer of milk can do a lot more harm than good. Kittens drink their mother’s milk, however once a kitten has been weaned onto solid food it is common for a lactose intolerance to develop. If a cat was to consume milk there is a high chance of an allergic reaction which would more than likely result in vomiting and other unpleasant digestive problems.

Milk provides nothing for a cat nutritionally speaking and should generally not be made available at all, but certainly not in place of food or water. All a cat needs is healthy cat food and water which is an essential part of a cat’s diet. There must always be a bowl of clean, fresh water available throughout the day and night. Cats are quite fussy creatures and even if there is just one bit of food floating in the water bowl it is likely the cat will turn its nose up and not drink from it at all.

Cats would drink milk if it was in front of them, and on the whole they do seem to enjoy it. If your cat has had some milk and not suffered from digestive problems as a consequence then it may be possible to provide a little milk every now and again as a treat. Not all cats develop a lactose intolerance which is why some are able to indulge in milk without problems. If your cat likes milk but has problems drinking it, there may be a substitute available designed for cats that would fill the gap and can be provided alongside healthy cat food and water.

If a cat was to drink only milk instead of water, it would not survive very long. Milk doesn’t provide a cat with any of the nutrients it needs and shouldn’t really be given. The best advice is to avoid giving your cat any milk, the second best advice is to test the waters and if there are no problems, give your cat a ceramic bowl or even better a saucer of milk (just like in the cartoons) as an occasional treat!

Do any of you give your cats milk on a regular basis? Send in your thoughts about milk and cats below.