Milk?

[marinewife05]

I tend to eat my breakfast while sitting on the couch and Kiki always comes to check it out. Will it hurt her to drink leftover milk out of my cereal bowl? Or if she decides to take a lick out of my oatmeal bowl? She always comes into the kitchen when I go in there and starts begging....for what I don't know. She eats primarily dry kibble (Authority from Petsmart). I give her some wet food a few times a week. I have tried several brands and she likes Friskies wet (the one that looks like shredded meat not the paste stuff).

But will occasional cow's milk hurt her? She will be a year old in a few days (according to the SPCA).

[Jack31]

A few licks probably isn't going to affect her. However I'd check the litter box and also gauge her behavior.

Jack and Harley love to lick the cereal bowl or bottle of my glass if I use a short one and have never shown any issues, but they usually only get about one tongue full.

Leslie

[sharky]

a few licks should be fine... MOST cats are lactose intolerant and this would cause issue if milk was a routine thing

[3CatsN1Dog]

Fatman and GiGi have both gotten into bowls of milk or glasses of milk if left unattended for 1 second or more..Do NOT walk away from your food in my house it will get stolen!! Neither of them have had any problems from it but its not a habit for them to get any milk, it might happen 2 times a month because BF gets his milk first and then forgets something and leaves it sit on the table to get whatever he forgot and by then both cats are there drinking out of his glass!

[Willowy]

It depends on the cat. Of my cats, only 2 really like milk....Silka can have a fair amount and suffer no ill effects, but if Sammy gets even one lick, he gets diarrhea. And he's a longhair, so it gets all over his backside fur and it's disgusting. So NO milk for him! You can let her have a couple licks and see how she does with that. A little bit of milk now and then won't hurt her.

[rapunzel47]

I have no milk lovers at the moment, but have had in the past. And while many cats are lactose intolerant, mine have not had this problem. Gryphon -- a usually VERY polite cat -- used to pester DH every morning for the milk left in his cereal bowl, and never had any ill effects from it. I'd say allow a little and see how she handles it. If she tolerates it, no harm; if not, then you have to put on your sorrowful face and tell her "no, darling, not for kitties".

[StefanZ]

As mentioned, the lactose intolerance is partly individual. and partly surely depends on how much...

So you can try out. She wont die, this intolerance is NOT same as allergy. At worst she will get runny poo during one day.

You dont want to experiment with a sick cat, who otherwise needs this rich nutrition like it was pure gold - but you must give it anything else. Because if the sick cats get diarrhea, it may be the end of the story...

But you dont risk much with a completely healthy cat, save some inconvenience in one day...

[KiTTYL0VE4]

My cats do the same thing.. Mittens usually always begs when I'm eating, and I usually offer her little pieces of chicken or whatever. But if I'm eating cereal, I will have BOTH of them stuck to me like glue.. I usually offer them each a couple small spoonfuls, and they LOVE it. The only time I will push them away and tell them no, is if the cereal I'm eating is chocolate, because it turns the milk chocolatey. Because this is the only time they ever get milk, and they only get a little bit each, they don't get sick from it or have diarrhea afterwards.

I also know a guy (the same guy who brought Monster to me when he was a little baby), comes into my work everyday and buys a 1/2 gallon of milk, and pours it into a bowl and lets all the ferals/semi-ferals share it. None of them ever get sick from it either. However, I don't suggest doing this with your own kitties, because all cats are different, and I'd hate for them to get sick.

[Willowy]

Originally Posted by KiTTYL0VE4

I also know a guy (the same guy who brought Monster to me when he was a little baby), comes into my work everyday and buys a 1/2 gallon of milk, and pours it into a bowl and lets all the ferals/semi-ferals share it. None of them ever get sick from it either.

Well, if a feral gets diarrhea, nobody really notices, LOL. It's a whole different matter with an indoor cat. That's nice of him to give the kitties a treat, although some cat food would be better.....

[StefanZ]

Originally Posted by Willowy

Well, if a feral gets diarrhea, nobody really notices, LOL. It's a whole different matter with an indoor cat.

Besides, the ferales are the survivors. Ie, the surviving. If they are not a survivor, they wouldnt even be there to get that milk....


Reality outside is a harsh mistress...

[strange_wings]

Originally Posted by StefanZ

You dont want to experiment with a sick cat.

Exactly. I've discussed that point elsewhere before. I'd also suggest against letting cats with known touchy GI's have it - no need to borrow trouble.

As for no one noticing strays and ferals diarrhea... if their butt's covered in poo it's hard to miss.

KiTTYL0VE - You may want to let the guy know that lactose free milk or goats milk would be a much better alternative. Who knows what else the ferals have to drink, if the milk gives them diarrhea it could dehydrate them more than they may already be.

[KiTTYL0VE4]

This group of ferals are actually well cared for. They get food and water on a regular basis. Idk how often they get fed everyday (but they do get fed everyday), I do know they always have water. This guy just gives them a treat of milk. There are a lot in this colony, so with them all sharing, none of them get too much.