cats and milk/cheese products

Can cats (I have an 8 month old) eat milk and cheese?

I'm asking because over a month ago I was on here trying to figure out why my kitty was throwing up after eating some of her meals.

She was doing great until a week ago when she threw up after her 11am feeding.  I attributed it to eating too fast or having a hairball.  However she did it again last night.  Being so upset, my husband admitted he gave her some pieces of cheese before she ate.  he said he was eating some and she kept acting like she wanted some so he gave her a couple pieces.  He admitted that the time before she threw up, last week, he had given her some cheese spread.

Could this have contibuted to the throwing up these last 2 times.  She was doing GREAT--over a month since she had thrown up and now twice in 1 week.  When we were having problems before we----changed foods (went from wet Purina One canned food to Fancy Feast Classics cat food (can't afford anything else), stopped all dry food, feed her 1/3 of a can 4 times a day and I elevated her food dish.

Maria

Milk and milk products are not the natural diet of a cat, so I avoid giving them to mine. 

A little cheese should normally be OK, it could even be welcome extra in some situations.

Common cow milk is though anther story. Some cats manage it, but quite a few dont... Goat milk is better if you need to give them milk-fluid.   Youghurt, cheese, etc. usually OK.

Mind you, like Oriental said, it is normally nothing necessary in itself for cats, but can be tried for a change or a treat, or complementing some other diets.

Althugh here cheese does seem to be the main culprit.

I guess it is something individual - either your cat doesnt manage cheese, or it was some strong sort. 

I mean, take cat food brands. Lets call it X and Y. It happens some cats threw up X, but not Y, and some other cats - Y but not X.

Sometimes you must just experimentate some and see which suits your cat best.

Cheese is a favourite around here and given several times a week, they also love plain yoghurt - which is excellent for the tummy with probiotics. Usually if dairy affects them it's in the litter tray.

Mine will kill for some grated cheddar

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But it's definitely a rare treat for them. They've been known to go on a hunger-strike to get what they want....

Cats are lactose intolerant, so dairy can give them an upset stomach and diarrhea.

Natalie_ca said:

Cats are lactose intolerant, so dairy can give them an upset stomach and diarrhea.

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