Raw Goats milk and senior cats

kenna415

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Apr 10, 2013
Messages
22
Purraise
5
Gizmo, who turns 13 in July, just got back from his yearly check-up and got a great bill of health.

His pre-Mega Colon is at the same, minimal stage (no surgery needed) and treated by the same daily dose of Laculose as last year (4ml 1 or 2 times daily) but he has lost 2 pounds in the last 2 years (2013 = 12.5lbs, 2014 = 11.5lbs, 2015 = 10.5lbs) and doc wants him to maintain where he is or maybe even put on a pound or so and recomended Nutri-Cal.

Doc said that because we weren't trying to get him to lose weight (he wasn't obese) that the weight loss is probably from the Lactulose moving things so well that he isn't absorbing all the calories he needs. As I was exploring high calorie options at Pet Food Express (side note: love that store and it's employees!!) I was pointed away from Nutri-Cal ) it's basically just corn syrup and towards raw Goats milk. Does anyone have experience feeding Goats milk to their kitties?

From all my research it seems to be a holy grail product. Highly digestible, real animal protein, full of vitamins and nutrients, and very specifically used to make kitties with digestion, constipation and kidney issues, healthier. I can't find anything speaking against it on the internet but wanted to ask a community I trust for their feedback and experiences.

The goals for Giz are:
- to avoid constipation and keep 'things' moving
- to aid in healthy digestion and absorption of nutrients
- to stop weight loss and stay where he is or maybe gain a pound or so
- keep kitty as healthy as possible

We jus did our first feeding with it mixed into his wet food (Wellness Brand, he only eats wet food) and he ate it like he normally does (no aversion to the smell or taste).

Thanks in advance for your kind feedback and input!
 

Columbine

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 27, 2015
Messages
12,921
Purraise
6,224
Location
The kitty playground
I've used goat's yogurt with success for a malnourished older (8/9month) kitten I rescued. She loved it, it helped build her up and with settling her digestive issues (in combination with other things ). Wanted raw goat's milk, but my friend's goat's weren't producing at that point (in kid at the time).
StefanZ StefanZ You can probably answer this question better than me.
 

mwallace056

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 3, 2015
Messages
1,803
Purraise
368
I
I've used goat's yogurt with success for a malnourished older (8/9month) kitten I rescued. She loved it, it helped build her up and with settling her digestive issues (in combination with other things ). Wanted raw goat's milk, but my friend's goat's weren't producing at that point (in kid at the time).
StefanZ StefanZ You can probably answer this question better than me.
I already paged Stefanz
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,971
Purraise
10,596
Location
Sweden
I've used goat's yogurt with success for a malnourished older (8/9month) kitten I rescued. She loved it, it helped build her up and with settling her digestive issues (in combination with other things ). Wanted raw goat's milk, but my friend's goat's weren't producing at that point (in kid at the time).
 
If you cant get raw goat milk, goats youghurt should be a nice alternative - I didnt know there was such to get.  There isnt in Sweden.
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,971
Purraise
10,596
Location
Sweden
I  dont know anything about Mega Colon.

But Im a firm believer in goat milk, and if possible, raw goat milk.  For cats and other cat species too.   Humans too.   :)

I dont know of any contrindications, unless extremely lactose intolerant.

But many who doesnt manage cow milk lactose, manage nicely goat milk lactose.  How, I dont know for sure.  I think its in much not lactose, but proteins.  We know proteins in goat milk are milder.  Also, goat milk is typically sold full fat,  and full fat helps some, as the natural enzyme lactase in milk is solved in the fat.  

The problem is, as I understand it, raw goat milk isnt sold in the usual shops in USA either, likewise as raw cow milk isnt.

Those whom want unpasteurized milk must get it themselves directly from the farmer.  Ie essentially go by word of mouth.

This goat milk youghurt mentioned by @Columbine must be a nice alternative, if you cant get  raw goat milk.

I presume it can be bought in usual shops?   It should also be an alternative for those very sensitive against even goat milk lactose -

as in youghurt there is much less lactose than in full milk.

As last  bastion there is bottled or cardbord box  (pasteurized)  goat milk.  Preferably full fat, ie 3-3,2%.   May be somewhat lower if you want to limit the intake of fat on a senior citizen.

Its useful too in many situation, but its really not the same high class product as raw.

But you can get it easily in many regular shops, Walmart etc.  Here is Sweden its often carried in shops owned by immigrants,  arabian owners and so.
 
Last edited:

Columbine

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 27, 2015
Messages
12,921
Purraise
6,224
Location
The kitty playground
I get goat's yogurt at my local health food shop...and that's in a fairly small country town! With cows milk alternatives being so commonplace these days, the yogurt shouldn't be too hard to find.
 

LTS3

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Aug 29, 2014
Messages
19,209
Purraise
19,695
Location
USA
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #10

kenna415

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Apr 10, 2013
Messages
22
Purraise
5
I found the Primal Raw Unpasturized Goat's milk and have him his first serving at dinner - he ate it like normal so I don't forsee having a problem with getting him to eat it.

Can anyone who has used it with their kitties speak to how well it workes and what for?
 

enet

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Mar 9, 2015
Messages
14
Purraise
4
I have a year old male cat who's had GI issues and diarrhea from day one (no solution yet btw and some prolapse - different thread) - adding the primal goat milk (he's primarily eating rabbit primal pronto) has made him happy if not better. He was a rescue from an abandoned brother/sister pair in a closed apartment and I think has some 'mommy' starvation issues anyway (pica). He begs for it a lot, prefers it with his meal and it does seem to travel through his system okay. I dunno. His issues are ongoing and random, but it doesn't seem to make it worse. So i'm a fan. I'd be interested in trying some local raw goat milk from the source. I'll probably track some down soon and give it a shot. WIll let you know.
 
Top