Soy Milk?

I was reading the thread about milk and thought I'd start a new one. I am lactose intolerant and drink soy milk and rice milk. I have never offered it to Karma. Would it be okay? She loves Cat Sip but our vet said it had no real nutritional value. Its one of those things that says it does but in reallity does nothing.

Originally Posted by KarmasMom

I was reading the thread about milk and thought I'd start a new one. I am lactose intolerant and drink soy milk and rice milk. I have never offered it to Karma. Would it be okay? She loves Cat Sip but our vet said it had no real nutritional value. Its one of those things that says it does but in reallity does nothing.

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If you have never offered it, why start? Cats don't really need milk of any kind - just lots of water. I'm not a soy person as you can probably tell.

Many cats are allergic to soy ...

I, too, am lactose intolerant and drink soy milk, so, I am a soy fan! I feel offering it to Karma would not be a wise choice. Although it may not be harmful, unless of course, as has been mentioned, she has a soy allergy, it's just not necessary. There are many treats that would be more appropriate.

It's not harmful but wouldn't offer any real nutritional benefit. My cats sometimes finish the soymilk from my cereal and it definitely doesn't hurt them.

The way I look at it, treats are treats and aren't meant to be nutritious (though it's great if they happen to be). If your cat likes CatSip, then she can certainly have some.

I agree with semiferal. My cats would often like to share my soy milk, joghurt or ice cream. I sometimes let them lick the bowl or package clean, but only sometimes.

It depends if your cat is sensitive to soy - soy is a very common allergen (I can't drink it myself, and one of my cats will vomit if she consumes anything with soy in it).

There really isn't any need to supplement the diet with milk of any kind. But, having said that, I will admit to letting my cats have a tiny bit of my lactose-free cow's milk every now & then. If you want to let her have a little sip or two it probably won't hurt her unless she's allergic. If she vomits later or gets itchy, you'll need to make sure not to let her have any more.

I've found CatSip to be helpful in getting Spot to eat when he's being picky. Soy milk, however, is something I would avoid (be wary of foods that have soy as a main ingredient). Soy can increase the T4 levels in cats, causing at least temporary hyperthyroidism. Since hyperthyroidism is already relatively common in older cats, I would avoid giving any kitties soy, especially on a regular basis.

http://www.avmi.net/NewFiles/Hyperth...sLinks/68.html

Originally Posted by cloud_shade

I've found CatSip to be helpful in getting Spot to eat when he's being picky. Soy milk, however, is something I would avoid (be wary of foods that have soy as a main ingredient). Soy can increase the T4 levels in cats, causing at least temporary hyperthyroidism. Since hyperthyroidism is already relatively common in older cats, I would avoid giving any kitties soy, especially on a regular basis.

http://www.avmi.net/NewFiles/Hyperth...sLinks/68.html

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That's good to know! Thanks for posting that info.

That is interesting, Cloud Shade, I didn't know that. I drink soy milk regularly and my cats often help themselves while my back is turned. I'll have to be stricter from now on.