Can cats eat cheese? How safe and healthy is cheese for cats? Let’s find out….
We all know that cats love dairy products like milk, cream, whipped cream, and even ice cream (my cats love ice cream!) even though they these products are not the best for them as a lot of cats are lactose intolerant (I’ll explain in more detail later).
When giving your cat a treat that’s something you eat, the rule of thumb is always to ask yourself, ’is this food something that a cat would naturally come across and choose to eat?’
If the answer is no, as is the case with cheese then you need to do a little investigating before feeding it to them.
Cats are carnivores, and although a lot of cats will eat cheese when offered, it’s not good for them.
On top of this, a little known fact is that most cats are lactose intolerant. Especially the older a cat is.
So, eating cheese and other dairy products can cause them some serious discomfort, not to mention vomiting and diarrhea.
We all know how it feels to be gassy and have an upset stomach. My advice is to think about that before handing over a little cheese!
If you’re reading this and thinking, ‘my cat has eaten cheese for a while without any issues..’ glad to hear they are fine, but it’s time to put a stop to it.
At best, your cat is getting way too much fat from the cheese, so if they’re already overweight it’s definitely a treat they don’t need.
Is There Any Type of Cheese That’s OK for Cats?
I know what you’re thinking, there are hundreds of different types of cheeses and there must be one that is OK for cats to eat, right?
Well, sorry, nope.
Simply put – if it’s a real cheese then it’s made with milk and is high in fat.
If you’re looking for a treat for your cat then buy a pack of treats that are balanced in nutrition and still taste delicious.
There are even cheese flavored treats if your cat absolutely loves cheese and you don’t want to see them go through a complete cutoff, these Dreamies are fine as an
Does Cheese Give Cats Diarrhea?
Yes, cheese can give your cat diarrhea!
Let’s be honest here, a little nibble on some cheese isn’t worth the risk of diarrhea, is it?
As cat owners, we’ve all had to clean after our cats have had a bad tummy. It’s not nice.
Although, on a related note, I covered the best cleaning products for carpets stains here. 🙂
Can Cats Eat Cheez Its?
I know what some of you will be thinking, Cheez Its is a happy compromise, right?
They are cheesey, without being real cheese, so the milk and loactose content in a lot lower.
Well, it’s kind of looking at Cheez Its as a lesser of two evils compared to a chunk of real cheese.
They are still loaded with all the kinds of stuff that isn’t ideal for cats. We’re talking B numbers, flavorings, additives, salt, skimmed milk, the list goes on.
I hate to give you the guilt trip, but
I’d keep the cheez Its locked away with all the other human treats, and keep your kitty on the treats specially formulated for cats.
Can Cats Eat Goat’s Cheese?
You are probably aware that goat’s cheese is better for people who have problems with cow’s milk, and this is also true for cats.
But, again, it’s still not advisable to give cats goat’s cheese in my opinion. There is a risk if will give them an upset tummy, so my view on it is why risk it.
Can Cats Eat Cream Cheese?
Nope. At least, they shouldn’t be eating it. I’m sure most cats would given the chance!
You’re starting to see a theme here I hope. Cheeses are bad for cats. They are too fatty and can’t break down the lactose in milk.
In Summary
Cats are attracted to cheese, there is no denying that
But this doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to let them eat some. Much like pork, bread, and other foods we commonly eat and may be tempted to share the
Please remember, most cats are lactose intolerant so cheese is going to give them an upset stomach.
They have no need to eat cheese as part of their diet so my advice is to avoid letting them have it. This applies to all the other
If it has the word cheese in it – keep it away from your kitty!
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