As a cat owner, you are probably used to your little furry friend wanting a taste of whatever you are eating and drinking. While it may be tempting to give into their cute little faces, caution should be practiced before sharing any of your food. This is because a lot of human food can actually cause harm to cats.
Milk is one such food that most people think is okay to give to cats. After all, you were probably raised watching cartoons depicting cats lapping up bowls of milk.
Unfortunately, milk and other dairy products can cause various stomach issues in cats. Despite what you may think, most cats are lactose intolerant, and their little bellies just cannot handle dairy.
But what about oat milk? Oat milk is a non-dairy milk alternative made from oats. Since it doesn’t contain dairy, it doesn’t have that nasty lactose that causes all the stomach problems in those who are intolerant to it. So, can cats have oat milk?
The simple answer to “can cats have oat milk” is yes. It is safe for cats to drink oat milk. However, the full answer isn’t as simple as that.
This is because oat milk doesn’t provide any benefits to your cat and can actually cause many of the same symptoms that dairy milk causes. Even if you do let your furry friend have some oat milk, you should never try to make it a staple in your cat’s diet and instead only use it as an occasional treat.
Can cats have oat milk?
Oat milk is not harmful to cats, and there is nothing to worry about if you give your cat a little of this dairy-free alternative. However, you should refrain from regularly giving your cat oat milk.
Oat milk isn’t a part of a cat’s diet, and too much of it can lead to other health problems for your kitty. If you do decide to let them have some natural oat milk, make sure it is only a small amount and do so sparingly.
Furthermore, you should never give them any flavored milk, such as vanilla oat milk, and only give them plain non-flavored oat milk to drink. Flavored oat milk contains additional sugar, which is just not good for anyone, let alone your cat.
Can kittens have oat milk?
While oat milk is safe for adult cats, in moderation, you should refrain from giving it to kittens. Kittens have sensitive stomachs that are prone to bouts of vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, bloating, and other digestive issues.
Giving them oat milk can overload their little bellies, causing them discomfort and pain.
What is oat milk made from?
As its name suggests, oat milk is made from raw oats soaked in water. The soaked oats are then blended and strained to make this dairy-free milk alternative.
This plant-based milk does have more fiber, carbs, and calories in it than soy, cow, or almond milk. Unfortunately, it also has less protein than what you can find in dairy milk and soy milk.
Another drawback of oat milk is that the process used to turn the oats into milk actually changes the oat’s complex starches into a simple sugar known as maltose. Studies have shown that maltose can be worse for your health than complex carbs.
So what does all this mean? Well, like anything else that we humans consume, there are both good and bad aspects to be considered. It also means that you should probably keep the amount of oat milk you give to your cat to a minimum.
Oat milk is also available in various flavors, including vanilla oat milk and cinnamon oat milk. While these flavors may be tempting for you, they should never be given to your cat. This is just a more unnecessary and potentially harmful ingredient that your cat just doesn’t need.
How much oat milk can cats drink?
If you decide to let your cat drink oat milk, refrain from giving them more than 2 tablespoons. This amount shouldn’t cause them any stomach discomfort. You shouldn’t, however, give any amount of oat milk to kittens, since this can cause them an unnecessary amount of stomach pain.
Since each cat is different, they may still experience bouts of digestive problems even with this safe amount of oat milk. If you notice your cat has diarrhea or vomiting after consuming oat milk, refrain from giving them more milk. If, after 24 hours, your cat is still experiencing digestive issues, reach out to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
It cannot be stressed enough that you shouldn’t give oat milk to your cat regularly, and instead only do so every once in a while. While cats can safely drink oat milk, too much milk can leave your cat’s stomach upset and painful.
What happens if a cat has too much oat milk?
Giving your cat too much oat milk can cause an upset stomach, cramping, vomiting, bloating, and diarrhea. Grains, such as oats, are not easy things for cats to digest. So, if you give them too much oat milk, they will experience symptoms associated with indigestion and an upset stomach.
Because there is a potential risk of digestive problems, you should always monitor your cat whenever you give them oat milk. Cats are prone to dehydration when they experience diarrhea and vomiting, and dehydration can quickly become life-threatening. If your cat is showing signs of digestive problems, make an appointment with your veterinarian immediately.
Can cats drink other types of milk?
Milk is not a part of a cat’s daily diet. The only exception to this is when they are kittens and are still drinking the milk from the mother cat.
Once they are weaned, however, milk doesn’t play a part in their diet and can actually cause unpleasant and painful digestive problems. Milk doesn’t hold any nutritional value for cats, and feeding it to them can make your cat sick.
If you must give your cat milk, choose a specially formulated cat milk and only give it to them as an occasional treat. Cat milk is designed specifically for felines and contains little to no lactose. It is given to kittens and adult cats as a supplement, and shouldn’t be used as a replacement for their normal feeding.
Can cats drink cow’s milk?
Cow’s milk contains an abundance of lactose, which is not a good thing for cats. Most cats are lactose intolerant, which means their digestive system cannot process the lactose found in most dairy products.
If they eat something with lactose in it, they can experience extreme stomach issues ranging from mild discomfort to extremely painful. Because of the potential to cause your cat discomfort, it is best to avoid giving them any cow’s milk.
Can cats drink goat’s milk?
Goat’s milk is a better alternative to cow’s milk since it contains much lower levels of lactose. Goat’s milk can also provide beneficial vitamins and minerals for your cat. However, you should only give your cat raw goat’s milk, and not some overly processed milk.
Furthermore, despite it being safe for them to drink, you should still only give cats goat’s milk as an occasional treat. As with any other type of milk, goat’s milk is not a part of a cat’s daily diet.
Can I give my cat soy milk?
Soy milk is arguably one of the most popular dairy-free milk alternatives. This milk is made from soybeans, which contains a type of protein that cats just cannot handle.
In fact, it is not uncommon for cats to actually be allergic to the protein naturally found in soy. It is best to just err on the side of caution and avoid giving your cat soy milk.
Is it safe to give my cat almond milk?
Almond milk is another dairy-free alternative that sounds like a good option for cats. Unfortunately, almond milk is well-known for making cats throw up, and it can even cause them to have bouts of diarrhea. Almond milk is high in fats and oils, which is not healthy for cats.
Can my cat drink coconut milk?
Coconut milk doesn’t contain lactose, but it is high in fat and oil, which can cause harm to cats of all ages. Your cat will also have difficulties digesting the coconut milk’s proteins, which will result in their stomach becoming upset.
As with other types of milk, coconut milk can cause diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, gas, and cramping.
What treats can I give my cat?
It’s always best to give your cat treats designed specifically for them. Cat treats are made with the unique and complex dietary needs of cats taken into consideration. With that said, however, there are some “human foods” that you can give your cat as an occasional treat.
Tune juice
Low sodium tuna juice is a great occasional treat for cats. This “juice” is what you drain from the can of tuna before you use it. Just make sure that you give them tuna canned in water and not oil. Tuna canned in oil can cause cats to experience serious and painful digestive issues.
Cooked chicken and turkey
Cooked chicken and turkey is another great human food that you can give your cat as a treat. Just make sure there isn’t any type of seasonings on it, since a lot of herbs and spices are actually toxic to cats.
You also want to make sure the cooked chicken and turkey don’t have any bones in them either.
Cooked eggs
Cooked eggs are safe for cats to eat in moderation. In fact, they can provide your kitty with various vitamins and minerals, as well as protein. Never, however, feed your cat uncooked eggs and refrain from seasoning the cooked eggs before giving them to your feline friend.
Vegetables
While not all cats like vegetables, the ones that do may find joy in having them as a treat every now and again. The best vegetables for cats include peas, broccoli, carrots, corn, lettuce, pumpkin, spinach, green beans, winter squash, and zucchini.
When feeding them vegetables, make sure to cook or steam the vegetables first. Like humans, cats’ digestive systems are not able to effectively break down the cell walls of plants.
Fruits
Some cats absolutely love fruit, and they can make a healthy and safe occasional treat for your friend. The fruits that your cat can safely enjoy are strawberries, cantaloupe, bananas, blueberries, seedless watermelon, and peeled apples.
Considerations
Even though oat milk is safe for cats to drink, caution should be taken. Oat milk doesn’t provide nutritional value to cats, and it can cause stomach problems that leave your cat in discomfort.
Because of all the potential problems that can occur with oat milk, it is best to avoid giving it to your cat and instead stick with veterinarian-approved treats. If you do decide to give your cat some oat milk, do so sparingly and monitor them afterwards.