When many owners drink yogurt, they like to provide the remaining yogurt in the box to their cats. Cats also like to eat it. I heard that cats will have diarrhea when drinking milk, so some owners dare not provide too much. So, why do people say that cats will have diarrhea if they drink milk? What should we do if a cat drinks milk and has diarrhea?

1. Why can’t cats drink milk?

First, let’s take a look at the nutritional content of milk that people eat. It generally contains protein, fat, lactose, minerals, vitamins, etc. Of course, the proportions of these nutrients are different. Among them, the ones that have a greater impact on cats should be protein and lactose. Clinical studies have found that cats need enough protein, calcium, vitamins and many other nutrients to grow, but their bodies cannot digest and absorb lactose well. Therefore, if you give your cat milk, it is easy to develop lactose intolerance and diarrhea. This is mainly due to the unique body structure of cats. Therefore, cats cannot eat milk used by humans.

In the process of raising pet cats, you still need to buy some dairy products for them to eat, especially young cats. However, you should choose professional cat milk powder. Parents can go to professional pet stores to buy some cat milk powder. Generally speaking, the price is not too expensive. But it is absolutely safe for cats and good for their health.

2. What is lactose intolerance in cats?

Lactose is a disaccharide whose molecules are composed of glucose and galactose. Lactose is the disaccharide found in mammalian milk, hence its name. It tastes slightly sweet, and milk contains about 4% lactose. Lactose cannot be absorbed directly in the body and needs to be decomposed under the action of lactase before it can be absorbed. Cats lacking lactase decomposing enzyme will directly absorb the undigested lactose after ingesting it. It enters the large intestine and stimulates the peristalsis of the large intestine to accelerate, causing symptoms such as borborygmire and diarrhea, which is called lactose intolerance. Eating yogurt and low-lactose milk can alleviate lactose intolerance. ​​​​​​

3. What should I do if my cat has diarrhea after drinking milk?

If it is a kitten, try to take the cat to the hospital for treatment. If it is an adult cat and does not eat a lot, and the symptoms of diarrhea are not serious, you can fast the cat first, resume eating after 12 hours, and do not feed milk in the future. In addition, if a cat has unexplained diarrhea, it is necessary to take the cat to the doctor promptly. Some owners blindly use milk to replenish the cat's body. This is incorrect behavior. What should you do if your cat has diarrhea after drinking milk and likes to drink it? You can buy it. Some cat milk powder can be given to cats, which is healthy and harmless.

4. Many foods are not suitable for all cats

exceptThere are many foods that cats cannot eat without milk, such as sweet delicacies such as sugar and chocolate. Do not give cats too much. Cats do not have the taste for sugar, and they will not feel much even if they eat it. On the contrary, it can cause obesity, tooth decay, diabetes, etc. The flavors of octopus and squid are very suitable for cats. Cats have almost no ability to "resist" if they are fed these foods, but these foods are difficult to digest and can easily cause diarrhea in cats. It is best to cook them before feeding them. Dry food will absorb water and expand in the stomach after cats eat it, which can easily lead to acute gastric dilation. There are also paste foods, because they contain more phosphorus, which can cause an imbalance between calcium and phosphorus in the cat's body, leading to calcium loss.

In fact, lactose intolerance can also occur in humans, so owners don’t have to be too afraid. If they find that their cats can’t drink milk, just don’t provide it in the future. Not all cats like milk anyway. .