Can Cats Drink Milk?

Cow’s milk isn’t poisonous to cats, but vets don’t recommend it. Many cats are lactose intolerant, which means their bodies can’t properly digest the sugar in milk. Milk can give your cat diarrhea or an upset stomach, and your cat doesn’t need it. Fresh water is the better drink.

Why is milk a problem for cats?

Milk contains a sugar called lactose. Breaking it down takes an enzyme called lactase. The ASPCA says pets don’t make much lactase, so milk and other dairy can cause diarrhea or other digestive upset.

The Cornell Feline Health Center agrees. It says many cats are lactose intolerant and can get stomach and gut problems from dairy. That’s why Cornell advises against giving milk as a treat. The Merck Veterinary Manual gives the same advice: milk is not a recommended treat for cats and can upset a cat’s stomach.

Cats also get everything they need from a complete and balanced cat food. Milk adds extra calories and nothing your cat is missing.

What happens if my cat drinks milk?

Some cats drink a saucer of milk and seem fine. Others get diarrhea. The sources we read don’t give a way to tell in advance which kind of cat yours is, so the safest plan is to skip it.

If your cat did drink some milk, watch for:

• Loose stools or diarrhea
• Other signs of an upset stomach, such as vomiting or not wanting to eat

Mild stomach upset from a little milk is not the same as a poisoning. Call your vet if the diarrhea doesn’t clear up, your cat keeps throwing up, or your cat seems weak or very sleepy. Call sooner for kittens and for cats that already have health problems.

Other kinds of milk and dairy

Is raw milk okay for cats?

No. The Merck Veterinary Manual says not to feed cats raw meat or dairy products of any kind, and it names raw milk specifically. Raw milk also has the same lactose problem as regular milk.

Can kittens drink milk?

Kittens drink their mother’s milk at first, and it is made for them. After they are weaned, they need food made for kittens. The Merck Veterinary Manual says kittens can leave their mother once they are weaned, starting at 6 to 7 weeks old, and that kittens should eat a special kitten food until they are fully grown at around 9 to 12 months.

Cow’s milk is not the same as a mother cat’s milk. If you have a kitten without a mother, call your vet. They can tell you what to feed it. We did not find a source we could open this time that explains milk replacers, so we won’t guess.

What about milk-based foods like cheese?

Cheese has the same lactose issue in a smaller amount. Read more in our guide to whether cats can eat cheese.

What should my cat drink instead?

Water. The Merck Veterinary Manual says to give your cat several bowls of fresh, clean water and to wash them daily. Wet food can add water to your cat’s day, and moving water from a fountain may tempt cats to drink more.

If you want to give your cat a treat, pick one made for cats. Cornell says treats should stay at or under 10 to 15 percent of your cat’s daily calories. The rest should come from a complete and balanced cat food.

For the foods that are truly dangerous, see our guide to foods that are toxic to cats.