Can Cats Tolerate Raw Milk?

Many cats are lactose-intolerant and can't properly digest the lactose contained in regular or raw milk. Raw milk is simply unpasteurized milk, meaning it doesn't go through a heating process to kill harmful bacteria. This pasteurization process doesn't affect how much lactose is in the milk, which is the main reason your kitty's stomach becomes upset after drinking it.

  1. What Makes It Raw?

    • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration defines raw milk as milk from cows, sheep and goats that hasn't gone through the pasteurization process. During pasteurization, milk is heated to a high temperature to kill off the harmful microorganisms it may contain. There are two methods of pasteurization, one in which milk heated for 30 minutes and another in which it's heated for anywhere from 0.01 to 15 seconds at varying high temperatures, according to the International Dairy Foods Association. Pasteurization doesn't affect the amount of lactose in milk, which is a type of sugar. This sugar is the cause of the gastrointestinal issues that arise in those who are lactose-intolerant, including cats.

    Lactose and Cats

    • To properly digest the lactose in raw milk, your kitty's system needs to produce an enzyme called lactase. When nursing, your kitten's body produces lactase to digest the lactose in his mother's milk. As he grows up and is weaned onto solid foods, the amount of lactase in his system decreases, sometimes to a point where he might become lactose-intolerant, according to WebMD. Not all cats are lactose-intolerant, but if yours is, he will experience diarrhea, bloating and flatulence, according to Vetstreet.

    Dangers of Raw Milk

    • While the lactose levels of both raw milk and regular milk are equal, raw milk may contain harmful bacteria, making it dangerous for your feline friend to drink. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that, without pasteurization, milk from any animal can contain harmful germs like Escherichia coli, campylobacter and salmonella, all of which can make your kitty ill.

    Considerations

    • If your cat is lactose-intolerant and you feed him raw milk, he will react to it in the exact same way he would if it was regular milk, according to a study published in the May 2003 issue of the "Journal of Dairy Research." While your cat may tolerate raw milk just fine, it may contain harmful microorganisms that can make him sick. When hand-feeding kittens, never give them raw milk from a cow, sheep or goat. The little ones require milk designed especially for them known as kitten milk replacement formula, which has the correct balance of nutrients, lactose, casein and whey, according to WebMD.

    Milk for Felines

    • Your feline friend doesn't really need milk in his diet if you're feeding him a nutritionally complete food appropriate for his life stage, according to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. If you still want to give your cat the occasional spoonful of milk, stick to milk that's designed specifically for adult felines. Milk available for cats is lower in lactose than traditional milk, so it's even appropriate for those who are lactose-intolerant. You can find this type of milk in pet supply or some grocery stores.