When Can You Give Kittens Milk

Most cats are lactose intolerant.

When can you give kittens milk. Kittens drink their mother s milk until the mother gradually weans them as early as 4 weeks old. Typically kittens are eating solid foods by 8 to 10 weeks old. Kittens should be drinking water by the time they are 4 to 6 weeks of age. Beer liquor wine foods containing alcohol none of it is good for your cat.

That s because alcohol has the same effect on a cat s liver. Kittens will drink their mother s milk for the first few weeks of life or a specially designed kitten formula milk if necessary. Milk is a food not a beverage female mammals produce milk to feed their own offspring. Their digestive system cannot process dairy foods and the result can be digestive upset with diarrhea.

What could be wrong with offering your cat a saucer of milk or a piece of cheese. So no additional type of food drink or even milk is required at this stage. Weaning can take place later if a kitten is underweight or ill and it is important to use your best judgement when weaning. These symptoms can occur anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours after your cat drinks dairy products or has products that contain lactose and the symptoms can last for a few hours at a time.

Although kittens can drink their mother s milk many cats lose the ability to process it after being weaned. Most kittens need to be nursed by their mother or fed kitten formula from a bottle until 4 5 weeks of age. We answer your questions about whether you should give your cat milk. Milk can be high in fat in fact one saucer of milk is the equivalent of four burgers based on a 4 5kg cat and an average size woman but giving your cat ordinary cows milk can also cause upset tummies cramps and even severe diarrhoea.

Cow s milk can upset a kitten s stomach and should be used as a last resort. However they will be fully weaned by around 8 9 weeks of age. One of the most common misconceptions is that all milk is good for cats. Additionally some cats naturally produce more lactase enzyme than others so they may not have as hard of time digesting it.

Should you find yourself raising orphaned newborn kittens during the critical first two months of life there are specially formulated kitten milk substitutes.