Can cats eat cheese is one of the most popular questions siding up with can cats eat chocolate and what are the safe essential oils for cats?.
And for all the good reasons because cheese is one of the most common foods in domestic households.
And seeing how cats have become an inseparable part of our domesticated environment, can cats eat cheese becomes a valid question.
Cats And Cheese: Some Facts That You Need To Know
I know many people believe that a cow’s milk is beneficial for cats.
But in its entirety that isn’t true.
Cow’s milk may not be harmful but it also doesn’t pose any significant benefits to a cat’s health.
As a matter of fact, to a great degree, cats are lactose intolerant.
This is because the enzymes produced in a cat’s stomach during the digestion process aren’t powerful enough to break down cow’s milk properly.
But the real question to ponder about here is does that extend to cheese digestion as well.
And Can Cats Eat Cheese If They can’t Digest Cow’s Milk?
When given in small amounts cheese prepared using cow’s milk is safe for cats.
So if you know that your cat likes cheese preparing a cheese-based treat is a very viable option.
But just because cheese is not toxic for cats doesn’t mean it is a healthy part of a cat’s diet.
As per Dr. Jeff Warber, after weaning cats tend to become lactose intolerant, so any dairy products such as cheese if needed must be given in small doses or sparingly.
What About Cheese Made From Other Animals
So this must be your next logical question.
If cheese made from cow’s milk isn’t beneficial for cats, does cheese not made from cow’s milk offer any benefit at all?
It’s found that a goat’s milk is much easier to digest in cats when compared with cow’s milk.
So preparing cat treats made of goat cheese can make for a better snack option for your cat.
Having said that cheese also contains high levels of fats and salts.
And over intake of fats and salts for that matter can hinder your cat’s development and in some cases develop obesity.
What About Cheese Based Cat Treats?
So if you choose to make treats of cheese preferably from goat milk how often should you use it.
That’s a subjective question and will depend on your cat’s liking towards it.
The recommended way would be to use it to help train your cat or try her to do something she doesn’t like, like taking medicine.
Having said that it is advisable to consult your vet if you wish to use cheese in this manner.
Can Kittens Eat Cheese?
Now you may be wondering what about kittens?
Can kittens eat cheese given the fact that their primary source of nutrients is anyway their mother’s milk?
While it is true that a kitten’s body produces more lactose enzyme than an adult cat but the enzyme secretion goes on decreasing as the kitten comes close to weaning.
So by the time your kitten grows up to consume solid foods without the risk of choking, her capacity to digest dairy products such as cheese is gone.
Moreover, kittens need very specific and appropriately controlled nutrition as they grow and develop.
So while their stomach are capable of handling their mother’s milk, dairy products made from cow’s milk will have a different composition altogether.
Feeding kittens the wrong things at such a tender age may cause permanent problems in their digestive tracts.
What Cheese Should Cats Not Eat At All
Now the general perception as I am sure you might have understood around can cats eat cheese is that cheese isn’t harmful but not beneficial either.
So is there a variety of cheese that the cats must not absolutely touch or come in contact with ?.
Dr. Werber explains that if you are using cheese as treats ensure that the cheese chosen should be simple ones.
The more complex and richer the cheese the more harm it can cause to your cats.
And as such it’s blue cheese that must ensure that your cats don’t intake.
Truth be told it’s highly unlikely that your cat will be attracted towards blue cheese but one can’t be too sure in a domesticated environment that holds eatables for both cats and humans.
Possible Symptoms Of Cheese Indigestion In Cats
Because the digestive system isn’t evolved enough to breakdown cheese properly the immediate side effects could be gas and diarrhea.
Some cats may also experience dietary upsets as a consequence of cheese intake.
Most of these symptoms will recede as soon as cheese if out of the cat’s system.
Having said that if you see any of these symptoms occurring on a consistent basis or for a prolonged period of time consult the vet.
So, in conclusion, try to avoid feeding your cats cheese as much as possible as there is no direct dietary benefit to it.
But if your cat craves for it cheese-based treats should be the extent to which her cheese intake should go !!.
Not an inch further.
I hope you enjoyed reading the post as much as I enjoyed writing it.
And it gave you an insight into your cat’s dietary requirements an needs.
Comment below if you have any query and I am going to see you in the next one !!.
Tada !!.
