What Milk Does Kittens Drink
However these should only be fed in moderation.
What milk does kittens drink. This applies only to mom s milk though as cow s milk can often lead to tummy distress and diarrhea troubles in kittens so be careful and keep it away from them. The only milk that is healthy for kittens to drink is either their mother s or they will need a kitten milk replacer which can also be called kmr or kitten milk formula. There are some specially designed cat milk options available which are more suitable and contain reduced lactose. What do cats drink at a glance.
A dehydrated kitten needs immediate veterinary care and possibly intravenous fluids. Water is essential for many roles which include flushing wastes from the body lubricating and cushioning the joints aiding digestion keeps eyes mouth and nose moist prevents constipation dissolves minerals. Movies and stereotypes would have us believe that kittens drink cows milk but that s actually not recommended as milk is not healthy for your feline s digestive tract. There are other varieties of milk.
Goat milk for kittens is a little more salutary than cow s milk but the. What happens when cats drink milk. Young kittens need milk either from their mother or if orphaned rejected a milk supplement if a foster mother can t be found. The following nutrients are found in regular cow s milk.
For instance people increasingly ask whether goat milk for cats is an acceptable treat. The best milk for kittens of course is its own mother s milk the next best thing is the mother s milk that you can buy in a pet store which is artificially created kittens milk the next best thing is store bought lactaid which will minimize the kitten doing its thing all over your floor. Little kitties that aren t yet weaned. Milk does contain some beneficial ingredients but it s not necessary to give your cat milk.
If your kitty seems ill and is unwilling to nurse he can become dehydrated very quickly. What should kittens eat and drink is not always evident. Clean fresh water for cats and kittens who have weaned. This is why it is important to avoid feeding cow milk to kittens.
However they will be fully weaned by around 8 9 weeks of age. The aspca states that this milk provides all of a kitten s required nourishment. No other sustenance not even water is yet required. When a cat drinks milk undigested lactose will stay in their intestines rather than passing into the bloodstream and end up fermenting says dr.
Kittens lack the proper enzymes to digest the lactose in cow milk and feeding cow milk to kittens can cause diarrhea and dehydration very quickly in very small kittens. Water makes up 70 of a cat s body and is vital for survival.