Cats usually have a special interest in some foods of the human diet. One of them is yogurt: they do not hesitate to lick the containers to finish the remains that remain and even feel an important power of attraction if you approach it. This is a claim for the animal, but containing lactose, some doubts may arise about the convenience of ingesting yogurts in felines.
It is important to keep in mind that cats should not take dairy frequently because of lactose, since it is a component that they do not usually digest well after weaning due to the lack of lactase, an enzyme responsible for its breakdown. But a type of plain yogurt without additives can bring benefits to your health. To find out if cats can eat yogurt, the benefits and contraindications of its consumption and how to give it to your pussycat, in we recommend that you continue reading this article.
Can cats eat yogurt or not?
Yogurt is a food derived from milk. It is of animal origin, normally comes from the milk of cows, but it is not an animal tissue, that is, it is not meat and will not provide your cat with the essential nutrients obtained from meat.
Yogurt, although in a smaller amount than milk, also has lactose, a type of sugar that many felines cannot digest. Keep in mind that cats only drink milk in their first months of life (2-3). Then, your body synthesizes lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose and converts it into glucose and galactose, which are easily digestible for the animal.
However, once weaning is complete, most cats stop generating lactase. Therefore, they experience complicated digestions of dairy, especially milk, causing flatulence, bloating, abdominal discomfort and even diarrhea and vomiting.
These setbacks in feline health occur because adult cats do not require milk or dairy products to have proper nutrition. Even so, sometimes you can give them a little yogurt to get the benefits that this product brings to the body, but always responsibly.
Benefits of giving yogurt to my cat
For your cat to get the benefits of yogurt, it is important that you choose a natural one and give it to them in small quantities. These are the nutritional properties of yogurt:
- It is a great source of calcium, essential for bone metabolism.
- It provides a series of nutrients such as phosphorus, magnesium, iron and vitamins A, B and D.
- It improves transit and facilitates digestion, favoring the elimination of accumulated hair in the cat’s digestive system. It is important so that balls do not form that can cause any obstruction and serious damage to your health.
- It helps relieve digestive disorders that cause diarrhea and vomiting in cats.
Contraindications of giving yogurt to my cat
As a general rule, cats should not take dairy products such as yogurt for lactose. This component is not usually digested once weaning is completed because they lack lactase, an enzyme responsible for their breakage.
For this reason, dairy products such as yogurts not made exclusively for adult cats, can cause certain stomach pains and make them feel sick. Vomiting and diarrhea are some of its consequences, so it is essential that you observe if your cat reacts well or badly after trying yogurt for the first time.
If the reaction is positive, you can continue giving yogurt in small quantities, but if it is adverse, you should go to a veterinarian and avoid giving this food in the future.
How to give yogurt to my cat
If you choose to give your cat some yogurt, choose a natural one, without flavors, without sugar, without artificial flavorings, sweeteners or too much fat. Natural yogurts are the best option for felines, as they find it less harmful and have beneficial bacteria for the animal’s digestive tract.
These bacteria contribute to the conversion of lactose into lactic acid, facilitating digestion. They are also called probiotics and can be:
- Bifidus.
- Streptococcus thermophilus.
- Lactobacillus bulgaricus.
- Lactobacillus acidophilus.
The best way to give plain yogurt to your cat is to offer it with a spoon as a snack or reward. You can also put it in a deep container or in the plastic container of the yogurt itself, although this option is less recommended, since it will be more difficult to take it.
In any case, avoid that your gets hurt with the edges of the container or that a little yogurt gets in his eyes. Also, remember that this product can never be your cat’s main food. Nor can you give it several times a week: at most, you can offer it between once and twice a week, as long as you like it and your body tolerates it well. In the case of detecting any adverse reaction after ingestion, go immediately to a veterinarian.
Now that you know if cats can eat yogurt, discover these articles on Can cats eat cheese? and can cats eat olives?
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