We’ve all seen those TV shows where a pet owner gives their cat some milk and they absolutely love it and finish their bowl in just a few seconds. Heart eyes and a full tummy later, the cat’s on its way to enjoying whatever its next activity is.
While that picture may be cute, and you think to yourself that giving cats some milk is completely normal and healthy for them, it’s actually one of the biggest myths you might ever come across.
Surprisingly, cats shouldn’t have any dairy products, including whipped cream.
So, why is that? Well, most cats are actually lactose intolerant. With them being lactose intolerant, that cancels out a bunch of dairy-filled treats they could have, like whipped cream, ice cream, and that classic bowl of milk.
Do Cats Eat Whipped Cream?
While, yes, a cat can eat a sugary treat like whipped cream every once in a while, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they should.
Much like dogs, cats do tend to enjoy a sweet treat every once in a while. Even with their lactose intolerance, cats still enjoy the taste of milk and other dairy products like whipped cream, yogurt, or ice cream.
More so, once they get their paws on it, they actually have been known to want to eat a large quantity of it.
However, whipped cream isn’t healthy for a cat to eat, so if they do happen to eat a little whipped cream as a treat, you should ensure that it’s on rare occasions and in small servings.
It’s best to stick to a cat’s love of salty and savory treats, but if you’re certain you’d like to give your cat whipped cream still, it may not be a bad idea to consult with your vet to make sure your cat is otherwise healthy and can handle a few licks of the sweet treat.
Do Cats Like Whipped Cream?
Yes—cats are known to absolutely love milk products, despite the tummy aches that they may get after having some, so it’s safe to assume they would enjoy having some whipped cream as a treat.
And while they might enjoy having something different, they might not be able to taste the sweetness of the whipped cream like you may think.
Shockingly enough, while cats have keen senses and tastes when it comes to things that are savory and salty, their senses don’t match with super sweet things. Cats do not enjoy eating anything sweet, and that’s because they cannot taste sugar.
Due to that, they don’t typically demand eating anything sweet. But because cats do like having milk, even when they aren’t really supposed to be drinking it, they might be inclined to persuade you into giving them things like whipped cream as it’s dairy and the texture is different than what they normally have.
Even with their inability to taste anything sweet, that doesn’t mean they don’t like whipped cream. In fact, if you give a cat whipped cream, they may actually beg for more because they really, really, like it.
Can Kittens Have Whipped Cream?
With all of the health issues involved from cats eating dairy (and the sugary sweetness of whipped cream), it’s best for kittens to avoid having whipped cream and other dairy-filled treats at all costs.
While kittens can still enjoy drinking their mother’s milk, it’s still not recommended they have anything other than the vet-recommended foods.
So, even though you may want to give your newborn kitten something sweet as a treat, it’s best to beware of the underlying health issues that can arise from them eating things like whipped cream over time.
No matter their age, it’s best to not let your cat have whipped cream due to the health risks. So, if you’ve got a kitten at home craving some milk, it’s best to just let them drink from their mother and not give them foods like whipped cream.
Can Cats Have Whipped Cream From Starbucks?
We’ve all seen a photo of someone’s dog eating a Puppuccino from Starbucks. They’re often the cutest picture and very Instagram-worthy, so you may want to give your cute cat that very same attention.
It’s perfectly normal to be thinking, “if dogs are getting all the sweet treats and attention, why can’t cats share the delectable treat too?” Well, unfortunately, our other four-legged friends aren’t allowed to have anything containing whipped cream from Starbucks.
Cats are not able to have whipped cream from Starbucks due to them being lactose intolerant, and while you may sneak and give them a little lick here or there, it’s best to stay away from it.
Stick to their savory, fishy-tasting treats. Not only will they like it better, but you’ll also save yourself from a major nightmare clean-up afterward.
Is Whipped Cream Bad for Cats?
While whipped cream and other sweet treats may be great for humans to eat once in a while, unfortunately for cats, that’s not the case.
When having a furry friend, checking to make sure what’s okay to eat is of utmost importance. Much like people, your pet needs to eat healthy foods that contain vitamins and other nutritional benefits, which you’ll most likely find in a good vet recommended kibble.
It’s imperative to do your research and talk with your vet on what types of foods to give your cat, so it’s best to not give your cat anything you don’t know for sure if it’s good for them or not.
Whipped cream is actually pretty unhealthy for cats and can create many health issues if they eat too much. Not only are cats known for being lactose intolerant, eating things that contain a lot of sugar (like whipped cream) can cause a lot of major health issues if they’re getting it in large quantities.
So, anything containing dairy is best to avoid, which means whipped cream can most definitely be bad for cats if you give it to them too often.
How Much Whipped Cream Is Too Much for Cats
Portion control is everything, for humans and animals alike, and you will want to make sure that you don’t overfeed your cat if you’re giving him or her some whipped cream as a little treat.
With the large amount of milk and sugar that’s in it, not only could it cause your cat to have stomach issues, there’s also the factor of calories.
With whipped cream being such a sweet treat, just a small amount could be a majority of the cat’s calorie intake for one day, and if you still have to feed it dinner (or your cat’s on a diet for its weight or health), this could be devasting.
To add a measurement to it, one tablespoon of whipped cream can be considered too much for your cat. So, if you still would like to give your cat a little nibble of whipped cream, it’s best to only give them a little taste on the tip of your finger (and no more dips back into it after that!)
What Happens if a Cat Eats Too Much Whipped Cream?
Because cats have lactose intolerance, you want to avoid giving your furry friend anything that could have dairy in it.
While giving them whipped cream in moderation shouldn’t harm them too much, as long as they don’t have a pre-existing health condition like diabetes, eating too much shouldn’t have a major health effect.
But, because cats can get sick from eating whipped cream, you may notice them having a lot of digestive issues that lead to them having diarrhea or vomiting. Which then will most likely make your four-legged friend want to lay around until their stomach doesn’t feel as upset.
So, while you may want to give your cat as much whipped cream as they want, it’s best to avoid it completely due to the health issues that can come from it.
What Are the Ingredients in Whipped Cream?
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, chances are you’ve topped a lot of your sweet treats with some whipped cream (maybe even overloaded your pie or ice cream with it—no judgment here!).
With it being such a delicious topping for most of our favorite treats, it’s nice to know that making whipped cream is a fast and easy endeavour, using only two ingredients—sugar and heavy cream.
Of course, if you want to get a little fancier, you could add some vanilla extract, powdered sugar, chocolate, and even an orange or lemon zest!
As with cooking anything, it’s up to you how you create the dish and what you add to it. Luckily whipped cream is incredibly easy to make, and as long as you have the base of heavy cream and sugar, you can add loads of other ingredients to make it fun and unique.
Related Article: Can cats eat cheese?
