Cats love milk, so they should be able to drink almond milk right?
Cats can drink almond milk. In moderation, almond milk is lactose-free, which makes it s a safer alternative to cow’s milk.
Can Kittens Drink Almond Milk?
There’s a risk to adding milk of any kind to a kitten’s diet because milk is high in calories. So be sure of how many calories a day kitten needs daily.
Furthermore, kittens have very sensitive stomachs, so avoid giving it other kinds of milk like almond milk, soy milk, or any other nut milk.
Can Cats Have Almond Milk?
If you offer almond milk in moderation and small quantities then yes, cats can have almond milk.
Despite being called milk, almond milk doesn’t have any dairy or lactose in it. Cats just don’t produce the enzymes to break down the ingredients in regular milk, but almond milk is different.
Almond milk doesn’t have any known ingredients that are toxic to cats, making it a suitable alternative.
Your cat will also likely enjoy the taste of almond milk. One way that you can allow your cat to enjoy it is to mix it into their food. Nothing will happen to your cat if you give him small amounts of almond milk here and there. However, there are some negative side effects that you should keep in mind.
Is Almond Milk Good For Cats?
Almond milk is not toxic to cats. For starters, almond milk is lactose-free, making it a much safer choice for those sensitive to cow’s milk. Almond milk is gluten-free and soy-free with very little to no saturated fat. It also has half the calories of cow’s milk.
What’s more, almond milk contains omega-3 fatty acids which are good for your heart. There’s also lots of protein, manganese, potassium, vitamin E, selenium, riboflavin, and zinc.
You’ll find the vitamin D is added to this milk product to make it comparable to cow’s milk in nutritional value. Almond milk is low in carbs, which means that it will not affect blood sugar levels much at all. Be sure to read the label carefully to ensure that you don’t buy a product with sweeteners or artificial ingredients.
Keep in mind that almond milk doesn’t offer your cat any unique health benefits. Your cat can get all of its nutritional needs from cat food alone, no matter if it’s wet or dry cat food or a mix of both.
However, almond milk is not toxic to cats for the most part. So giving a little to your cat from time to time won’t harm them.
Possible Negative Reactions to Almond Milk
It’s always best to start low and slow when introducing new foods (or drinks) to your pets. Give them a small amount and wait to see how they react.
Cats, dogs, and pretty much any other domesticated animals will eat and drink more than they should if you allow them to. The moral of the story is, don’t pour your cat a large bowl of almond milk and let him have it.
You’ll also need to keep a close eye on their bowel movements as well for the next couple of days. This sounds gross but it’ll help you notice signs of indigestion more immediately. If you don’t recognize any adverse symptoms within the first few hours after they drink the almond milk, they probably won’t have any problems.
If diarrhea or constipation ensues shortly after, then you have a good idea that they likely have a low tolerance for almonds.
Other signs of indigestion:
- Gas
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Bloating
Start with just two ounces or less of almond milk to give your cat a taste. That way, if he has a bad reaction, there’s not much in his system to pass through.
Remember to never give your cat over four cups of milk in a timeframe of 24 hours. How much you give your cat depends on their age, health conditions, and activity level.
One cup may even be too much, due to their calorie requirements. One cup of almond milk has about 40 calories, giving too much can cause digestive issues.
Speak to your vet about the recommended amount of you want to introduce almond milk into your cat’s diet.
Related Questions
Here are the responses to the most commonly asked questions regarding cats drinking almond milk:
A small amount of this milk probably won’t be harmful. That being said, keep an eye on your cat for the next hour to ensure that he doesn’t have a bad reaction.
Signs to look out for are an upset stomach, bloating, or diarrhea. In large quantities, almond milk can cause allergic reactions in cats, but a small amount of almond milk here and there may be a healthy snack for your cat.
Cat’s can consume lactose-free milk, whole milk, or skim milk. They can have it in small quantities as long as there are no signs of diarrhea or vomiting. Cream may be a better option because there’s less lactose in cream than in whole and skim milk.
Nuts contain oils and fats that can be hard for a cat’s digestive system to process. Avoid nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and pecans to avoid your cat having diarrhea or vomiting if they seem to have a sensitive stomach.
No, almond milk is not toxic and happens to be very nutritious. However, cats can suffer from stomach problems and even become obese from too much almond milk consumption.
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