Can Kittens Have Milk
Can kittens drink milk.
Can kittens have milk. 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. Lactose free cow s milk is also a safer option. Newborn kittens should ideally feed through their mother s breast milk. Although kittens can drink their mother s milk many cats lose the ability to process it after being weaned.
Kittens drink their mother s milk until the mother gradually weans them as early as 4 weeks old. Since cats don t have the enzyme necessary for digesting lactose drinking milk can lead to gastrointestinal issues such as an upset stomach diarrhea vomiting loss of appetite and weight. Yes some cats can drink a very small amount of cow s milk but you should be careful. If unfortunately you are in the care of a kitten that has been orphaned we do not recommend giving it cow s milk.
In general you should avoid giving cats whole cow s milk or cream because of the higher fat and sugar content. Milk is only needed by a kitten during the nursing phase and even then mother s protein and fat rich milk eventually sees the suckling babe yield to the obligate carnivore. Typically kittens are eating solid foods by 8 to 10 weeks old.