Can a kitten be given cow's milk? How to feed tailed babies in the absence of natural feeding?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Cats can be fed with cow's milk - this statement is believed by millions of people around the world. While veterinarians warn, and sometimes even completely prohibit this product for tailed pets. We will try to figure out whether it is possible to give milk to a kitten and whether it is suitable for feeding adult animals.

Proper diet

In their natural environment, kittens feed on their mother's milk. Teenage cats usually go hunting at the age of three to four months. For a newborn kitten, his mother's milk is ideal. In its chemical composition, it differs significantly from cow's. It is in cat's milk that there are all the necessary nutrients and trace elements for the growth and development of a kitten. This food is fully digested and cannot harm the fragile body of the cub. But what if the mother cat cannot feed her babies? Can a kitten be given cow's milk? Actually it's notthe best food option. Cow's milk is high in lactose, the milk sugar. It is too sweet for cats, and if this product becomes the basis of the diet, it can harm the pet's he alth.

What to feed a kitten in the absence of mother's milk?

Things happen in life. Sometimes cats refuse their own offspring, we sometimes find abandoned kittens on the street. Also, an adult animal can die, having recently acquired cubs. If a kitten for some reason was left without a mother, his life depends on the person. The most important thing is to correctly solve the issue of feeding. Can a kitten be given cow's milk as a mother's milk substitute? This product is not recommended to be introduced into the diet of animals under the age of 1 month. The best option for feeding very young kittens is a special substitute for mother's cat's milk. You can buy this mixture at any major pet store. If you can't find a substitute for cat's milk, you can organize feeding your pet with baby food.

Create a feeding schedule

Have you decided to feed the kittens with baby food? Choose milk formulas for the youngest children. How to properly organize artificial feeding of tailed babies? Newborn kittens under the age of three weeks should be fed every 2 hours. For feeding, a small nipple, pipette or syringe is used. When the babies are three weeks old, you can switch to feeding every three hours. As soon as the kittens celebrate their periodbirthday, you can introduce complementary foods. Start with wet food. Look for a product with labels that indicate the age of the animal. Is it possible to give a monthly kitten milk from a human table (cow)? This is acceptable, but the product should not be the main one in the diet. The standard feeding scheme for kittens older than 1 month, provided that they live without a mother: 2 times a day - cow's milk and 2 times a day - wet food. Two-month-old tailed babies can be given dry food. Cow's milk should be gradually eliminated from the diet.

Is it possible to give milk to a lop-eared kitten, will it harm him?

A popular horror story that can sometimes be heard even from breeders: if you feed lop-eared kittens with cow's milk, their ears can "stand up". This warning is justified by the fact that kittens with drooping ears should not receive too much calcium. All this is not true, tailed babies of any breed need all the useful nutrients. As for the shape of the ears, sometimes they do rise as the kitten grows. However, it has little to do with nutrition. We are talking about the marriage of the breed and the individual physiological characteristics of a particular animal. Accordingly, the answer to the question of whether it is possible to give milk to a Scottish kitten or not is positive. This product may be included in the diet of tailed babies up to 4 months of age.

Milk in the diet of adult cats

Manycats over the age of 4 months love milk and beg for it from their owners at every opportunity. Experts do not recommend giving this product to adult animals. In the natural environment, not a single mammal drinks milk after the cessation of natural feeding. Despite the usefulness of the product, there is a high probability of problems with its absorption. The thing is that the body of an adult cat does not produce enough special enzymes involved in the breakdown of this product. But what if the animal is actively begging for a treat? Is it possible to give milk to a kitten when he is 4 months old? Try a simple lactose intolerance test. Treat your pet with milk and observe the reaction of his body. Normal stools, no bloating, and the cat is in good he alth are indications that the product is not causing adverse reactions. This means that from time to time in a small amount of milk can be given as a treat.

What to give instead of milk to cats?

If your pet eats natural products, you can feed her with fermented milk products. Low-fat cottage cheese, sour cream, fermented baked milk and kefir - choose what a particular animal will like. You can try to introduce natural low-fat curd cheeses into the diet. The most important thing is to give uns alted varieties. The listed products are also suitable for feeding kittens older than 2 months. When introducing them to your pet's menu, consider the calorie content of each treat.

Now youknow whether it is possible to give milk to a kitten and how to properly introduce it into the diet. Follow all nutritional recommendations, and then your tailed baby will grow up he althy and beautiful.