Can cats drink cow milk?

[woola]

We seemed to have adopted a cat, or a cat's adopted us I should say. I don't think she's a stray - she doesn't have a collar but is in good condition, if a little skinny, and is very affectionate.

We don't feed her a lot, a little ham or mouthful of tuna every day, but my housemate has been giving her milk because 'that's what cats drink'. My reasoning is that's what baby cows drink, and that we've just got used to it. Do cats tolerate it?

Also, given the cat has no collar, do we have any claim to it?

[fat rascal]

no, they are not tolerent to cows milk, stick to the tuna, or some cat food, put some fresh water down though.

might be an idea to put an ad in your locla paper just in case she /he is lost?

[B00]

I laways gave my cat, who sadly passed away when she was 14, cows milk and it never did her any harm.

You can lay claim to the cat all you want- but will it allow you to claim it? Probably, not, lol.

[LaLaLand2006]

Cat's milk contains almost three times as much protein as cow's milk. Orphan kittens fed only cow's milk will not survive because they are not getting sufficient protein in their diet. Cow's milk can occasionally be a problem for adult cats that do enjoy it. Some cannot effectively digest cow's milk (lactose intolerance), which can result in diarrhoea. Some cat's like milk but they only develop a taste for it. You're much better off just giving them water.

[annavc]

My cat refuses to drink cow's milk - he looks at it then at me with a "what am I supposed to do with that?" expression on his face. However, put any other liquid in a glass and he seems to assume its water and therefore must be for him. He got a bit of a surprise when he tried to drink my glass of beer - it made him sneeze! He now sniffs everything carefully before attempting to drink it! They're funny beasts.

[LaLaLand2006]

They are indeed annavc. My cat doesn't like drinking out of his bowl. He much prefers drinking out of the bathroom sink!

[NACL]

no cow's milk for kitties of any age, please.

[woola]

Thank you all, the cat will not be getting fed milk anymore! Bought some cheap fishy cat treats and they (yes they, we've acquired another) seem to like them.

Cat no.1 must've got in the house yesterday and hidden until 2.30am, when it woke my housemate up by licking her face. The cats are no longer allowed in the house!