Can cats eat yoghurt?

Photos of 6 week old kittens kittens playing with a paper bag and eating yogurt

Can cats eat yoghurt? Yes, they can eat raw, unsweetened yoghurt. But it’s best to be careful about feeding your cat yoghurt because, as with any food or beverage, too much of anything is detrimental to cats.

This article will tell you everything you need to know about whether or not your cat can eat yoghurt and what the potential side effects are of feeding them this type of food.

It should be noted that there is a big difference between fermented and unfermented dairy products. Fermented dairy products such as kefir and yogurt contain probiotics, while unfermented dairy products do not. Probiotics are essential for our health so it would not make much sense if we fed our animals the same detrimental food we do for ourselves!

Therefore, when deciding whether or not cats can eat yogurt, you should look at whether or not it has been fermented.

Is yoghurt harmful for cats?

In some cases, feeding a cat yoghurt may cause diarrhea, constipation or vomiting. In other cases it may make the stool less firm and harder to pass.

In some cases, feeding your cat yoghurt can cause digestive upsets. A cat’s digestive system is very sensitive to foods that they are not used to eating. These foods can include certain meats that are not cooked properly or unfermented dairy products such as yogurt.

If your cat has had problems with any of these types of food in the past you should consult with your vet about whether or not it would be advisable for them to eat yoghurt in the future. No matter how tempting it may be, feeding your cat yoghurt should only be done if it is safe.

What to look out for:
Yoghurt is often sold in dehydrated form or as a canned treat. Most canned foods do not contain any probiotics , which means that the bacteria that helps keep your pet healthy cannot survive.

Usually this means that these types of products aren’t suitable to be given to cats , although sometimes canned foods may still contain digestive enzymes because there is no time frame for bacteria to grow inside these products.

The main problem is that these products are often not packed with enough probiotics so they can’t survive long enough for your cat to take advantage of them. One brand of canned food, Nutro, has actually come out with a line of probiotic dipped treats to give cats the probiotics they need.

So there are some things you should look out for when considering feeding your cat yoghurt:
Yoghurt that contains bacterial cultures or enzymes is much better than regular yogurt or even regular milk.

Non-fermented foods are not good for cats because it causes digestive upsets . Again, if you have any doubts about whether or not it is safe, seek the advice of your vet first.

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How much yoghurt can cats eat daily?

Here’s a simple guideline to give you an idea of how much yogurt cats can eat on a daily basis.

Pregnant females should be careful. Since the natural hormones that are produced by pregnant females can cause behavioural changes, it would be best if you watch your cat at all times while she is consuming the yogurts.

As for lactating females, plenty is fine since it will help with their milk production and there is nothing harmful about it. But remember; they can only eat enough to make milk.

Everyday: 1-2 tablespoons for average adult cats.
3 tablespoons for adult cats who are extra active and need more calories.

Daily: 1-2 ounces for pregnant females. (But remember to monitor your cat closely since this can cause behavioural changes in some cases.)

Every other day: (These cases will be few and far between, but you can try it if your cat doesn’t like it every day.) 1/4-1/2 cup each time for kittens and adult cats who are generally healthy and need their nutrients on a daily basis.

Weekly: These cases will be very rare and only if your cat needs a supplement or is ill.

Benefits of yoghurt for cats

Apart from the benefits mentioned earlier about yogurt, it can be beneficial to your cat’s health just by being a source of protein on occasion.

Some cats can become lactose intolerant meaning that they don’t have an enzyme that allows them to break down the lactose sugar found in milk. Lactose is found in all dairy products so some cats cannot digest it at all. A certain percentage of cats can tolerate dairy products but most will never eat them unless there is a deficiency of the lactase enzyme.

Remember; if your cat eats too much (or any kind of food for that matter) you should not force feed it anymore than is necessary. Overfeeding can cause many health issues. The best thing you can do is to feed your cats what they need to maintain healthy weight and then if they want more, that’s their choice.

If you have any doubts, take your cat to see a vet for further advice or find another type of diet for them. You should not put anyone through unnecessary stress! Don’t be afraid to seek professional help should your cat need it!

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Cats can eat yoghurt as it is a good source of calcium which is important for maintaining healthy bones and teeth. It also contains Vitamin B12 which allows the body to absorb minerals such as zinc, copper and iron; all essential to helping you maintain your health or feeling healthy.

Yoghurt is an excellent source of Lactobacillus acidophilus (which can help to reduce allergies) and Lactobacillus bulgaricus (which helps to reduce inflammation).

A word of caution, though: certain cats have a hard time with dairy products. Some have a problem with milk and others even have an issue with yogurt.

So if your cat happens to be one of those, you should know that providing them dairy would be putting them at risk for various health problems; not to mention the additional stress they would be subjected to. They will then suffer from weight management or bone problems (or both). The best thing you can do for your cat is to look into finding them something else that they can eat without putting them at risk for damage or additional stress.

As mentioned before; fermented dairy products are different than unfermented dairy products like yogurt.

What happens if cats eat excess yoghurt?

Excess consumption of yogurt can result in diarrhoea. It may also result in weight gain due to an increased caloric intake.

If your cat eats too much yoghurt, it may cause upset stomachs. If you’re not sure whether they’re sick or not, it is best to take them to a vet.

If the yogurt is left on the bottom of the litter box, it can cause your cat to have a yeast infection. This may cause a plugged up fur around their anus and worsen any existing skin conditions or infections.

We’ve all heard “Don’t leave food lying around the house for your pet”. Well, if your cat eats too much of anything you should definitely take them for some extra pain medicine as it could be as simple as getting some over eating pills as well as antibiotics.

Ever notice how your cat will drink from their water bottle a little too fast just to catch a fishy fish? Some cats can be very persistent in catching fishy, stringy things in their mouths. Well, just imagine if they have yogurt to suck on. Cat’s have been known to lick themselves into a coma for eating too much of it!

what kind of yoghurt can cats eat?

Here’s a list of the best choice of yoghurt for cats:

Yoghurts with active cultures.

Pasteurized and cultured dairy products.

Fermented dairy foods: yogurt, kefir, and buttermilk.

Milk and other foods that contain live active cultures.

Kefir is a Turkish drink made from fermented milk that has been consumed for hundreds of years. It is made by adding kefir grains (a combination of yeast and bacteria) to milk and then allowing the grains to ferment the milk into an acidic, carbonated, probiotic drink.

You can drink it or use it as a substitute for plain yogurt. It has many names; kefir, kumis, kymys (in Russia).

These products can be given to cats either mixed into their food or as a treat.

Difference between fermented and unfermented dairy products

There are differences between fermented and unfermented dairy products for cats. They are important to note. Unfermented dairy products are not suitable for cats because they contain bacteria.

Fermented dairy products, however, have lactic acid cultures which help to control the growth of bacteria in yoghurt and other fermented dairy foods.

This means these foods will be suitable for cats as long as you can keep away from the contamination of food allergens, pests, and airborne organisms that result in the spread of harmful bacteria that cause bad breath or gastrointestinal diseases.

Unfermented foods can be yummy treats for kittens but there is no need to feed them anything that contains preservatives which are toxic to cats if ingested in large quantities.

Related Article: Can Cats Eat Ice Cream? Read To Know…

Conclusion

Cats are amazing creatures that cannot help but crave the yoghurt from the Greek gods. If you keep this in mind, you can better manage your cat’s diet and health.

Always be conscious of what your cat eats and if they’re showing signs of lactose intolerance or allergy to dairy products, there really is no point in forcing them to eat something that is going to make them sick. A healthier alternative may be a diet with omega 3 fish oils for cats.

As a famous cat lover once said: “If you train a cat, it lives with you all its life.

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