Can cats eat milk?

If your cat has already eaten this and you are worried, contact your veterinarian.

Why

Avoid. Most adult cats are lactose intolerant despite the folklore. Despite popular belief, the majority of adult cats are lactose intolerant and lack the enzyme needed to break down the sugar in milk. Feeding milk often leads to uncomfortable stomach issues like vomiting, diarrhea, and gas. This reaction happens regardless of the type of milk, including cow's milk, goat's milk, or flavored varieties.

Watch out for

sweetened milk
chocolate milk
large quantities
lactose-free milk alternatives that still contain other additives

Better choices

Lactose-free cat milk Plain water Low-sodium chicken broth Cat-safe treats

Our other tools
substitute.kitchen ingredient substitutions with ratios that scale
whichbug.com identify a bug from what you can see
freezeornot.com what freezes well, what changes, and how long it keeps
ismyplantdying.com why is my plant dying? causes ranked from what you can see
aquariumstudio.ai aquarium care, fish feeding and tank help