Can cats have dairy? Only a little, and many cats are better off with none. Dairy is not toxic to cats, but most adult cats are lactose intolerant: they no longer make enough of the enzyme that digests the sugar in milk. The usual result of a saucer of milk is gas, diarrhea or vomiting a few hours later, not a happy cat.
This guide covers milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream and almond milk in one place: which are safe in small amounts, which to skip, how much is enough and when to call your vet. It is part of our Can Cats Eat…? guide to human foods.
Our quick take: a dice-sized cube of plain, firm cheese or a teaspoon of plain, unsweetened yogurt is fine for most healthy adult cats once in a while. Cow's milk and ice cream are best avoided. Unsweetened almond milk is not toxic, but it does nothing for your cat. Never give raw (unpasteurized) milk, anything flavored with chocolate or coffee, or cow's milk to a kitten in place of kitten formula. Whatever the food, all treats together should stay at or below about 10% of your cat's daily calories.
Quick reference: dairy foods cats can and can't have
Chocolate and caffeine affect the heart and nervous system.
Why dairy upsets most cats
Milk contains a sugar called lactose. To digest it, the body needs an enzyme called lactase. Kittens make plenty of lactase while they are nursing. After weaning, the body makes less and less of it, and most adult cats end up lactose intolerant. This is normal for cats, not a disease.
When a lactose-intolerant cat drinks milk, the undigested lactose passes into the intestines and pulls water in with it. The usual signs are diarrhea, gas, bloating and sometimes vomiting, and they tend to show up within about 8 to 12 hours. Most cases clear up on their own within a day.
Four things to remember before you share any dairy:
Cats do not need it. A complete and balanced cat food already provides the protein and calcium that dairy is known for. Cats are obligate carnivores, and fresh water is the only drink they need.
Tolerance varies. Some cats handle a little dairy with no trouble and others react to a few laps. Cheese and yogurt contain less lactose than milk, which is why they are tolerated better. A smaller number of cats have a true dairy allergy.
Dairy is rich. Cheese, cream and ice cream are high in fat and calories for an animal that weighs around 10 pounds. Keep every treat inside the 10% limit.
Cats cannot taste sweetness. They lack a working sweet taste receptor. When a cat begs for ice cream or cream, it is the fat and protein that appeal, so there is never a reason to choose a sweetened product.
Can cats drink milk?
Cow's milk is not toxic to cats, but it is not recommended. The picture of a cat with a saucer of milk is a habit from farm life, not good nutrition. The Cornell Feline Health Center advises against milk as a treat because many cats are lactose intolerant and develop stomach and bowel problems when they are fed dairy products.
If your cat loves it: PetMD's veterinary guidance is that a teaspoon of milk once or twice a week is unlikely to harm a cat that is not lactose intolerant. Treat that as the upper limit. Milk also adds fat and sugar that an indoor cat does not need. Cream and half-and-half are higher in fat still.
Kittens: do not give cow's milk to a kitten. It does not have the right balance of nutrients, and it often causes diarrhea, which is dangerous in a very young animal. Kittens should have their mother's milk, or a kitten milk replacer if they are orphaned. Goat's milk is not a substitute either. Once weaned, a kitten needs kitten food and water.
What about lactose-free milk and “cat milk”? These remove or reduce the lactose, so they are easier on the stomach. They are still extra calories and fat. An occasional spoonful as a treat is fine if your cat enjoys it, but there is no health reason to buy them. Goat's milk has slightly less lactose than cow's milk and can still cause an upset stomach.
Never give raw (unpasteurized) milk. Cats have become severely ill and died from H5N1 bird flu after drinking raw cow's milk. The Cornell Feline Health Center tells owners not to feed unpasteurized dairy products of any kind. That includes raw goat's milk sold for pets and cheese made from raw milk.
Watch for: diarrhea, gas, bloating or vomiting within about 12 hours of drinking milk. Stop the milk, offer water and normal food, and see the advice below if the signs do not settle. Our guide to how much water a cat needs has better ways to get a cat to drink more.
Can cats eat cheese?
Yes, in very small amounts. Cheese is not toxic to cats, but it should be a rare treat. It contains less lactose than milk, so many cats tolerate a nibble. It is also high in fat, salt and calories. PetMD compares a 1-ounce piece of cheddar for a cat to a person eating two and a half cheeseburgers.
How much: PetMD's veterinary guidance is no more than a dice-sized cube, once or twice a week. The first time, give a piece half that size and wait a day to see how your cat reacts.
Better choices: plain, firm cheeses such as cheddar, Swiss, Gouda, provolone and Parmesan. Aged, firm cheeses are lower in lactose.
Cheeses to skip:
Soft cheeses such as cream cheese, cottage cheese, mozzarella, Brie and Camembert. They hold more lactose.
Blue cheese and any cheese that has gone moldy.
Processed cheese such as American slices, cheese spreads, cheese crackers and cheesecake.
Any cheese flavored with garlic, onion or chives. These are toxic to cats, even in small amounts.
Vegan cheese. It has no lactose, but it is still high in fat and salt and offers a cat nothing useful.
Hiding a pill in cheese: a tiny piece of firm cheese can help a pill go down, but ask your vet first. The calcium in dairy stops some medicines from working properly. Doxycycline, a common antibiotic, is one of them. Do not crush tablets into food unless your vet says it is safe for that medicine.
Watch for: vomiting, diarrhea, belly pain or gas. Cats with kidney or heart disease, cats on a weight-loss plan and cats with a history of pancreatitis should not have cheese unless your vet agrees. A meat-based cat treat is a better everyday reward.
Can cats eat yogurt?
Yes. A small amount of plain, unsweetened yogurt is safe for most adult cats. The live bacteria used to make yogurt break down part of the lactose, so it is usually easier to digest than milk. Plain Greek yogurt is fine too, and a low-fat one is the better pick.
How much: veterinary sources agree on about a teaspoon at most, around once a week or less. For a first taste, offer a dab the size of your little fingernail and wait a day. More than a teaspoon can cause stomach upset and diarrhea.
Read the label. Avoid yogurt that is:
Flavored or sweetened, including vanilla, honey and fruit-on-the-bottom pots. Cats do not need the sugar.
Chocolate or coffee flavored. Both are toxic to cats.
“Sugar-free” or “light” with xylitol (also labeled birch sugar). Xylitol is a proven danger to dogs. Its effect on cats is less clear, and veterinary sources advise keeping it away from cats as well.
Mixed with raisins, nuts or granola. Raisins can damage the kidneys, and nuts are fatty and hard to digest.
Is yogurt a good probiotic for cats? Not a reliable one. A teaspoon is too little to count on, and giving more risks an upset stomach. If your cat has diarrhea or is taking antibiotics, ask your vet about a probiotic made for cats instead, which is designed for a cat's gut. Do not stir medicine into yogurt without checking first, because dairy interferes with some antibiotics.
Kittens: skip yogurt. Their stomachs are sensitive and it adds nothing they need. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea or bloating after a first taste, and do not offer it again if you see them.
Can cats eat ice cream?
No. Ice cream is not a good treat for cats. A lick of plain vanilla that your cat stole from the bowl is unlikely to do harm, but ice cream brings together everything that makes dairy a problem: lactose, a lot of sugar and a lot of fat. Because cats cannot taste sweetness, they get nothing out of the sugar anyway.
The risks:
Stomach upset. Lactose can cause vomiting, gas and diarrhea.
Fat. Some cats cannot handle a rich, fatty food and can become seriously ill. Vets link high-fat treats to pancreatitis, which is painful and needs treatment.
Sugar and calories. Regular sweet treats lead to weight gain, and obesity raises the risk of diabetes.
Toxic flavors and mix-ins. Chocolate, coffee, mocha and green tea (matcha) ice creams contain theobromine or caffeine. Rum raisin contains alcohol and raisins. Some “no sugar added” tubs use xylitol. Macadamia nuts are best avoided too.
Do cats get brain freeze? Possibly. Vets are not sure whether the wince in those online videos is a true “brain freeze” or pain from sensitive teeth, but either way the cat is uncomfortable. Please do not feed a cat something frozen to film the reaction.
What about dairy-free ice cream or frozen yogurt? Taking out the lactose does not take out the sugar and fat, and these products can still contain chocolate, nuts or sweeteners. They are not a safer choice.
Better ways to cool a cat down: fresh, cool water, a shaded place to rest, and a spoonful of your cat's own wet food served chilled. Call your vet if your cat ate chocolate, coffee or rum raisin ice cream, or if vomiting or diarrhea after any ice cream lasts longer than a day.
Can cats have almond milk?
Plain, unsweetened almond milk is not toxic to cats, but it is not recommended as a regular drink. It contains no lactose, so it avoids the main problem with cow's milk. It also has nothing a cat needs. Almond milk is mostly water with a small amount of almond, plus added vitamins, thickeners and often sugar. Your cat's food already covers its nutritional needs.
If you share it: a teaspoon or two of plain, unsweetened almond milk, now and then, is enough. Do not pour a bowl of it. Larger amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, gas and belly discomfort, and some cats do not tolerate almonds at all.
Never give: sweetened, vanilla or chocolate almond milk, or any carton that lists xylitol. Check the ingredients every time, because recipes differ from brand to brand.
Kittens: almond milk is not a milk replacer. A kitten that cannot nurse needs kitten formula and nothing else.
What about soy, oat and coconut milk? The same advice applies, and PetMD's veterinarians discourage all of them because of the fat, sugars, thickeners and additives, which cats digest poorly. Coconut milk is high in oils that can cause loose stools. Milks made from macadamia nuts should be avoided. The ASPCA's guidance on dairy substitutes is to check every ingredient and, even when they are all safe, to give them only in moderation.
Watch for: vomiting, diarrhea, gas or bloating in the day after a first taste. If you see any of them, almond milk does not suit your cat.
Dairy foods cats should never have
Anything with chocolate, cocoa, coffee or matcha. Chocolate milk, chocolate ice cream, mocha yogurt and tiramisu all contain theobromine or caffeine, which can cause vomiting, a racing heart, tremors and seizures.
Raw (unpasteurized) milk and raw-milk cheese. See raw milk above.
Dairy foods made with raisins or alcohol, such as rum raisin ice cream, eggnog and cream liqueurs.
Cheese, dips and spreads made with garlic, onion or chives. These damage a cat's red blood cells.
If your cat drank milk or ate plain cheese, yogurt or vanilla ice cream, expect possible gas, loose stools or vomiting over the next 12 hours or so. Take the food away, offer fresh water and its normal food, and keep the litter box clean so you can see what is happening. Most cats are back to normal within 24 hours.
Call your vet if:
the vomiting or diarrhea is severe, contains blood or lasts longer than 24 hours;
your cat is a kitten, elderly, diabetic or has kidney disease, or has had pancreatitis;
your cat stops eating, hides, seems to be in pain or is very quiet;
the food contained chocolate, coffee, raisins, alcohol, xylitol, garlic or onion. Do not wait for signs to appear;
your cat drank raw milk and then develops fever, low energy, loss of appetite, breathing problems, tremors or seizures. Phone the clinic before you go, so the staff can take precautions against bird flu.
If you cannot reach your vet, these services are open 24 hours a day (a consultation fee applies):
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661
Have ready what your cat ate, roughly how much and when, and keep the packaging. Do not try to make your cat vomit at home.
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