{"id":13784,"date":"2023-04-20T15:07:09","date_gmt":"2023-04-20T14:07:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/?p=13784"},"modified":"2023-04-04T18:14:32","modified_gmt":"2023-04-04T17:14:32","slug":"can-cats-eat-cheese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/can-cats-eat-cheese\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Cats Eat cheese? Do They Need It?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cheese is undoubtedly among the most loved and commonly used <\/span>ingredients<\/span><\/a> and snacks. From delicious pastries to mouth-watering pizzas, cheese comes in shapes, flavors, and sizes, making it an irresistible addition to any meal. However, many pet owners wonder if their feline friends can enjoy this too.<\/span><\/p>\n

The question that often comes among cat lovers is – can cats eat cheese? And just like <\/span>humans<\/span><\/a> who require calcium from milk and cheese, do they need it? Find out below if you can safely share your love of cheese with your furry friends.<\/span><\/p>\n

Debunking Milk Myths<\/b><\/h2>\n

It is common knowledge among people that cats love milk. It’s depicted in Aristocats and Tom and Jerry that cats refer to milk as the food of all foods.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the relationship between milk and cats, most cats are <\/span>lactose intolerant<\/span><\/a>, and dairy is one of the cats’ most common food allergies. Unlike their animal counterparts, their stomachs cannot digest <\/span>lactose<\/span><\/a>, the enzyme found in milk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some cats, like humans, have no adverse reactions to milk, while most cats exhibit vomiting and diarrhea when drinking cow’s milk.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, mixing milk with kitten foods is essential to a kitten’s diet, especially when it’s time to wean. Kittens and growing cats can drink cow’s milk in small doses since they have lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose. However, their ability to produce lactase stops when they are weaned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Components of Cow\u2019s Milk vs. Queen\u2019s Milk<\/b><\/h3>\n

Cow’s milk is a common source of dairy and dairy products in human consumption. However, there are other alternatives to cow’s dairy, such as goat and almond milk. Queen’s milk contains taurine, one of a cat’s essential vitamins.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>components<\/span><\/a> of bovine milk are 87% water and 13% proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, fats, and minerals. It also contains <\/span>80% casein<\/span><\/a>, a major protein component in milk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the <\/span>components<\/span><\/a> of a queen’s milk are 27.9% total solids, 8.7% crude proteins, 12.7% fats, 4.2% lactose, and 1.3% ash. The amount of lactose the queen produces is digestible for kittens.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can Cats Eat Cheese?<\/b><\/h2>\n

To answer the question, cats can eat cheese. Generally, it’s considered safe for cats; however, not all cats can consume it. Healthy cats with no kidney disease or nutritional deficiencies can tolerate cheese.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cheese also contains varying amounts of lactose, which may not trigger cat allergies or gastrointestinal problems. This is due to the manufacturing of cheese, where milk and its components are diluted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, take note that cheese is a calorie-dense food. Feeding them a tiny piece of cheese can equal the number of calories they should consume in a day. The daily <\/span>calorie<\/span><\/a> intake of cats is around 24-35 calories per pound, while a <\/span>slice of cheese<\/span><\/a> has 113 calories.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, giving your cats a small amount of cheese is still safer due to its calorie content and potential effects on a cat’s health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Do Cats Like Cheese?<\/b><\/h2>\n

There are many reasons why cats are drawn to cheese and dairy. The smell of dairy products resembles the milk they used to drink as kittens\u2014their \u201ccomfort food.\u201d They\u2019re attracted to the scent of fats, proteins, and amino acids in milk.<\/span><\/p>\n

All cheese contains the protein <\/span>casein<\/b>. This gives milk its white <\/span>color<\/span><\/a> and is also a protein component found in dairy. It relieves stress and reduces<\/span> anxiety<\/span><\/a> in cats, making them excellent comfort food, another reason cats are drawn to cheese.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cheeses that Cats Can Eat<\/b><\/h3>\n

Different cheeses have different lactose content. Some cheeses have low lactose content, which can be safe for cats. These cheeses are hard to semi-hard, fresh, and non-bovine. Here is a list of cheeses cats can safely consume:<\/span><\/p>\n

Hard to Semi-hard Cheeses<\/b><\/p>\n