Can Kittens Drink Human Breast Milk?

Check the history mates, the world of cats has always been the most speculated one with the most unusual questions that most of the times have been able to arise the fertile minds of humans but at some days, just ended up giving various contemplations that yielded no fruitful result at the end.

Keeping that aside, today I have gotten such a topic that has always raised various questions and been to scrutiny but never got the right kind of attention it must have gotten.

Yes, you guessed that right, that’s none other than milk. The relation between human breast milk and kittens. 

Is it the most beneficial kind of drink during the growing stages of their lives or does it simply possess any harm to them because of which they should be eradicated immediately if being fed?

To clear out the air, kittens shouldn’t be made to drink or consume human breast milk as different mammals require a different amount of nutrients as they have distinctive activities to carry out in the course of their life and also a different set of needs.

To extend it further, let’s look out for the further parts of the article.

Is Human Milk Bad For Kittens?

The concern of feeding young kittens human milk has arisen most of the time when there is no availability of nursing cats around the kittens to feed them.

However, in this situation, you shouldn’t let your kitten consume human milk as it comprises fats, carbohydrates, and different types of nutrients to suit the lifestyle of humans considering their active cycle during their lives.

When it comes to young kittens, they need to be directly fed by their mother cats as that is only capable of providing the crucial nutrients they need in the early stages of their life.

Furthermore, there are cases when the mother cat dies after giving birth or abandons the kittens due to various defects or lack of motherhood, in such occurrences a certified vet needs to be consulted as the newborn will immediately need a replacement for their mother’s milk in order to sustain.

Can I Breast Feed My kitten?

Cats shouldn’t be given or directly fed breast milk as it is not advisable and is the major cause of gastrointestinal complications and diarrhea in young kittens. Human breast milk is for different purposes which are unlike that of what a kitten needs to further carry out their predatory life cycle. It’s always better to rely on milk supplementation in the pet’s store rather than feeding your own.

Milk is made to help the kittens’ vital organs grow and nurture them with various nutrients to carry out their daily behavioral activities in a proper and adequate way.

In the younger years of a kitten’s life, it’s imperative for a kitten to only rely on its mother’s milk as this habit builds attributes of acceptance and makes the kitten more social in the coming years rather than any vulnerable kitten that has had a traumatic experience in life.

To simplify it more, a mother’s milk in the lives of kittens plays vital precedence as it shapes the further behavioral characteristics of an adult cat.

Can Cats Drink Breast Milk?

Cats can drink breast milk however, reactions can be different in the case of every cat.  The major complications concern stomach aches, vomiting, and diarrhea which can also lead to lethargy.

Usually, some cats are lactose intolerant which means many cats’ stomachs wouldn’t be able to digest the lactose present in milk which can further result in diarrhea and vomiting which cannot rise to any hazardous health conditions.

it should be mentioned that some cats do like the taste of milk and would be ecstatic to have it alternatively in their diets which only should be given after taking the proper consultation of the vet keeping in mind the existing health conditions to prevent any possible trigger by lactose present in milk.

Also, check out Can Humans Drink Cat Milk? What Does Cat Milk Taste Like?

Are Cats Attracted To Breast Milk?

Cats have the tendency to remember the taste and smell of milk from their kittenhood and are usually inclined toward any sort of milk that looks and smells the same because, from them, they might take it as their comfort food as something that feels relevant to them.

Cats are pretty imaginative animals and can discover the eagerness to have breast milk once they see the sight of owners feeding breast milk in front of them. This is quite normal and usually fades away and is a phase most of the time.

However, there are many options to replace breast milk if there Is any kind of hesitation in associating yourself with such kinds of practices which is relevant as many owners are assertive with their boundaries.

Some of such options to consider are-

• Cow milk
• Goat milk
• Milk supplements are found in the pet store which is most reliable in such cases.

Can Cats Drink Sheep Milk?

Breastfeeding a cat is usually a not-so-accepted idea which also leaves many other reasons to acclimate and be known to many other types of milk present if your cat is somebody who likes consuming milk in general.

One such type is sheep milk. To brief a little bit more about it, you shouldn’t allow your cat to drink sheep milk as it has high levels of lactose and casein if put in comparison with any other type of milk option. For example goat milk, cow’s milk, etc.

Sheep milk has also an addition of linoleic acid and fatty acids which if fermented can be given in the form of yogurt and cheese.

Furthermore, sheep milk should totally be kept aside if your feline is lactose intolerant and has a casein allergy.

Also, check out Can Kittens Drink Dog Milk? Can Kittens Nurse From A Dog?

Is It Safe To Give Cat’s Breast Milk?

Lactose present in breast milk is the major issue why it should be thought thoroughly before opting to give your feline it on a regular or alternative basis as many cats don’t have the enzymes to break down the lactose of being ingested or consumed.

It can lead to various gastrointestinal complications such as diarrhea, vomiting, and stomachaches which can rise if goes unnoticed for days.

To elucidate it more, breast milk wouldn’t be able to provide for all the nutrients a cat’s dynamic system needs to carry out its hunting instincts which only a mother’s milk provides.

Also, many cats outgrow the necessity of having milk as soon as they attain adulthood, unlike human babies.

What Happens If A Cat Drinks Human Milk?

Nothing is likely to happen if your cat drinks human milk being lactose tolerant. Many cats do enjoy the taste of milk and like to have it once in a while to keep up with sugary substances in their diets.

However, when a cat is lactose intolerant and simply doesn’t possess the kind of enzymes to break down the lactose present in milk, then there are chances that the cat will showcase some frequent signs or symptoms which are usually easy to detect and are evident in their behavioral activities.

Some of such symptoms would be-

• Slight lethargy
• Stomach aches
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Irritation caused because of bloating

If these symptoms are notable and evident, a vet consultation would be required to put the feline on immediate meditations to prevent the situation from further escalating.

However if your cat seems to like consuming milk, you better note the proper behavior patterns to take a note and see if there is any allergic reaction. If not, then it’s better to keep feeding your cat cow’s milk or goat milk every once in a while.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Words

At the very end of this article, it shall be concluded that cats shouldn’t be allowed to consume breast milk keeping in mind its dysfunctional importance in their life.

However, it’s quite justified to still opt for milk as it’s a personal choice only if the milk is substituted with any other form after a vivid vet consultation keeping in mind the kind of nutrition a cat needs to have an addition.

When it comes to kittens, it needs to be put out here more emphasizing that a newborn kitten needs to have milk immediately after birth which makes it better to have the milk replicants bought in advance in case of any mishap.

To put my words to a peaceful halt, do dwell in the comments section and do let me know your first experiences with your cat and milk. How did they respond and what were your thoughts? Come, let’s have a chit-chat.

Interesting Read: Can Pregnant Cats Drink Milk?

References

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human%E2%80%93animal_breastfeeding
• https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160707-the-surprising-links-between-human-milk-and-the-wild