Can Cats Eat Yogurt? – When Is Yogurt Good For Cats

I can never leave a yogurt unattended when my cat is around, because whatever flavor or variety it is he will try to stick his head into the pot and take a lick. Yogurt for cats is not dangerous in small amounts, but your kitty gets all the nutrients he needs from his regular carnivorous cat food. And if he eats too much he might upset his stomach. Today I’ll help you to weigh up the pros and cons of giving your cat a taste of yogurt, and bust some medical myths about the potential feline benefits of this tasty food.

Content

• Can cats eat yogurt?
• Can kittens eat yogurt
• Are cats lactose intolerant?
• The possible benefits of yogurt for cats
• Different types of yogurt for cats

You may have heard that most cats are lactose intolerant. But, if that’s true then why is yogurt recommended for cats with digestive problems by some people? How can a cat be lactose intolerant if yogurt is good for them? If you’re confused, it’s not a surprise. But don’t worry – we’re here to clear things up for you!

Can Cats Eat Yogurt?

Cats are natural carnivores and most of their diet should consist of meat. However, this doesn’t mean that yogurt has no beneficial nutrients. The main ingredient that confuses most people about yogurt for cats is lactose.

Kittens can digest lactose because they rely on their mother’s milk to survive. But as they get older and there is no longer a need for them to consume milk they stop producing the enzyme which enables them to digest. As a result, many cats go on to become lactose intolerant.

Popular culture is full of images of cats lapping up milk or snacking on cream. But in reality a lot of these foods can cause your cat a multitude of problems. There is also no real need for cats to have milk at all. Milk doesn’t contain many health benefits when a cat grows out of the kitten stage and, in the wild, cats wouldn’t continue to consume milk into adulthood. However, yogurt is different.

Can Kittens Eat Yogurt?

Kittens can produce the enzyme lactose because they drink mothers milk for the first few months of their lives, so they are able to digest milk better than adult cats. However, you need to be very careful what you feed your kitten as they are still growing and developing.

Kittens should be able to eat a small amount of yogurt as long as it is plain and does not contain artificial sweeteners. However, that said we wouldn’t advise giving them any. It won’t have any additional nutritional benefits, and may upset their delicate new stomachs.

Cats and Yogurt

When a cat is young they will produce enzymes which break down and digest lactose. This is necessary as they are mammals and they will drink their mother’s milk. But, as they get older their body will produce less of this enzyme and they will start finding it harder to digest lactose.

When the cat reaches twelve weeks they start losing the ability to produce the enzyme lactose. They may eventually lose the ability to process milk altogether.

Many cats grow up to be lactose intolerant and they may get an upset stomach if they have too much milk, cheese or cream. Whilst the image of a cat drinking saucers of milk and cream is very popular, in reality, that much milk could give the cat diarrhea and other digestive issues.

Lactose Intolerance in Cats

Lactose intolerance in cats is similar to lactose intolerance to humans and it causes the same problems. However, not all cats have a problem with lactose. Some cats can consume small amounts of dairy products without any problems. For example, milk doesn’t really have any health benefits for cats, but a small amount won’t hurt if their bodies can tolerate it.

Yogurt contains natural bacteria live bacteria cultures called Streptococcus thermophiles and Lactobacillus bulgaricus which are able to break down lactose in lactic acid. Seeing as the lactose, which is the part of milk that most cats are unable to digest, has been turned into lactic acid the cat should be able to digest the yogurt without any issues.

Why Do Cats Like Yogurt?

Many cats love yogurt, but some cats don’t. Those that do are fans because it tastes fatty. You can tell pretty quickly if your cat does or doesn’t like yogurt because if they don’t like it they’ll avoid eating it. If your cat has never eaten yogurt before then try feeding them a small teaspoon of plain yogurt and see if they like it.

Your cat may prefer flavored yogurt over plain yogurt. But flavored yogurt isn’t always a good choice because it is usually either high in sugar or artificial sweeteners. Both of which are bad for your cats health.

The Downsides of Yogurt As A Kitty Snack

Some cats are allergic to yogurt and, if they do eat it, they will suffer from stomach upsets or other problems. You may want to consult your vet before feeding yogurt to your cat. And, when you first introduce yogurt into your cat’s diet, you should start off with very small portions and keep a close eye on them to make sure they are okay.

You shouldn’t give your cat too much yogurt. Yogurt should be an occasional teaspoon treat.

Plain yogurt should be fine as long as your cat isn’t allergic. But, you should never feed your cat flavored yogurt or yogurt which contains artificial sweeteners and preservatives. Too much sugar can make your cat sick, and anything artificial could be quite dangerous.

Can Yogurt Give My Cat An Upset Stomach?

Most cats will be absolutely fine with a small amount of yogurt. However, some will show signs of allergy. And others may not like the taste at all. Cats who are allergic can experience upset stomachs.

The Potential Benefits Of Yogurt For Cats

Yogurt contains potassium, calcium, and magnesium, all of which are beneficial for humans and cats alike. Calcium is well known for its ability to strengthen bones, and magnesium is important because it helps your cat absorb important vitamins and proteins. However, your cat should already get all of these things from their complete, approved food.

Yogurt also contains ‘living cultures’- i.e. healthy bacteria – which can be beneficial for your cat’s immune system as well as their digestive system. Yogurt also contains important B vitamins which can help keep them healthy.

Are Some Yogurts Better Than Others?

Plain yogurt may not appeal to your cat. But flavored yogurt also often contains additives and preservatives that could be really detrimental to your cat’s health.

• Greek yogurt
• Blueberry yogurt
• Vanilla
• Strawberry
• Probiotic

Greek Yogurt

Unflavoured Greek yogurt should be fine for cats to consume in small quantities. Although ideally, the yogurt should be full of live cultures and healthy bacteria.

So, you may want to try a few different brands to see which one is best for your feline friends. Avoid flavored Greek yogurt and check the ingredients for anything artificial.

Blueberry Yogurt

Cats wouldn’t necessarily choose to eat blueberries in the wild. But a small portion of blueberries is safe for them to eat and they may have similar health benefits for cats that they do for humans. Some cat food companies are even adding ‘blueberry extract’ in their pet food because it works as a natural food preservative without all the synthetic properties which can be bad for your cat.

Blueberry yogurt, however, is not a good idea for cats because it is likely to have a high sugar content that can upset the cat’s stomach.

Don’t give them too many blueberries, however. Even in their natural state they do contain sugar and too many could upset your cat’s stomach. Cats are natural carnivores and most of their diet should be made up of meat. But a handful of blueberries with a bit of yogurt can be a nice, healthy and safe treat.

Vanilla Yogurt

Vanilla in itself isn’t toxic for cats and they are able to eat small amounts of it. But many cats won’t like the taste of vanilla and so they may not wish to eat it.

Vanilla yogurt is likely to contain vanilla flavoring which may contain other ingredients that are bad for your cats. For instance, vanilla extract can contain ethanol which is toxic to cats and can cause symptoms like drowsiness, involuntary defecation, hypothermia and even heart attack.

The vanilla extract in yogurt may well be alcohol-free. But, vanilla yogurt also tends to contain sugar and/or sweeteners which could be dangerous for your cat’s health. We would not recommend vanilla yogurt for cats because, whilst a small amount is unlikely to cause any problems, it isn’t particularly good for your cat and you don’t know exactly what is in the yogurt.

Strawberry Yogurt

Strawberries are nontoxic for cats. But, they don’t contain many health benefits for cats and they are quite high in natural sugar so too many regular strawberries may cause stomach problems. Strawberry yogurt is likely to contain a lot of sugar, and this sugar is likely to upset your cats stomach and cause other health issues. Strawberry yogurt may also contain additives which could be harmful to your cat’s health.

If you want to give your cat yogurt it should ideally be plain. Sugary yogurt at best may upset your cat’s stomach, and at worst any other ingredients could make your cat really sick. Most cats won’t find strawberries that appealing and they may refuse to eat them. But if your cat does like the odd strawberry now and again you could always feed them a small amount of plain yogurt with a few strawberries for flavor.

Probiotic Yogurts

Probiotic yogurt is designed to keep your cat’s digestive system happy and healthy. Some people consider it if their cat suffers from problems like diarrhea or constipation.

Probiotic yogurt with added ingredients can be problematic if any of the extra ingredients are dangerous for your cat. So, if you’re considering this food, check the ingredients carefully.

It’s best to run the products past your vet before offering them to your cat. They’ll be able to advise you about the best probiotics to use, and the healthiest amount for your cat.

My Cat Ate Yogurt, What Should I Do?

If your cat has a small amount of yogurt, you shouldn’t need to worry. Even flavored yogurt. The sugars in flavored yogurt can be harmful as a normal part of your cat’s diet. But, if your cat eats some as a one-off, the consequences shouldn’t be too dire.

If it’s the first time your cat has eaten yogurt, watch them carefully for any signs of allergy. Should your cat display any signs of abnormal behavior, or feeling unwell, call your vet straight away. But, for most people, it won’t be any concern if their cat eats some yogurt when their back is turned.

Does Yogurt Have Any Medical Benefits For Cats?

Here are a few of the conditions people believe could be helped by yogurt, and I’ll share whether it’s a fact or a myth below:

• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Kidney disease

Can I Give My Cat Yogurt for Diarrhea?

The probiotics and active cultures in yogurt are potentially beneficial for your cat’s digestive and bowel health. So, small amounts of yogurt can possibly be used to treat some causes of diarrhea and other digestive issues. However, further study is required in this area to confirm exactly which probiotics are beneficial to which species.

If you want to try using yogurt to help your cat with diarrhea, only offer a very small amount. And check with your vet. They may have another solution that can help more. Plus, too much yogurt can make digestive problems like diarrhea worse.

Can I Give My Cat Yogurt for Constipation?

The probiotics in yogurt can help to prevent and solve digestive issues like constipation. However, there’s a risk it also won’t help, or could make things worse. There are very few studies looking at the results of yogurt for constipation. So, don’t use yogurt for cats’ constipation without speaking to your vet first. They’ll be able to give you advice on the best way to offer it to your cat.

Can Cats Have Yogurt for Kidney Disease?

Yogurts contain probiotics and other healthy bacteria that could help cats suffering with kidney problems. However, there aren’t currently any studies looking at how yogurt affects cats with kidney problems. So, don’t start offering it as part of your cat’s diet without speaking to your vet.

Cat Yogurt Treats

Plain yogurt can be used to treat a cat’s upset stomach or help them deal with antibiotics, but it also makes a delicious treat. You shouldn’t give your cat too much yogurt, and it certainly shouldn’t be consumed every day, but you can let your cat finish the odd yogurt pot or put a couple of spoonfuls in their food bowl.

Cats can consume small amounts of fruit, so if your cat likes a particular fruit you can pop a few pieces in a bowl with a small amount of yogurt for dessert once in a while. You could also freeze very small amounts of yogurt as treats for a hot day.