Is Cheese Bad For Cats – Is It Healthy For Your FurBaby

As a cat owner, it is your utmost responsibility to ensure your best friend is kept safe and does not ingest any harmful substances or foods.

While some foods are safe for human consumption, they may not necessarily be ideal for pets, especially cats.

This raises the question, is Cheese bad for cats?

It is a question that has potentially crossed your mind on several occasions when your cat sneaks up on Cheese off the table or goes after a cheese wrapper.

The truth is most cat owners are habituated to seeing cats going wild over a bowl of milk, leaving it empty within minutes.

This might be what brings about the misperception as to whether cats and Cheese are a good amalgamation.

However, we also know that cats are quite curious creatures that are fond of trying new things.

Just because your furry friend seems to really enjoy a dice of Cheese, doesn’t necessarily mean these dairy products are safe for your pet.

In one way or another, you might be unknowingly putting your pet at risk.

There is a lot to learn about the digestion of cats.

That’s why we are here with the facts concerning cats and Cheese.

Continue reading to find out if you should be feeding your furry friend cheese and whether Cheese is truly bad for cats.

Why do Cats like Cheese?

Are you wondering why cats like Cheese even though they have poor lactose digestive abilities?

Scientists claim that cats like Cheese because it’s rich in fat and protein.

This is actually what makes Cheese of high value to cats.

Equally, most cat owners’ think that cats can stop eating Cheese with time, which is not necessarily the truth.

A cat may continue eating Cheese and other dairy products until they are mature.

But this can mainly cause allergic reactions and serious symptoms such as diarrhea.

Is Cheese really bad for cats?

For starters, dairy products such as Cheese are not essentially a natural part of a cat’s diet.

Feeding cat’s dairy is a feline myth that has been propagated by what people see on television and in books.

Cats are natural carnivores meaning they get all the nutrients they need from meat.

For an obligate omnivore, the cat’s digestive system is super delicate and not quite designed to take on Cheese.

Feeding it Cheese might end up upsetting the delicate digestive system and cause problems for the pet.

You might be wondering why some cats are so attracted to Cheese.

It comes as no surprise that cats love Cheese.

For one thing, it’s high in protein and fats.

According to experts, the Cheese’s fat and protein content are what makes it a valued food to some of the cats.

Secondly, it has such a delicious taste that your kitty will surely not resist gobbling it.

However, at the very best, keep your pet away from Cheese and if possible, avoid feeding your pet with Cheese.

Other human foods may be safer choices for your kitty.

Cheese can potentially make your cat ill and cause issues such as diarrhea and vomiting.

Why is Cheese bad for cats?

Cat owners often wonder why Cheese is particularly bad for cats, yet they crave it.

The main reason is that cats are unable to tolerate dairy very well, unlike humans and other omnivores.

For instance, humans naturally produce the lactase enzyme that is responsible for breaking down lactose and all the 0ther nutrients present in dairy products.

On the other hand, cats basically don’t have these enzymes in their bodies.

That’s why they have difficulties with digesting dairy products like Cheese.

Additionally, many of the cats suffer lactose intolerance.

This means that even the smallest amount of Cheese can have catastrophic effects on your pet.

When your cat eats Cheese, especially in large amounts, it may lead to gastrointestinal complications like vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.

Because many of the cats are lactose intolerant, you should avoid giving them Cheese as part of their diet or even as a treat.

When is Cheese bad for my cat?

Besides the fact that it is potentially risky to feed a cat cheese, some people do it but in small amounts.

Technically, feeding your cat a small piece of Cheese intermittently may not be entirely harmful.

But before you do that, make sure you consult with a vet to rule out any complications that may arise from this.

In most instances, people opt to limit cheese intake in cats to only the time they require to hide a pill for the cat in Cheese.

Well, this seems reasonable, but there are also other safer ways to hide a pill for your pet, such as using a chicken breast.

Can Kittens Eat Cheese?

Kittens usually survive with their mother’s milk until they are about 10 weeks old.

You might already be wondering whether kittens can benefit from Cheese.

Comparatively, Kittens can benefit from Cheese than their older counterparts.

They have a higher ability to digest milk and dairy products.

The reason being kittens still produce the enzymes that were initially helping them digest mother’s milk.

As Kitten gets older, this ability to digest Cheese and dairy products reduce.

This shows that after the kittens start weaning, probably from 4 weeks, the lactose production will decrease gradually.

By the time Kittens start digesting solid foods, they will have become lactose intolerant.

Conclusion

According to the explanations above, dairy content in Cheese is mainly the issue.

But is non-dairy Cheese a better alternative?

Reading what scientists and experts say about non-dairy Cheese, it seems that it’s not an ideal idea either.

Whether it’s daily or non-dairy Cheese, it has some ingredients and flavours that may affect the cat health-wise.

Some have salts and added ingredients such as garlic and onions, which are already toxic to felines.

That said, try to avoid all forms of Cheese as much as possible.